Muslims advised to be tolerant towards minority faiths

Yogyakarta, NU Online
Muslims in Indonesia should be tolerant to religious minority communities in the country, the head of the regional religious affairs office, Affandi, said here on Friday.

"Although Islam is embraced by most people in Indonesia, Muslims should be tolerant toward religious minority groups," Affandi said in remarks at a gathering of the Indonesian Hajj Association (PDHI) here.<<>br />
He said that as the majority group, Muslims in Indonesia should not act arbitrarily against other religious communities.

"Muslims in the country should be able to realize peaceful Islam, because Islam is in principle meant to be a blessing for the whole world, not only for Muslims," he said.

According to Affandi, Muslims had to avoid majority-based dominance or becoming tyrants to the minority.

"Show to the world that Islam is the religion of peace, and there should be no violence against minority groups," Affandi said, adding that Idul Fitri was the right moment for all to get together to strengthen bonds of friendship.

Meanwhile, Sunan Ample State Islamic Institute (IAIN) rector Prof Nursyam said in his Idul Fitri sermon at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on Friday that Muslims across the country should avoid solving problems through violence.

He delivered his sermon after Idul Fitri prayers which were also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, and a number of other state officials.

Using violent act to solve a problem, according to him, would only create another cycle of violence and traumatic experience of its victims.

"Using violence to solve a problem is the result of misinterpretation of democracy and openness, because the perpetrators of the violence think that through democracy, openness, and freedom, they can do anything they wish, including religious violence," Nursyam said.

In the sermon, themed "The Importance Patience in Developing Muslim Solidarity", Nursyam said the Muslims should take religious harmony and patience into account when trying to solve a problem.

Religious harmony and tolerance, according to him, should be on top priority when one wanted to solve a problem in order to create internal harmony among one particular religion, inter faith community, and the religious community with the government. (ant/dar)