Indonesian people have confronting political issues which drive them compartmentalized. The circumstance renders tension and often emerges a conflict.

At a seminar of Pra-Tanwit Muhammadiyah conducted on Monday (11/12) at meeting hall of A.R. Fachruddin A of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Chairman of Central Board of Muhammadiyah Dr. Haedar Nashir, M.Si. stated that the people need enlightenment to recognize good and bad.

At the seminar on Enlightening Religion in National Political Perspective, Haedar declared that Islam exists to enlighten as mentioned on the first word of Al-Qur’an delivered to Prophet Muhammad shaallahu ‘alayhi wassalam, namely “Iqra’”. “The word was delivered when Prophet Muhammad worried about Arabian people’s condition called as dzulumat meaning darkness in both culturally and structurally. The word is tanwir, enlightenment, which provide resolutions to solve the circumstance,” he asserted.

Haedar also explained that the word tells us to uphold science and intelligence. “The definition bears a number of concepts as tafakkur, tadabbur, and others. Nevertheless, our people lack understanding of the definition and implementation of iqra’,” he contended.

“Indeed, many verses are quoted for certain interests and used to spark anger, hate, and conflict. It occurs in not only social politics but also other life aspects as religious people. For instance, we become intolerant of differences whereas Islam is contemplatively interpreted as a religion guiding us to be a thinker. What we would like to do is restoring Islam to its fundamental values,” maintained Haedar.

In a religious life, what God dislikes is inconsistency. “On Surah Ash-Shaff verse 3, Allah warns us that ‘Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.’  It means that, when you are a muslim, you must be consistent. You have to comprehend your religion through deep contemplation and you may not easily get mad due to issues from people’s having certain interest,” emphasized Haedar.