Celebrating 100th Anniversary, NU Pledges to Rebuild World Civilization

KOMPAS/PASCAL S BIN SAJU

Yahya Cholil Staquf (right) and Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director of Interreligious Relations at the AJC Conference in Jerusalem, Sunday (10/6/2018)

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Celebrating its 100th anniversary, based on the Islamic lunar calendar (Hijri year), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is committed to rebuilding world civilization. The largest Islamic organization in Indonesia will fight for the realization of a new world order that is just and harmonious based on respect for equal rights and dignity for every human being.

During an interview with Kompas at the organization’s head office in Jakarta on Friday, NU’s chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf said the establishment of NU on 16 Rajab 1344 or in January 1926 was intended to pave the way toward a new civilization, as the world's Muslims had lost the direction of civilization due to the end of the caliphate system following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey.

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Therefore, NU feels it has a responsibility to fight for a new world order, which is just and harmonious, based on respect for equal rights and human dignity.

"This new world order is also the choice of the founders of NU as well," said Yahya.

He explained that the vision of civilization was expressed by the nation's founders as shown in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, such as the vision for independence for every nation and for the establishment of world order.

The founding fathers of the nation also felt the need to create a new world order free from imperialism.

At that time, before World War II ended, big countries tended to colonize, which at that time was considered normal. The founding fathers of the nation also felt the need to create a new world order free from imperialism.

According to Gus Yahya, many efforts have been made to create a new world but they have not been fully completed, so world order is also not perfect.

The issue of national borders, for example, has not yet been settled. A number of border disputes and territorial claims still exist. Not only that, universal human rights have not been fulfilled.

Because of this imperfection, some groups looked for a new order, which partly contributed to the emergence of radicalism and terrorism.

“I think what is needed first is to remember the postwar international consensus. Let's return to consensus because we are already amid efforts to build a new civilization with a post-World War II world order," he said.

IQBAL BASYARI

NU's chairman NU, Yahya Cholil Staquf.

Indonesia is one of the countries that have adopted universal human rights, one of which was the implementation of universal suffrage in the first general election in 1955.

“Compared to the United States, we first implemented universal suffrage. So, we have a strong claim as aspirants of the post-World War II world order,” he said.

Such an idea is also the basis for NU to take on the role of rebuilding world civilization. That’s why in celebrating its 100th anniversary, NU carries the big theme Building a World Civilization.

The peak event for the 100th anniversary of NU will be held on 16 Rajab 1444 Hijri or early February 2023.

According to the plan, a series of activities to celebrate NU's 100th anniversary will begin in May and will be held in a number of regions in the country. The peak event for the 100th anniversary of NU will be held on 16 Rajab 1444 Hijri or early February 2023.

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"For NU, this is the biggest opportunity so that the execution of NU's programs this year will be associated with the 100th anniversary," said Yahya.

In line

Separately, the rector of the International Islamic University of Indonesia, Komaruddin Hidayat, said the idea of rebuilding a world civilization was in line with the visions of a number of Islamic organizations in Indonesia and Muslim intellectuals in various parts of the world. They were aware of the rich history of the past and wanted to contribute to building world civilization, he added.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The rector of the International Islamic University of Indonesia Komaruddin Hidayat,

As one of the largest religious organizations in Indonesia, he continued, NU should start its contribution within its internal organizations, then other Indonesian Muslims, the Islamic world and the world in general. According to him, NU has a long history, a large community and has many clerics and intellectuals. These resources must be used to improve the quality of education and the people's economy to be more advanced and independent, he said.

“Without economic and education improvements in Indonesia, it will be difficult to contribute to the world. In fact, when Indonesia later develops, it will become a model for other Islamic worlds," said Komaruddin.

The head of the Research Organization for Social Sciences and Humanities at the National Research and Innovation Agency, Ahmad Najib Burhani, said that Indonesia as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world should be able to take on the role of a leader in rebuilding world civilization.

As they have the same knowledge, they can share roles with other Muslims from many countries.

Moreover, now there are no boundaries between countries near and far from the center of Islamic civilization so that Indonesia can continue to hold such as central role. Indonesian Muslims are also no less orthodox than Muslims in other countries. As they have the same knowledge, they can share roles with other Muslims from many countries.

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According to Najib, the rebuilding of the world civilization can be realized more quickly with vertical collaboration and cooperation. Nowadays, it is difficult to live alone without cooperating with other parties.

If at the government level, there has been an Islamic cooperation organization among countries with economic goals and solidarity, NU can initiate collaboration between Islamic organizations to work together to build civilization.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).