NU talks peace in diversity with Pakistani leaders

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) received a visit from eleven Pakistani leaders on Tuesday (26/6). They were warmly welcomed by Deputy General Chairman of PBNU H. As'ad Said Ali, General Chairman of Lawmaking Body (Rais Syuriyah) of PBNU KH Masdar F. Mas'udi, and Deputy Secretary of PBNU Imdadun Rahmat at the PBNU headquarters, Jakarta.<>

The Pakistani figures arriving at at 17.00, shared ideas and experiences on how to live peacefully in diversity.

They said that their country was in a critical situation due to several factors, including political issues that have remained unstable. All this, they added, was because religion had still become the state's ideology, as if the politician's interests were part of the interests of religion.

Secondly, the issue of religious sects was strikingly sharp, "In our country, each of us firmly holds to one of schools of thought fanatically. On the other hand, the economic problems could not be considered trivial, " one of the Pakistani entourage said.

Meanwhile, As'ad Said Ali introduced NU, saying that the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization could live in a country that is not based on religion. NU also greatly appreciates any emerging different group and belief and allows its individuals to follow one of the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

"In addition, NU has protected dozens of sufi orders, such as Naqsyabandiyah, Tijaniyah, Qodiriyah, Syadziliyah, and so on," Kiai As'ad said.

He added that NU had autonomous institutions engaged in and capable of managing their own activity. While the religious life could flourish in Islamic boarding schools and mosques.

The Pakistani leaders were, among others, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri (Member National Assembly ofr Pakistan) Muhammad Yasir Zafat (Secretary General of Wafaq-ul-Madaris al-Salafia Pakistan), Attaullah Shihab (Advisor to Prime Minister of Pakistan), Muhammad Hanif Jalandri, Muhammad Rogib Husein Raimi, Maulana Abdul Haq.

Contributor : Abdullah Alawi
Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq