By : Rahmat Gunawan *)
South Sulawesi.id| Currently, houses of worship have become one of the targets of radical groups in spreading the narrative of intolerance through religious pulpits. The warning for vigilance that was conveyed was then twisted as if it were an Islamophobic view and it was difficult to admit the fact that there was a spread of radicalism in the religious sphere.
The potential spread can occur in any religious house of worship. This is due to the polarization of radicalism and extremism in all religions and groups with this understanding want to control the center of community activity from places of worship.
The religious pulpit is the most effective means of conveying many things, especially about religious teachings. However, it actually becomes vulnerable to be misused by certain groups to spread or propagate radicalism.
In line with the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, KH Nasaruddin Umar who acknowledged that the practice of spreading radicalism, intolerance, and hatred in religious spaces and pulpits is true and must be acknowledged to raise early awareness, the author argues that this potential can occur because normatively Religious activities are centered in houses of worship.
However, according to the author, to overcome this, it is necessary to have maximum and appropriate efforts because there are many young generations who are the nation’s successors who are affected by the entanglement of radical ideological narratives and terrorism which are very dangerous for the survival of the nation and the existence of Pancasila as the nation’s guideline.
As Indonesian people, we need to approach the younger generation, especially as parents, we need to embrace and pay attention to them, so that their great energy is channeled, so that it is not used to divide the nation. Don’t let their energy be used to attack people, but instead use it to embrace people.
From the author’s point of view, the handling of victims and perpetrators of intolerant radical narratives in the religious space must look at the internal and external factors that influence their vulnerability. Perpetrators of intolerant radical narratives do this because of their religious knowledge or other historical factors.
Religious pulpits in places of worship are very effective in conveying teachings to the congregation. The congregants also tend to pay close attention to what the speaker is saying. Situations like this are then used by certain interest groups to carry out ideologicalization, agitation, and so on.
Efforts that can be made to prevent the spread of radicalism in religious pulpits are to limit the space for radical groups who use religious space and pulpits, this is very important so that radical ideas do not spread which can bring disaster to the sustainability and unity of the nation. .
Furthermore, radical groups often distort narratives that lead public opinion as if the government has carried out Islamophobic practices because Islamophobia is a group that does not want Islam and Muslims to develop. In fact, there is no such thing as Islamophobia in Indonesia, in fact we have the Ministry of Religion and other institutions that regulate and support the course of religious life in Indonesia, so it is not right and wrong to say that the government has carried out Islamophobic practices in Indonesia.
The author argues, it is related to how the individual’s perspective on a problem. The government is obliged to carry out state duties to maintain the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The appeals and findings of the apparatus related to radicalism and efforts to deal with them are not appropriate if they are said to be Islamophobic. Therefore, it is important for a person to have a comprehensive understanding of religion, strengthen aqidah so that they are not easily provoked and provoked.
The author agrees and commends the government’s efforts so far and deserves appreciation for embracing religious figures and sterilizing houses of worship from radical groups to tackle the spread of radicalism and terrorism in the name of religion. Moreover, recently people can enjoy a safe and peaceful life from acts of terrorism.
One example of efforts that can be done to prevent the spread of radicalism as said by Moch. Syarif Hidayatullah as the General Chair of the Association of Dai and Daiyah Indonesia (ADDI) that he invited all parties to pay attention to places of worship in the government environment, lest the invited lecturers be the ones who have been narrating to reject the government by conveying a different ideology with the nation’s ideology, namely Pancasila.
The author also hopes that all religious and community leaders can equip people and their followers so that they are not easily influenced by radical understanding and terrorism and prioritize comprehensive religious knowledge.
Thus, the struggle to prevent radicalism in places of worship, especially religious pulpits, must not stop. The hope is not only that the public will be aware, but that the existing radical groups will soon disappear from this nation.
*The author is a contributor to the Mulia Institute
