Kiai Said: NU committed to strengthening Aswaja

Jakarta, NU Online
General Chairman of the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Said Aqil Siroj said that NU would continue to strengthen the teachings of so-called Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) or Islam Nusantara since this doctrine has succeeded in carrying out its dakwah (propagation) activities and maintaining the faith and the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"In conclusion, Aswaja is what the so-called Islam Nusantara and Islam Nusantara is Aswaja as well. It has clearly managed to maintain theology, dakwah, and maintain the safety of the NKRI," he said.

He was of the opinion that between NU and the NKRI there is a strong mutual relationship. The existence of NKRI was championed by the NU ulema (Islamic scholars) and until now NU has still kept maintaining the existence of the life of the nation under the NKRI.

"If NU is secure, NKRI is also secure, if the NKRI is secure, NU will always exist," he said.

In the presence of Fatayat NU members from various provinces, Kiai Said called for the importance of Nahdliyin (NU followers) to defend the homeland as stated hubbul wathan minal iman.

"Whoever did not have a homeland, he/she did not have a history. Whoever did not have a history, he/she would be forgotten. This history is written on the ground and not on the wind," he said.

He warned of possible heavy challenges facing Indonesia in the future for having to deal with other nations.

"In the north there is China, in the south there is Australia. If we are not very clever to manage the so-called Islam wasathiyah (moderate values), NU wasathiyah, we will face clear threats. If we manage to keep the wasathiyah, we will be respected by China and Australia, as well as other neighbors," he said. (Mukafi Niam/Masdar)