By: Raditya Rahman) *
Can mosques be a place to voice the aspirations of political leaders to overthrow their political opponents, or simply allow mosques to be politicized?
Of course the question is an absurd question. Mosques, like monasteries, churches or other places of worship that are social institutions. But to whom and which social groups are the alignments of mosques in social reality devoted?
The mosque has a great potential that is ogled by politicians who do not know themselves, where there are politicians who want to make the mosque as one of the political vehicles to satisfy their powerful lust.
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 have become twins. Like twins who always gather, they will fight often and some will be hegemony.
Likewise with religious leaders and party leaders who have power, both must synergize with their respective positions. So it is obligatory for the government to contain regulations relating to the function of the mosque as a place of worship.
In 2018 a new case emerged, namely the installation of a giant billboard with # 2019 over the presidential post, which was installed right in front of the mosque in North Sumatra.
Then what exactly is the politicization of the mosque in question? If what is meant is to make mosques as a means to support candidates or even berate candidates from other parties, this is certainly not allowed.
Former MPR Chair Amien Rais once said that religion and state must not be separated, and all world affairs in mosques are legal.
That principle was echoed by Amien Rais, who made noise for the people so that it was divided into two camps between the pros and cons. The open message from Amien Rais immediately spread rapidly and raised the next anxiety, namely the politicization of the mosque.
The problem is, what “political message” will be inserted and “what political awareness is to be built ?, because both of them are closely correlated with those who benefit from political insertion at religious events.
When places of worship such as mosques become a place to discuss practical politics, pragmatic eating will cause disputes or conflicts between the congregations themselves, because their aspirations are different.
In mosques, political campaigns allow it to be presented in religious nuances. Efforts to lead public opinion and mobilize the masses were carried out by quoting and adopting one or two verses of the Holy Qur’an. The power-oriented political struggle is described as if it were a purely religious struggle.
The politicization of the mosque has implications for two things. On the one hand this action is undoubtedly a serious threat to democracy. The involvement of natural elements in practical politics has proven to have caused a lot of negative things, ranging from discrimination, potential disunity and social conflict that resulted in the loosening of kinship.
On the other hand, the politicization of mosques is a behavior that demeans religious values which generally teach about divinity, other beautiful peace.
In Indonesia, places of worship are one of the essential elements of community life, the connection between religion and politics is necessary.
Islam does not teach people to be anti-political. Note that Islam is a political religion. However, the political style played by Islam is not a political style of power that justifies any means to gain votes. Political Islam is a high-level politics oriented to humanity.
The real threat will be the politicization of mosques is the division of people, mosques should be a place that soothes and reassures the soul, not as a place to gain votes by bringing down political opponents. What’s worse is the politicians who want to make the mosque a stage of political campaigns which cite verses and hadith of the prophet to support their interests.
The next threat is the loss of the meaning of the sanctity of the mosque itself. The politicization of mosques is a real crime, because people who use mosques as a campaign stage, means manipulating mosques for personal gain.
We all hope that there will be no political commotion that has started from inside the mosque, because the mosque is a sacred place for Muslims, therefore it is appropriate to make the mosque and its territory free in the politicization of mosques.
Of course it does not mean that political affairs should not be discussed in mosques, political discussions in mosques should create tolerance in society, not contain verbal abuse and insults or dextructive messages that can cause division.
Of course there is still much more useful material than politicizing mosques, for example when mosques are used to spread love, because many citizens who need the message to maintain the coolness and peace tucked into the damages of lecture material.
In addition, economic problems seem to be an option for lecture material, this is felt necessary because there are still tremendous gaps. Employment is also difficult to obtain. So it requires enthusiasm or motivation in the lecture material.
) * The author is a political observer
