Efforts of strengthening Aswaja an-Nahdliyyah in Bali urgent

Denpasar, NU Online
It is a severe enough challenge for Muslims in general and Nahdliyin (NU followers) in particular in disseminating the teachings of Islam in the province of Bali, especially how fellow Muslims come to one command in addressing various religious issues. At the same time, the challenge of the largest religious adherents in the province could be addressed wisely.

As known, the majority of people in Bali are Hindus.

"The religion (Hinduism) has long been rooted in the Balinese people," Abdurrahman Navis said here on, Sunday (7/8), saying that indeed Islam  could take part in providing solutions to the various problems faced by the people.

Kiai Navis was present on the sidelines of a halal bihalal gathering held by the Regional Board of NU and the Bali chapter of Ansor.

The meeting discussing efforts to cultivate relationship by strengthening the teachings of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) was attended by a number of NU autonomous bodies and institutions.

The director of East Java Aswaja NU Center warned that by being a minority community, the Muslims should not feel inferior or be discouraged.

"It is an opportunity to show and do your best in improving surrounding communities," Kiai Navis said.

Kiai Navis also warned that in the Muslims themselves there were internal conflicts for they have always come to different trivial arguments, especially in spreading the teachings of Islam there.

The lecturer at Sunan Ampel State Islamic University Surabaya suggested that Islamic studies should be conducted more intensive and in-depth.

"Those whoa are engaged in Aswaja NU must often greet religious leaders of Islam and give them Islamic insights as taught by the so-called shalafus sholih (righteous ones)" by, for instance, holding dialogues together with competent and reliable speakers so that any disagreement could be minimized, he added.

The leader of Pesantren Nurul Huda Surabaya also concurred with the hope of KH Abdul Aziz, who is also Chairman of NU Bali.

"We have agreed to conduct intensive studies related to the matters of Aswaja an-Nahdliyah by involving competent speakers from the East Java Aswaja NU Center," he said.

Reportedly, the intensive studies will be followed by the local clerics and will gradually be followed by religious leaders and the general public. (Ibn Nawawi/Masdar)