By: Rivka Mayangsari) *
The harmony of religion and nationality is necessary. Religion requires power to create order. Likewise the State needs religion so that the state has the value of civilization and humanity.
Religion and power are like twins. Religion is the foundation while power is the guardian. Something without foundation and foundation, then it will collapse, so also something that no guard will easily lose is stolen by a thief.
Likewise, the relationship between ulama and umara must be synergistic in their respective positions. So, the government has the authority to create order. While the Ulama to give ‘sky value’ in the government.
The Central MUI Community Da’wah and Development Commission, Cholil Nafis, in the socialization of maps and preaching guidelines in Balikpapan. Cholil discussed the relationship between religion and the state, that the anchors supporting the NKRI were religious and nationalists.
Cholil said, religion and power became twins. He also gave an example of his experience of having twins. He said, if both of them always gather, they will often fight and some will be hegemony.
The University of Indonesia Postgraduate Lecturer also elaborated on the discourse on the politicization of mosques. According to him the mosque is the house of God which must be frequented by Muslims. “In accordance with its function, the mosque as well as a house of worship draws closer to Allah SWT, also as a means of interaction and building social solidarity.” Said cholil.
In 2017, the action walked out or left the mosque when the sermon material contained political elements that had boomed. When at that time the community felt uncomfortable when the preacher who was supposed to teach religious matters was tainted by political problems. Thanks to that, millions of people declared anti-politicization programs for mosques. This action aims to restore the function of the mosque properly.
Since the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW, the role and function of mosques is a means of fostering vertical and horizontal relations. Thus in the khulafaurrasyidin zama. Even in the Islamic empire in Indonesia, the mosque building was deliberately made in parts and porches. The inside functions as a means of worship. While the series is for community discussion with a variety of topics, including political issues.
Then what is the meaning of politicizing mosques, perhaps what is meant is to make mosques for means of campaigning support the candidates or even to berate other candidates. Of course if that means, strongly agree if politicization is prohibited.
Therefore, his party requested that mosque activities not be silenced. Then do not be distorted by short-term political interests so that this nation is in line with the spirit of religion and the spirit of statehood.
So, let the mosque play a role in voicing the truth. While the ruler is the guarantor of order and social stability.
Ahead of the democratic party in April, we as citizens must certainly be intelligent in distinguishing between politicization for the benefit of all people or politicization for the benefit of their own group.
Also important is an effort to build political literacy in society. Because with qualified political literacy, it will slowly shift the discussion about the pro and anti-strongholds – certain camps are the talks that discuss public policy.
If the community has good political literacy, then self-defeating and black campaign efforts will disappear from the pulpit of the mosque. In the end, the community will focus on substantial issues about what they can get as citizens.
Making mosques as a place to spread political speech is indeed unethical, considering that there are many worshipers in mosques who have different political ideologies.
One indication of the movement of politicization of mosques is the content of lectures or sermons that direct pilgrims to certain interests, if this happens then it does not rule out the possibility, the division of fellow believers will be difficult to avoid.
The main politicization of SARA for the politicization of religion can also make the community sidetracked from those who should see the quality and program of candidates becoming merely a primordial identity attached to the candidate.
Even though there is no guarantee that candidates belonging to a particular religion or ethnic origin must be great and credible leaders.
The MUI also considered that in addition to violating the regulations of the KPU, it also tarnished religion because of the politicization of religion. Teaching about the science of religion should not be tainted by directing the people to choose one of the names or numbers of the presidential candidate pairs.
The mosque will lose its shade if the content of the sermon is interfered with by appealing to public opinion and hate speech. Pilgrims returning from the mosque bring a hardened heart.
Returning a mosque to a pure place of worship is a great homework of Muslims today. Let politicians fight in the field. Don’t let mosques become the realm of political battle. Refusing the politicization of mosques is a concrete step to save the mosque from votes.
All forms of political campaigns in places of worship such as mosques are things that are contrary to regulations that have been decided by the KPU which prohibit campaigns in places of worship, educational facilities and government facilities.
On the other hand, the participants of the democracy contest must also be more aware, not to use places of worship as a media for practical political campaigns.
) * The author is an observer of politics and society