President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will open an international Sufi event in Jakarta to show the global community that Indonesian Islam is moderate and tolerant.
The seminar, to be held on July 16, will present Sufi scholars and practitioners from 22 countries, including Egypt, Syria, the United States, Japan, Morocco, Turkey and Malaysia.
“The meeting of the world’s Sufis is important to reinforce that Islam in Indonesia emphasizes good conduct, wisdom and avoiding violence,” Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Said Aqil Siroj told reporters at the Presidential office after meeting with the President on Tuesday.
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali accompanied Agil at the press conference.
“Facing violence on behalf of Islam could tarnish the good image of Islam itself,” Agil said.
The Sufi seminar will be organized by the NU, the country’s largest Muslim organization, known for its moderate stance, ahead of its 85th anniversary, which falls on July 17.
Agil said the NU would also invite Indonesian Sufis and scholars from a number of other groups for a deeper understanding of Sufism.
Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that seeks divine love and knowledge through personal experience with God.
Sufism in Indonesia is known by several public events featuring whirling dervishes, a dance popularized by Sufis.
One Sufi group in Indonesia is the Rabbani Sufi Institute of Indonesia in South Jakarta, which hosts activities such as Haqqani Rabbani Band and Naqshbandi Haqqani Rabbani Whirling Dervishes.
Some Islamic hard-liners in Indonesia find Sufism problematic, as they think some of the teachings stray from Islam. Sufism, however, is known as nonviolent.
In celebrating its anniversary, the NU will also hold a series of events including a four-day expo at the Jakarta Convention Center to showcase products made by NU communities as part of its commitment to promote people’s economy.
The NU said it would continue its programs to promote people’s economy, food security and tackle climate change.
Agil said President Yudhoyono and the NU also discussed working against radicalization on Tuesday.
“President Yudhoyono and the NU shared input on de-radicalization efforts. The NU itself has campaigned in several provinces to warn the public of the threats of radicalism,” Agil said.
He said that the NU brought 260 Muslim clerics together to meet with the Central Java Police to show support in de-radicalization efforts.
The government has previously said Indonesia needs more de-radicalization research centers at the Islamic State University amid growing fundamentalism, which could lead to terrorism.
Agil added that the NU would commit to the country’s four pillars of the unity of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, the Constitution and unity in diversity.
“With or without terrorists, radicalism or not, bombings or not, [the NU] will continue in our commitment to the four pillars. It is final,” he said.
[Picture: Emblem of the Nahdlatul Ulama. Photo: Wiki.]
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