Surabaya, NU Online
Chairman of the East Java's Maarif NU Prof. Dr. Abdul Haris called for the importance of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) circles to keep up with any possible development by keeping sowing the seeds of moderate values having so far been preserved by the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

"Pesantren must be committed to promoting inclusive values that are in line with the teachings of Islam by basing themselves on local wisdom and values for the long-standing religious educational institutions have also taken part in defending the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)," he told NU Online here on Wednesday (25/5).

He said that Indonesia had now faced possible threats posed by those propagating violence-based lines of thought  and pesantren should be capable of positioning themselves and be in the frontline to disseminate the teachings littered fully with peaceful, tolerant and accomodative values.

"It is now such a momentous event for pesantren to actively take a stand against radicalism and terrorism by emphasizing the values taught and inhereted, especially by the so-called Wali Songo," he said.

Mr. Haris reiterated that pesantren could become a social laboratory for their important role in realizing peaceful social life in addition to addressing the need of transforming the pesantren values in society.

Pesantren must be able to insert certain values and morals such as Islamic brotherhood, selflessness, simplicity in living, self-sufficiency and so on. (Masdar)