On the basis of a recent survey by ICIP (International Center for Islam and Pluralism) on 20 odd boarding schools in Jawa Barat, it was concluded in a report by Hera Diani of The Jakarta Post that the pesantren is ‘no hive of tolerance’ ('Pesantren' no hive of tolerance: Survey, The Jakarta Post, 18 January 2006).
At the same time, the Executive Director of ICIP, Syafi’i Anwar, based on the same result of the survey, said in a seminar on “Deepening of Religious Understanding and Multiculturalism among Personalities in Pesantrens in Jawa Barat” held in Depok on 17/01/06, that respecting differences is not a new phenomenon among pesantren-based Muslims but in the current context of multiculturalism, a certain degree of conservatism is very much available among them. Thus, he concluded, to avoid the trap of a total conservatism among Muslims, this positive view over differences should be enhanced. (Perbedaan Bukan Hal Baru bagi Pesantren, Kompas, 18 January 2006)
Based on the reports quoted above, two opposite views are found in which Hera Diani clearly judged and concluded that there is no tolerance in the pesantrens while at the same time, the Executive Director of the ICIP himself acknowledged the availability of respect over differences among pesantren-based Muslims. And, he added, that it is homework for all of us to develop this tradition of openness and acceptance of differences.
In view of the current global perception of Islam as a religion of terror, such a report by The Jakarta Post will only support this proposition and further create confusion over Islam and Muslims in general.
Furthermore, this example of a partial judgment will only stir more controversy on pesantren as the breeding place of Indonesian terrorists and the misrepresentation of Islam in Indonesia. The fact that the terrorist attacks in Indonesia were conducted by a section of Indonesian Muslims cannot be used to generalize the Muslims in Indonesia in general as intolerance. Because majority of Muslims in Indonesia are known to be tolerant and opt for a moderate form of Islam in which Islam is regarded as more of a way of life than as a religion as such. Pesantren played a great role in shaping the moderate form of Islam in Indonesia.
The sufistic approach adopted by traditional pesantrens in teaching Islam to its students has resulted in their acceptance of differences in the society. The graduates of these pesantrens practice a moderate form of Islam. However, with the return of the Indonesian Muslim students from the heartlands of Islam like Saudi Arabia or Yemen, the face of Islam in Indonesia changes. These students brought home with them the conservative form of Islam. Their mission then is to purify Islam in Indonesia thus denying the Muslims in Indonesia the practice of Islam they learnt from the pesantrens.
It is now homework for the Indonesian Muslim to preserve the moderate nature of Islam in Indonesia by not succumbing to the pressure from the conservative and militant Muslims. Because if once they fail to preserve this status, then not only Muslims in general who will suffer but also other followers of different religions in Indonesia specially and in the world in general.
Thus, with the seeds of tolerance found in the pesantrens and the high need to picture Islam as a religion which is meant for humanity, a collective effort by all Muslims is necessary to fight conservatism and to promote liberalism and multiculturalism.
The following is the published form in The Jakarta Post, 26 January 2006
Intolerance in Pesantren?
On the basis of a recent survey by the International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) on 20 odd pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in West Java, it was concluded in a report published in The Jakarta Post that the pesantren are "no hive of tolerance" ('Pesantren' no hive of tolerance: Survey, Jan. 18).
At the same time, the executive director of ICIP, Syafi'i Anwar, commenting on the results of the survey, said in a seminar titled: Deepening Religious Understanding and Multiculturalism among Personalities in Pesantren in West Java held in Depok on Jan. 17, that respecting differences was not a new phenomenon among pesantren-based Muslims but in the current context of multiculturalism, a certain degree of conservatism was prevalent among them. Thus, he concluded, to avoid the trap of a total conservatism among Muslims, this positive view over differences should be enhanced.
Based on the reports quoted above, two opposite views are found in which the Post's reporter clearly judged and concluded that there is no tolerance in the pesantren while at the same time, the executive director of the ICIP himself acknowledged that there was respect for differences among pesantren-based Muslims. And, he added, that it is homework for all of us to develop this tradition of openness and acceptance of differences.
In view of the current global perception of Islam as a religion of terror, such a report by the Post will only support this proposition and further create confusion over Islam and Muslims in general.
Pesantren have played a great role in shaping the moderate form of Islam in Indonesia. The sufistic approach adopted by traditional pesantren in teaching Islam to its students has resulted in their acceptance of differences in the society. The graduates of these pesantren practice a moderate form of Islam. However, with the return of Indonesian Muslim students from the heartland of Islam like Saudi Arabia or Yemen, the face of Islam in Indonesia has changed. These students brought home with them the conservative form of Islam.
It is now homework for the Indonesian Muslim to preserve the moderate nature of Islam in Indonesia by not succumbing to pressure from conservative and militant Muslims. Because if once they fail to preserve this status, then not only Muslims in general will suffer but so will followers of other religions in Indonesia in particular and in the world in general.
Thus, with the seeds of tolerance found in the pesantren and the high need to project Islam as a religion which is meant for humanity, a collective effort by all Muslims is necessary to fight conservatism and to promote liberalism and multiculturalism.
Published in The Jakarta Post, 26 January 2006.
Can be accessed through the following address:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060126.F05
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