By: Amrillah Ilham *
In 1996, the leader of Nadhlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) once made a scene in Indonesia when he issued a series of writings, which were later compiled into the book “God Doesn’t Need To Be Defended”. Of course, this criticism received strong criticism from various circles who had previously criticized the statements of leaders born in Jombang, East Java, among others, about friendly Islam, not anger or Islam that is critical of the old axioms, and Islam which is open to new things and so.
In one of his writings related to “God Doesn’t Need To Be Defended”, Gus Dur stated that in history, religion was in no way sterile from various human desires and interests, so that at some point it was ridden and dragged into a fairly political area, making it a kind of legitimacy political attitude of the interests of a group.
“The name of the Lord was taken there – like a merchandise. If that is the case, what actually happened is a reduction in the noble value of the religious mission itself? “Asked Gus Dur at that time.
But it was never suspected that 22 years later, the statement was one of the important parts of the declaration of brotherhood signed by world Catholic leaders, Pope Francis and High Priest Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb. While attending the signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, the two figures walked hand in hand, a symbol of inter-faith brotherhood. The document claimed to be in the name of all victims of war, persecution and injustice in the world, stated Al Azhar’s commitment to work together to fight extremism.
Both parties expressly stated that religion should not be used to incite war, hatred, hostility and extremism, as well as to trigger violence or bloodshed. An important part of the document encourages all parties to refrain from acting on behalf of God to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression. “We ask this based on our shared belief in God, who did not create humans to be killed or fight with each other, not to be tortured or insulted in their lives and circumstances. God, the Greatest, does not need to be defended by anyone and does not want His name to be used to terrorize people. “
The signing received appreciation from a number of religious leaders. Muslim intellectuals Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat said the declaration was reminiscent of the initial mission of religion, where any religion, in the beginning was to defend oppressed people. Because the religion is not God, the religion is human.
Religion is not for God’s sake, not for defending God. God actually sent the Prophet to defend humanity and humanity. So when religion was then used to create oppression and warfare, it actually violated the core mission of religion in a primordial way, because all of its early religions were to side with the oppressed people.
The meeting of the interfaith leaders showed how the two figures had the same concerns / concerns about religious abuse in conflict and war. While the sentence question in English which if translated into Indonesian means “God does not need to be defended”.
Even if it is said to be defending God, it is actually defending the servants of God, because in the holy book there is also the phrase “raise the religion of God.” So that actually defending the religion of God its form is to defend humanity. Indeed, God does not need to be defended, but in the sense that must be defended is the mission of the truth of the Religion of God, the manifestation of which is to defend humanity.
Father Aloysius Budi Purnomo in Semarang Archdiocese said that the sentences in the declaration signed by Pope Francis and High Priest Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb immediately reminded him of the figure of Indonesian pluralism scholar Abdurrahman Wahid.
It was Gus Dur who at the time of his life always uttered the phrase “God does not need to be defended.” For those who did not like Gus Dur, his statement would certainly be a point to be misinterpreted. But actually the complete sentence is “God does not need to be defended, what needs to be defended is God’s creatures who are treated arbitrarily by other creatures. The sentence revealed by Gus Dur seemed to echo back through a declaration to quell radicalism and extremism that took place in Abu Dhabi.
He also added that the documents in Abu Dhabi strongly underlined and integrated faith in God and the attitude of defending humanity, especially the poor and destitute. The thing that needs to be emphasized is “God does not need to be defended, because the attitude of defending God is often fruitful in acts of violence and terror in others.”
Chairperson of the PBNU HR Study and Development Institute, Dr. Rumadi Ahmad said that the most important thing now was to echo what had been achieved in Abu Dhabi. Even though in Indonesia it has long been talked about, declarations involving these great figures are still important to further encourage Muslims and other people who have long voiced them.
Given the willingness of Pope Francis and Imam Al Azhar to know each other’s views, this is far better and more beneficial than talking half-room and then what emerges is prejudice, without knowing exactly what the biggest problem is. In his speech on papal visitation, the Pope underlined that the Pope and Sheikh Tayeb are here for peace, to promote peace and become an instrument of peace. Where violence, intolerance, fanaticism in the name of religion can never be justified.
- The author is an observer of socio-cultural problems
