NU chairman: Hardline Islamic groups are now in trend

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siroj (Kang Said) said that the teachings of hardline Islamic groups have now easily been adopted and been in a trend. He said those easily adopting the teachings would tend to blame and consider other people as infidels.

"What they only know is Islam instead of infidel. They tend to consider that they alone would go to paradise and others would go to hell," Kang Said said, adding the doctrine were now in trend in nature.<>

While speaking at the 53dr anniversary of NU Girl Students Association (IPPNU) in the PBNU headquarters on Monday (12/5), Kang Said said those easily adopting the hardline teachings due to the lack of knowledge on Islam.

The doctrine saying that their own group would go to paradise while others would not had such a potential to danger Muslims themselves. In addition the doctrine would threaten religious coexistence in Indonesia.

The alumnus of Ummul Qurra’ University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia explained the scene was one of challenges faced by NU ulema and clerics whose broad views on Islam and its all aspects especially the moderation of Islam as practiced by the Nahdliyin-based organization.

"We (NU) have many clerics and ulema whose broad knowledge of Islam. We have what called as soft Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah. But the problem is that we have no ability to deliver its teachings in accordance with the development era of ours," Kang Said said.

Kang Said expected all NU young cadres to fulfill the lack of the ulema and clerics. As for him, there had been many NU young cadres whose potentials ans skills to develop and preach the teachings of Aswaja, the most tolerant teaching of Islam. (rif)