Jakarta, NU Online
In his Idul Fitri sermon at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Friday, Prof Nursyam called on Muslims across the country to avoid solving problems through violence.
The Sunan Ampel State Insitute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) rector delivered the sermon after Idul Fitri prayers which were also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono.<<>br />
He said using violent means to solve a problem would only trigger a cycle of violence as violence obviously was a traumatic experience for the victims.
"The resort to violence to solve a problem is the result of a misinterpretation of democracy and openness. The perpetrators of violence think that in a democracy marked by openness and freedom, they can do anything they wish, including religious violence," Nursyam was quoted by Antara newsagency as saying.
In his sermon, themed "The Importance of Patience in Developing Muslim Solidarity", Nursyam said Muslims should always try to solve problems with patience and due account of the need to maintain inter-religious harmony.
Inter-religious harmony and tolerance, according to him, should be a top priority when one wanted to solve a problem in order to create harmony within one particular religion, among different faiths, and between the religious community and the government.
Nursyam even mentioned that the border dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia should also be solved through the principle of equality and harmony.
"A a big nation, it is important for Indonesia not to be provoked by Malaysian acts intended to trigger a problem, because nothing good whatsoever will result from solving the problem through violence," Nursyam said.
He also stressed the importance of the nation exercising patience in the face of the various trials and ordeals God wanted it to go through.
A big nation, according to him, was not a nation that never failed but one that was able to rise again after going through a trial and ordeal.
Nursyam also said that the trials and temptations permitted by God to befall Indonesia was a way for the country`s people to become more mature. (dar)
In his Idul Fitri sermon at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Friday, Prof Nursyam called on Muslims across the country to avoid solving problems through violence.
The Sunan Ampel State Insitute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) rector delivered the sermon after Idul Fitri prayers which were also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono.<<>br />
He said using violent means to solve a problem would only trigger a cycle of violence as violence obviously was a traumatic experience for the victims.
"The resort to violence to solve a problem is the result of a misinterpretation of democracy and openness. The perpetrators of violence think that in a democracy marked by openness and freedom, they can do anything they wish, including religious violence," Nursyam was quoted by Antara newsagency as saying.
In his sermon, themed "The Importance of Patience in Developing Muslim Solidarity", Nursyam said Muslims should always try to solve problems with patience and due account of the need to maintain inter-religious harmony.
Inter-religious harmony and tolerance, according to him, should be a top priority when one wanted to solve a problem in order to create harmony within one particular religion, among different faiths, and between the religious community and the government.
Nursyam even mentioned that the border dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia should also be solved through the principle of equality and harmony.
"A a big nation, it is important for Indonesia not to be provoked by Malaysian acts intended to trigger a problem, because nothing good whatsoever will result from solving the problem through violence," Nursyam said.
He also stressed the importance of the nation exercising patience in the face of the various trials and ordeals God wanted it to go through.
A big nation, according to him, was not a nation that never failed but one that was able to rise again after going through a trial and ordeal.
Nursyam also said that the trials and temptations permitted by God to befall Indonesia was a way for the country`s people to become more mature. (dar)
