The ‘Smiles’ of NU and Muhammadiyah
As long as NU and Muhammadiyah continue to be pioneers in spreading "the smile of Islam", Indonesia will be safe, peaceful, friendly and prosperous.
The article by former Muhammadiyah leader Buya Ahmad Syafii Maarif, "Message for Muhammadiyah and NU", published in Kompas on 5 Jan. 2021, is an interesting read.
The article by the historian and ulama (Muslim scholar) was inspired by Djoko Susilo\'s painting that features K.H. Ahmad Mustofa Bisri of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Syafii holding hands, which is thought to be beyond its time.
Syafii, dubbed “the warrior from Chicago” by the late Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, starts with the painting to deliver at least 12 highly contextual and relevant messages. Of these, three of the messages are worth discussing.
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This writing attempts to provide supporting data for these three messages, which I feel are very important.
The first message is that the two largest Muslim organizations in the country must join hands to protect national unity from all kinds of harm, including those that claim to act in the name of religion.
The second is that the two organizations, both of which were founded in pre-independence Indonesia, are fortresses that stem the infiltration of ideologies that have lost their future vision for Islam, Indonesian-ness and humanity.
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The third is that the new generation of the two organizations must think more openly, and their circle of interaction must not be narrow or fragmented so they can respond to contemporary challenges.
Chairman of the Yogyakarta City Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership, Akhid Widi Rahmanto, spoke at a grand recitation commemorating the 97th birthday of Nahdlatul Ulama, Thursday (5/3/2020), at the Nahdlatul Ulama University Yogyakarta. The presence of Akhid shows the brotherhood between Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.
NU-Muhammadiyah commitment
Regarding the first message, I still remember on 19 May 2017, NU and Muhammadiyah held a halaqah (meeting) titled "The State of Pancasila and the Khilafah" during the issues over the disbandment of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Muhammadiyah was represented by then secretary general Prof. Abdul Mu\'ti, while Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) was represented by then-chairman Prof. Dr. KH Said Aqil Siroj. I had the opportunity to attend the halaqah, where I felt the strong commitment of the two organizations in embracing the national ideology as the common consensus.
NU has a long history in its commitment to nationhood, Indonesian-ness and Pancasila. In fact, this has been its stance since at least 1936, when the 11th NU Congress was held in Banjarmasin and decided that the Dutch East Indies was darussalam (house of peace), not darul harb (house of war). At its peak in 1984, NU became the first Muslim mass organization to adopt Pancasila as its organizational principle.
For NU, Pancasila is muahadah wathoniyyah (national consensus) that must be upheld, respected, and contextualized, and its values must be implemented in the life of the nation and the state. Muhammadiyah is founded on the concept of darul ahdi was syahadah as decided in 2015 at the 47th Muhammadiyah Congress in Makassar. As a concept, darul ahdi was syahadah emphasizes that the Pancasila State (Indonesia) is the result of a national consensus (darul ahdi) and a place of proof or evident (darus syahadah) to become a country that is safe and peaceful (darussalam) and headed towards life that is advanced, just, prosperous, dignified and sovereign under the blessings of God Almighty.
NU became the first Muslim mass organization to adopt Pancasila as its organizational principle.
Personally, practicing Pancasila in a serious manner is part of implementing Islamic law. This is because the values of Islam are already contained in Pancasila. So in this position, we do not need to formalize state law, organization or system as an Islamic state or as other forms such as the concept of NKRI Bersyariah (sharia-based Indonesia). We implement Islam and Indonesian-ness in one breath (Read "State of Pancasila and Khilafah", Kompas, 2/6/17).
Further, the leaders and executives of the two organizations on 23 March 2018 held an extended meeting of NU and Muhammadiyah titled "Realizing a Peaceful and Tolerant Islam Towards a Just Indonesia".
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The meeting produced a declaration on five shared commitments that was signed by Prof. Dr. K.H. Said Aqil Siroj and Prof. Dr. KH Haedar Nashir. The joint NU-Muhammadiyah declaration consisted of first, to protect and maintain the consensus of the nation\'s founders, of which Pancasila and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) are the final forms. Its diversity must also be preserved under national unity and integrity.
Second, NU and Muhammadiyah are to continue their efforts to improve the standard of living and quality of the citizenry, especially by developing character-building education at all levels that emphasized akhlakul karimah (morality), including strengthening the people’s economic base and improving public health services.
Third, NU and Muhammadiyah call on the government to take serious measures in reducing poverty and unemployment. In addition, the government should take measured efforts to resolve economic and social inequality.
Fourth, the two organizations are to call on their members to work together to maintain a climate that is conducive to social and religious life.
Fifth, NU and Muhammadiyah are to call on their members to devote 2018 (the political year ahead of the 2019 presidential election) to make meaningful changes for the nation and state. Differences should not trigger disintegration, and instead must be seen as a blessing that supports harmony between the various lives. This is because democracy requires a willingness to accept differences of opinion, as well as patience, accuracy and mutual love.
This joint declaration, at its most basic level, can be seen to be a concrete effort by the two organizations to affirm their shared commitment to nation-building while continuing to espect diversity, differences and openness. These are to be the basis for action and behavior in the national and state context.
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More specifically, the March 2018 meeting was a preventive approach the two organizations had taken at a time when political turmoil was heating up and the country was facing the threat of sharp polarization. Many observers and scholars, including Ross Tapsell in "The polarization paradox in Indonesia\'s 2019 elections" (2019), described the dangerous threat of polarization to Indonesia at that time. In fact, whether we realize it or not, the ripples of polarization are still felt today.
One small thing at the NU-Muhammadiyah meeting that the media may have overlooked was a Quranic verse that formed its backdrop: Surah An-Nisa verse 114, which state, "laa khaira fi katsirin min najwahum illa man amara bishadaqatin au ma\'rufin au islahin bainannasi".
The contextual message of this verse is that any discussion, or perhaps any organization, has a point that does not lead to the three basic tenets of Islam: to give alms and charity, to seek to do good deeds, and to promote reconciliation. I think this is the central message of the spirit behind the stance of these two organizations to work together more closely.
A mural with the theme of religious tolerance is drawn on the wall of a house in Meruyung, Depok, West Java, Saturday (12/9/2020).
The smile of Islam
The historic meeting at NU headquarters that resulted in these five shared commitments was followed up with a reciprocal visit of the NU executive board to Muhammadiyah headquarters on 31 Oct. 2018. Again, the amiable forum filled with the spirit of brotherhood formulated four important points that the two organizations agreed mutually.
The first of these four points is that NU and Muhammadiyah are strongly committed to upholding the unity and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia as founded on Pancasila, to be viewed as Islamic in its form and system. Second, NU and Muhammadiyah support the democratic system and democratization as a mechanism for state politics and the election of the nation’s leaders.
As long as NU and Muhammadiyah continue to be pioneers in spreading "the smile of Islam", Indonesia will be safe, peaceful, friendly and prosperous.
Third, NU and Muhammadiyah are committed to increasing constructive cooperation to educate the nation. Fourth, the two organizations invite all elements to manifest wisdom in their behavior.
The reciprocal visits by the two Muslim organizations were not an ordinary gesture of hospitality. They were national meetings to indicate that the two mass organizations held the same views and agendas in the context of Islam, Indonesia and humanity as Syafii has instructed.
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Then, what is the condition of the younger generation of the two organizations? Basically, the open nature of the youth wings of both NU and Muhammadiyah has been favorable until now.
The NU youths go on to pursue their education at not only pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), but also at Western institutions; Muhammadiyah youths also do the same. This is one of the reasons why we are optimistic about the openness of the two organizations, and it is an important asset that must be nurtured together.
A Helmy Faishal Zaini
Alakulli hal (all thanks are due to Allah), what I am suggesting is just a small part of the many efforts NU and Muhammadiyah have made, hand-in-hand, in the context of the nation and the state. Many foreign observers and ulama spoke to us at NU headquarters and said that as long as NU and Muhammadiyah continue to be pioneers in spreading "the smile of Islam", Indonesia will be safe, peaceful, friendly and prosperous. Amen.
A Helmy Faishal Zaini, Nahdlatul Ulama Secretary-General.
This article was translated by Kurniawan H. Siswoko.
