NU: Ideological campaigns could undermine nation's ideology

Demak, NU Online
Digital technology advances, especially the Internet today have brought both positive and negative impact on communities. Provocation and ideological campaigns propagated by certain groups in various media could undermine the nation's ideology and religion having built by the founding fathers.

General Chairman of NU KH Said Aqil Siroj, popularly know as Kang Said, made the remarks while speaking on the sidelines of a religious event at Pesantren Futuhiyyah Mranggen Demak, Central Java, on Saturday (29/10).

"Its negative impact is that the younger generation may probably not even want to know or be contrary to the Muslim clerics (kiai) who are the role model in society. The presence and Muslim scholars (ulema) could actually stem the wild flow of minds of teenagers and young people today," he said.

He continued, citing the Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj verse 54, that the term utul 'ilm here means ulema because they are the ones knowing about shirâthul haq (straight path), shautul haq, and kalimatul haq.

According to Kang Said, the Islamic civilization is in need of ulema as a fundamental pillar. Their role in the development of Islamic scholarship in understanding the purpose of the Qur'an and Hadith is so great. They are, among others, Abul Aswad ad Du'ali, Khalil bin Ahmad, Abul Ubaid Qasim bin Salam, Syibawaih, Syihabuddin ar Romahurmuzi, Imam Shafi'i, Imam al-Ash'ari, Imam al-Ghazali, also Mahfud at-Tirmasi Shaykh, Shaykh Ahmad Khatib Sambas, and many others.

Kang said also said that the teachings of Islam must be undertsood comprehensively to obtain a more truthful understanding.

"Like a house, the ultimate reality (tawhid) is the foundation, the roof is the shari'a, and the walls are morals," he said.

Kang Said said the success of the Prophet in shaping the ummah was due to his roles in combining two main strong foundations, namely the state and religion.

He added that the roles played by both ulema and kiai in the struggle of Indonesia were also absolutely important as conducted by Hadratussyekh Muhammad Hasyim Asy'ari in issuing the so-called Jihad Resolution Jihad that managed to unite the ukhuwah Islamiyah (brotherhood among Muslims) and ukhuwah Wathaniyyah (brotherhood among fellow citizens) at the time.

"Hubbul wathan minal iman, love for one's homeland is part of faith, it was widely popularized by Mbah Hasyim Asy'ari. So, NU has a great contribution to develop religious nationalism," he said.

He also urged the government to crack down on those disturbing the nation's integrity even expel them from the country because this is in accordance with the spirit of Surat al-Ahzab verse 60. (Ben Zabidy/Masdar)