By: Raditya Rahman) *
Takmir Leader of Semarang Grand Mosque or Kauman Mosque, KH Hanief Ismail expressed objection to the plan of President No 02 who wanted to carry out Friday Prayers at the Semarang Grand Mosque on Friday, February 15, 2019 yesterday.
“We, the Kauman mosque nadlir or takmir, objected to the plan for the Prabowo Friday meeting. Please convey to Bawaslu, to take actions that are necessary according to the rules and laws, “said Hanief.
Kiai Hanief also explained that the Kauman Mosque takmir had never received a letter from the campaign team of Prabowo-Sandi and from the bearer party of the presidential and vice presidential candidate related to the activity.
Therefore, Friday Prayer, reportedly to be attended by Prabowo and his supporters at the Kauman Mosque, have never involved the Grand Mosque nadlir or takmir either officially or informally. Takmir has never approved or given permission both orally and in writing.
In a written statement, Kiai Hanief said that the Friday prayer by Prabowo was considered to have an element of politicizing the Friday prayer service, by using a mosque for political purposes by gathering mass.
Kiai Hanief added, in principle the Kauman Mosque takmir invited anyone to pray at the mosque. Takmir opened wide – whoever is Muslim to worship, including Friday prayer.
However, Takmir objected if the prayer event was politicized. Namely, it was used as a political arena for imaging as a campaign material, especially by mobilizing the masses by distributing flyers to the community, so that they joined Jumatan with the presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.
That, according to him, has the potential to violate the rules of the campaign and severely tarnish the sanctity of the mosque as a place of worship. Like information circulating, Prabowo will carry out Friday prayer at the Grand Mosque of Semarang and this plan has been announced on a large scale. There are thousands of flyers and posters distributed in the city of Semarang. This notice is also visible on campuses and mosques.
The mosque takmir party actually allows anyone who wants to pray at the Kauman Mosque. Including travelers. But, if for campaign imaging, it has the potential to violate the rules and tarnish the sanctity of the mosque as a place of worship.
Management of the PCNU Lapkesdam City of Semarang, Ichwan, who was governed by Rais Syuriyah, immediately carried out his ulama dhawuh. He immediately sent a message to the Chairman of the Semarang Bawaslu, Muhammad Amin.
“I carried out the order of Kiai Hanief Ismail. PCNU Chairman, Mr. Anasom also contacted me with the same order. Of course, I am dhawuh. I contacted the Chairperson of the Semarang Election Supervisory Body. And. I give advice, so that there is an official report to Bawaslu, “Ichwan said.
The objection from the mosque takmir is certainly not without reason, this is based on the existence of thousands of pamphlets and posters and notifications through digital posters that have been viral on social media. Many Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts post the notice.
Because the worshipers of the mosque also have different political ideologies, some of them have a mosque orientation that is purely political and worldly. So that Kiai Hanief expressed his objection on the basis of just keeping it so that there were no unwanted things at Kauman Mosque.
Actually, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Hatta Rajasa, who at that time became vice president in pairs with Prabowo Subianto, also held Friday prayers at the Kauman Mosque, said Hanief. But there are no worries or flyers that are scattered to lead the masses so that Friday prayers at the Kauman Mosque.
Likewise, at the time of the Central Java Central Java Governor Election, Candidate Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Candidate Governor Sudirman Said performed prayers at the Kauman Mosque without an invitation to his entourage.
The Chairperson of the Semarang Bawaslu also knew the news, he said that Friday prayer was a private activity. Bawaslu cannot prohibit it. Only later if the activity leads to a campaign, then it will provide decisive action.
Of course mosques are places of worship that must be clean of practical politics, including the preacher. The Khatib must give sermons on Friday prayer that bring people closer to Allah, not to practical politics.
The problem in this matter is certainly not necessarily the prayer, but the circulation of solicitation posters for Friday prayers which were allegedly able to trigger the mob of supporters of the Prabowo camp, and what was feared was the emergence of tendentious pilgrims to camp No. 02
This would of course be different if the pamphlet on Friday prayers with Prabowo was not spread. Bawaslu must also really pay attention to every move – both Prabowo and his supporters – whether there is a campaign violation or not. Especially if it is proven that there is an element of self-image or conveying the vision and mission.
With the viral information regarding Friday prayer with Prabowo at the Kauman Mosque, there will certainly be potential violations in the event. This is because there will be many people gathered and focusing on Prabowo Subianto.
Towards the political year, of course various news and social media time lines will be increasingly widespread with the number of polemics. Friday prayer is certainly a personal activity, but it will be a problem if there is political movement outside the prayer movement.
) * The author is an observer of Social Politic