Gentleness is Not A Sign of Weakness but Strength: Religious Minister

President Jokowi welcomes the guests from friendly countries at the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, at Bogor Palace, Wednesday (21/11). (Photo: Anggun/PR)

Commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (known as Mawlid) is an expression of gratitude and love to the Prophet’s great merit for humanity, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has said.

“Love will give a positive energy to imitate and follow the steps of the loved ones,” Lukman said at the Commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday at Bogor Palace, West Java province, Wednesday (21/11).

According to Lukman, many experts have analyzed the secrets of the Prophet’s success in spreading his teachings, one of which is that he used love, affection and gentleness to approach his followers. “Gentleness is not a sign of weakness; instead, it shows strength as gentleness attracts sympathy to move people,” said the Minister.

In the meantime, Lukman added a public phenomenon widely occurred that is the spreading of hatred among the people. “Oftentimes it involves topics such as religion, politics, race, ethnicity and spread in worship places,” the Minister said.

The Minister also lamented the fact that places of worship have are no longer places to spread religious messages but to spread hatred, especially hatred to those who have different religious belief. Thus, through the spirit of the Mawlid, the Minister invited all Muslims in the country to revive sense of humanity and to worship properly.

He also reminded that our hearts and souls need to be cleaned from ignorance, arrogance, greed and other diseases that will blind the heart. “Let us practice religions by spreading love for others because religion without love will be meaningless and love without religion will not last,” the Minister concluded.

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas