Muslim mass organizations agree to settle communication forum

Jakarta, NU Online
Some Muslim mass organizations basing their teachings on Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) agreed to settle a forum to play mediating roles between them.

They called the much-awaited umbrella as Islamic Communication Forum of Nusantara (Forsinu).<>

The forum settled on the sidelines of the meeting of Muslim organizations at the NU office in Jakarta on Friday (25/1) was aimed at evolving Islamic teachings based on the principles of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah in the beloved country of Indonesia.

At the meeting initiated by the Nahdliyin-based organization, the participants representing Aswaja-based Muslim organizations across the country were of view that Aswaja is now facing any threats posed by both religious extremism adn neoliberalism.

At the meeting taking up measures in dealing with the future of Islam in the archipelago (nusantara), the forum also viewed the importance of both ideologization and socialization of the Ahlussunnah teachings to especially young generations.

"We are in need of settling such an umbrella or forum to synergize strengths of Muslim organizations based of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah teachings as a medium of communication," the representative of Nahdlatul Wathon, Drs. Syahdan Ilyas MM said.

In the meantime, the initiator and also coordinator of the newly settled forum, Abdul Mun'im DZ called on the Ahlussunnah organizations to "more and more appreciate local tradition or legacy, hold on firmly to Islamic schools of thought, and be tolerant of any diversity."

The Muslim organizations were the Indonesian biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Tarbiyah Islamiyah, Al-Khairat, Al-Washliyah, Nahdlatul Wathon, Matla'ul Anwar, and Darud Dakwah wal Irsyad. (dar)