Ulemas Contribute to Safeguarding Diversity, President Jokowi Says

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 3 Februari 2018
Category: News
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President Jokowi attends Haul Majemuk Masyayikh at Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Boarding School in Sukorejo, Situbondo, East Java, Saturday (3/1). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Jokowi attends Haul Majemuk Masyayikh at Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Boarding School in Sukorejo, Situbondo, East Java, Saturday (3/1). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo expressed his admiration for the late cleric As’ad Syamsul Arifin, one of the most respected clerics in Indonesia.

“Today I come to Salafiyah Safi’iyah Islamic Boarding School because I want to see and feel first hand the place where the late cleric spread his teachings and where Islamic students inherit his spirit in spreading his teachings and in nationalism,” the President said during Haul Majemuk Masyayikh  – a special event to commemorate the passing of someone – at the Islamic Boarding School, located in Sukorejo, Situbondo, East Java, Saturday (3/1).

The spirit, President Jokowi said, is translated in his thoughts when spreading his teachings for the nation. It is for this reason, the President added, the Indonesian Government named him a national hero back in 2016.

“It’s a well-deserved recognition for him, given his struggles, his sacrifices, and his thoughts for the country and the nation,” the President said, adding that Indonesia’s diversity and plurality remain intact as of now thanks to him and other ulemas.

President Jokowi went on to say that the harmony has even become one Indonesia’s characteristics in the world.

“The world sees how Islam in Indonesia becomes a blessing for the universe (rahmatan lil alamin) and how Muslims safeguard our ukhuwah islamiyah (Islamic brotherhood), ukhuwah wathoniah (nationalism), and ukhuwah basariah (relationship between Muslims and other nations),” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also recounted his recent visit to Afghanistan, in which although he felt fear he managed to conquer it with a strong will to forge a better relation between Indonesia with other countries.

“It’s not about fear but it’s about building our ukhuwah. We also want to build peace among Ummah and to build our ukhuwah basariah with other countries,” the President said.

President Jokowi also called on ulemas, clerics, Islamic students and the people all over Indonesia to continue safeguarding and be grateful for the destiny of Indonesian people who live in diversity and plurality.

“I would like to invite ulemas, clerics, Islamic students especially those at Salafiyah Sukorejo Islamic Boarding School to always nurture the values of harmony and to implement them as well,” the President concluded.

Joining the President during the event were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Romahurmuziy and Chairman of Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Sukorejo Islamic School KH. R. Achmad Azaim Ibrahimy. (BPMI/EN) (EP/YM/Naster)

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