Sustainability for Those in State of Purity
Building understanding and mutual understanding which, of course, is not limited to relations between individuals, but also among groups, communities and nations.
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JMuslims gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Thursday (13/5/2021).
A series of text and video messages that came through the WhatsApp chatting application on the evening of 11 April was quite surprising. They appeared before the time of breaking the fast.
No one expected the student demonstrations in Jakarta on that day to descend into chaos. It was also unthinkable that the demonstration would have broken up in disorder leading to an attack, and for sure, it was so brutal.
Ade Armando was the victim. Everyone knows. Events are like push notification: the fire in the husk is still burning! The beating was not an ordinary criminal event. There was a hate motive behind it, whose history can be traced quite clearly to a number of incidents of political strife several years earlier.
Such incidents, with similar characteristics and motives, have frequently occurred in recent years. However, the pattern is the same: one group regards another group as unable to accept reality, and as troublemakers, slanderers; while the other group accuses their opponents of being immoral, unjust and deceitful.
The situation generates more debate than agreement; sparks more conflict than peace.
Such conditions, obviously, are not good. It is dangerous, not only because these disputes can disrupt security and order and peace and damage social harmony, but they also hinder progress.
=Halal bi halal atmosphere at the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/7/2018).
More importantly, and worryingly, this situation lowers the chances of our survival as a nation and state. For an example, a country that is constantly in conflict, has never been able to become a developed nation, on the contrary it verges on extinction.
Sustainability for kindness
It is understandable that some may find it naive when one advocates compassion and extends friendship whenever there is an incident of violence motivated by such malice.
Moreover, during Idul Fitri, the word “sorry” is everywhere but it has lost the essence of purity and sincerity.
Great idea, some say. Be compassionate and friendly toward relatives, coworkers or neighbors who have hurt us. Well, it does not seem too difficult. What will happen if we do the same thing with our enemies, political opponents, or opposing parties? That is more difficult.
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However, some people may argue that such an attitude is the most rational. Modern psychologists call it non-complementary behavior. That is how the negative feedback loop can be closed; the tendency to retaliate against each other can be suppressed.
“If you punish people to retaliate, you have to hurt them,” says novelist George Bernard Shaw. “If you want to set things straight, you have to fix them. And humans will not be good if they are hurt."
Human nature, he says, is friendly and peace-loving.
Meanwhile, historian Rutger Bregman says that humans are by nature friendly creatures, not hostile, tending to be kind, loving friendship and peace rather than enmity and conflict. Human nature, he says, is friendly and peace-loving.
In fact, once again according to Bregman, that is the reason we as humans still exist. “Sustainability for the kindest,” he wrote, referring to anthropologist Brian Hare's paper, Humankind: A History of Hope.
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Thousands of residents perform Idul Fitri 1439 H prayers at Astrid Field, Bogor Botanical Garden, West Java, Friday (15/6/2018). President Joko Widodo, First Lady Mrs. Iriana and a number of Cabinet ministers also conducted their Idul Fitri prayers at that location.
Only those – groups, communities, nations –which have succeeded in building cooperation and not those who are divided and trapped in conflict, will survive and be able to overcome various difficulties. And cooperation can be built only by understanding, free from prejudice and hatred, without conflict and hostility.
Humans want togetherness and interaction, said Bregman, confirming the scientific explanation of human nature. “Our soul wants relationships as much as we want food.”
“Husnut Tafahum”
Building understanding and mutual understanding which, of course, is not limited to relations between individuals, but also among groups, communities and nations.
Husnut tafahum, is the term recently introduced by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.
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With full awareness as a pluralistic nation—covering religion, ethnicity, race, culture and various other cultural differences, even political views—our ulema teach a guide called saddu dzara'i (preventing any chance that can lead to destruction).
In other, more popular terms, we know the rule of dar'ul mafasid muqaddamun 'ala jalbil masalih (avoiding damage should come first before doing good).
Preventive action, from a religious point of view, is a good effort in determining any attitude.
Avoiding damage is a preventive measure that can be taken before there is greater harm. Preventive action, from a religious point of view, is a good effort in determining any attitude.
There are at least two signs that should be used as a guide to prevent a loss of understanding, misunderstanding and prejudice. First, respect the work and pride of others. Second, do not criticize other people's beliefs. The two principles should be used as our values in the life of the nation and state.
A billboard depicting the Kupang Muhammadiyah Youth Regional Leaders wishing "Happy Eid 1442 H" to all the people of East Nusa Tenggara, in Kupang, Thursday (13/5/2021).
We can take inspiration from the famous words of Nelson Mandela, after being released, after 27 years in prison during the apartheid regime, a critical period when South Africa was on the verge of civil war.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart,” said Mandela.
The willingness to respect others and not criticize their beliefs, plus the effort to understand the identity of others, even enemies or opponents, is an expression of a commitment to develop understanding and cooperation.
That expression will grow, blossom and bloom if —this is what matters —we are aware of our original nature or nature as human beings. Yes, again, friendly and peace-loving. In that way, we are sure that we, as a nation, will be sustainable and become a nation that progresses and can promote a noble civilization. Happy Idul Fitri. May Allah keep us away from division.
Robikin Emhas, Staf Khusus Wapres Ma'ruf Amin.
Robikin Emhas, is chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, Special Staff to Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).
