By: Muhammad Yasin)*
Radicalism must be prevented so that it does not spread further. Religious organizations can be the spearhead to counter this dangerous teaching, because they have a great influence in society.
Attacks and bombings that occur in Indonesia are the result of radical and terrorist groups. Therefore, the government continues to eradicate radialism, because they have made a fatal mistake, by committing acts of violence, crime, and intolerance. Radicalism if left unchecked will be dangerous because it can break the peace in this country.
Eradication of radicalism is the government’s focus. BNPT (National Agency for the Eradication of Terrorism) as the official institution assigned this task, continues to strive to eradicate radicalism from Indonesia.
Brigadier General Pol R Ahmad Nurwakhid Director of Prevention of the National Agency for Combating Terrorism stated that terrorism is a power political movement by manipulating and politicizing religion with the aim of replacing state ideology with transnational ideology. His character is intolerant of difference and diversity, and exclusive of change.
Brigadier General Pol R Ahmad Nurwakhid added, to eradicate radicalism, the role of religious organizations is needed. They can be the spearhead of preventing radical terrorism by promoting nationalism through a religious approach.
In a sense, a religious organization is not only lecturing about the human obligation to pray, zakat, hajj, alms, etc. However, the clerics and kiai who are members of these mass organizations can give the theme of nationalism. So that the audience will hear that loving the country is one of the characteristics of religious people, and their sense of nationalism will be stronger.
The clerics can give lectures about the struggle of kiai and other religious leaders in Indonesia’s war of independence, for example KH Hasyim Asyari, KH Ahmad Dahlan, etc. They set an example that defending the country is also rewarding. Meanwhile, currently the way to defend Indonesia when the war is over is to maintain a sense of nationalism and refuse to be invited to jihad.
Another example is the lecture about the story of the Prophet Muhammad, that he has exemplified the love for the homeland since hundreds of years ago. If the Prophet has said, why do radical groups and terrorists even invite people to hate their own country?
In fact, they are at fault for insisting on establishing a caliphate state even though Indonesia has a clear ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution as the basis of the state, and cannot be contested. The clerics can explain that the caliphate is not suitable in Indonesia because it is not in accordance with the situation of its society which is pluralist and has Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. While the caliphate is suitable abroad, in monarchical countries.
The role of clerics and kiai is very important because they have great influence, not only in their own Ormas, but also in the community. If residents who listen to their lectures understand it, they will not want to be seduced by radical groups and terrorists. They realize that the invitation is a big mistake, because radicalism and terrorism are big crimes.
Therefore, religious organizations are expected to always remind their members in preaching. You can add material about nationalism and love for the country. The reason is because being loyal to the country has been exemplified by the prophet.
Religious organizations can be the spearhead in the fight against radicalism and the clerics and kiai who are members explain to the public about the dangers of intolerance, radicalism, and terrorism. They continue to echo nationalism because they can crush radicalism in Indonesia. Do not even support radical groups and promote jihad and resistance, because it is the same as being a traitor to the state.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute