NU supreme leader: there is a trend of new smart people

Semarang, NU Online
KH A Mustafa Bisri (Gus Mus) said that there was a recent trend of new smart people, adding they had at least two characteristics. First, they tend to base their thinking on religious arguments (dalil) anytime the speak.<>

"(There should be explained religious arguments they, even demand the details of dalil, (by asking) what verse, what shura, is the hadist shohih or weak," he said while attending a religious gathering at the Walisongo Islamic State University, Semarang, Monday (30/3).

Second, the NU supreme leader added, they was also always able to answer all questions put to them, saying such attitudes showed that they were the fools.

On that occasion, Gus Mus also called on the academic community in the university to be enlightening agents for the nation.

"Campus is a place to make those who are confused understand. It should not make people confused," the leader of Pesantren Roudlatut Thalibin said.

He gave an example of the phenomenon of absorption of Arabic into Indonesian terms. Which one of the terms silaturahim (Arabic) or silaturahmi (Indonesian) is true. To make the community understand, he added, the students must first be enlightened.

Gus Mus said taht there had been approximately 4000 terms absorbed from Arabic into Indonesian. Sound and meaning may vary due to distortion. For example the term ulema, it is plural (jama') of the so-called alim, that means people who understand, and are clever. When absorbed into the Indonesian this term becomes singular.

Gus Mus added, "many people are still confused because people have not yet understood. Of all the words that we understand the misunderstood phrases. On this stand, he said, campus was a very important place in enlightening the community.

Gus Mus also mentioned the rise of Islamic jurisprudence information in cyberspace. However, these sites are run by those who know nothing about religion.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq