NU calls on preachers not to offend others

Jakarta, NU Online
One of the emerging phenomena challenging the world of dakwah (propagation) lately is the increasing number of dai (preachers) who like offending and blaming others for not being in line with their points of view. In videos, for example, many dai have used more profanity rather than good advice.

In response, the Secretary of the Dakwah Committee of Nahdlatul Ulama Ustadz Bukhori Muslim called on all preachers not to offend and provoke others while delivering their religious sermon.

Referring to Sheikh Abdul Qadiq Jaelani, Ustadz Bukhori mentioned that there were three principles of performing amar ma'ruf nahi munkar ( inviting to goodness and enjoining right conduct and prohibiting indecency). Firstly, knowing the command and the prohibition. Secondly, only seeking Allah's consent.

"A dai (preacher) should help and guide the wrongdoer toward the good," Ustadz Bukhori told NU Online on Monday (2/4).

Thirdly, (the dakwah shoould be) carried out gently. A preacher must act kindly and affectionately when preaching.

"Based on these three principles, then a dai should not be offending and provoking others to hate or insult their fellow (muslims)," the lecturer at the Jakarta's Sharif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) said.

According to him, the principle of dakwah is to change the wrongness to the rightness. Preaching in a provocative way and vilifying others will not change the situation to be good and even inflame mutual hatred.

"Such da'wah will not work," he asserted, saying that "dirty words are not worth for a dai." (Muchlishon/Masdar)