The Palestinian Issues

Question: What is the way to proceed regarding the Palestinian issue, which has, as the days pass, escalated in terms of complexity and violence?

Response: Certainly, the Muslim(s) feel much pain and great sadness at the deteriorating situation in Palestine, with matters going from bad to worse, escalating in complexity as the days pass, such that it has reached where it has (today). This is due to the differing (occurring) between the neighboring countries, and their lack of united resistance against their enemy, and (likewise) their lack of adherence to the Sharee’ah which Allah has linked to victory (and success). (This is also in addition to) the enemy vowing to oppose (the Palestinians) and remain upon the (Palestinians’) land. And this entails great danger and adverse consequences. 

The neighboring countries need to rush to unite in their resistance (against the enemy) and adhere to the Sharee’ah in confronting this issue, which concerns them and all of the Muslim world.

And that which is worth mentioning here, is that the Palestinian issue is an islamic issue from the beginning (right through) to the end. However, the enemies of Islam have strived immensely to distance it (this issue) from the lslamic path and convey to the non-Arab Muslims that this is an Arab issue, and that it does not concern the non-Arabs. It appears they have succeeded in this to a certain extent. This is why I feel it is not possible to reach a solution regarding this issue unless it is deemed an lslamic issue, and the Muslims support one another in salvation, and make jihad against the Jews in an Islamic manner, until such time the land (of the Palestinians) is returned to its (rightful Palestinian) owners. (In addition to) the trespassing Jews returning to their (own) lands where they dame from, thereby leaving the true Jews to remain in their lands under the rule of lslam, and not communism and nor secularism. Thereby, truth shall prevail and falsehood will be abandoned, and all rightful owners shall return to their lands under lslamic rule, and not under any other (rule).

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And Allah is the Expounder of Success.

The Importance of Sillahturahim (Abdul Malik Yunus)

Tazawur (Arab) or visiting one another is a practical way to do silaturrahim. and  in accordance with the Islamic culture. Because with the tazáwur we’ll get some virtue, while also strengthening ties and brotherhood with those we visit. Rasulullah saw. said: 

You will not enter paradise except you are believers, and you will not become believers until you love one another, should not I show you a job if you do then you will love one another? Spread respect and greetings among you. (H.R. Muslim, Tirmidzl, and lbnu MAjah).

One of the characteristics of a Muslim is when they meet each other, they will give the greeting phrase. However, why the system of Islamic culture seems largely forgotten by some Muslims themselves? Some have tried to change the greeting sentences with other sentences outside the guidelines of Islam, so that the meaning of this greeting is lost. Or the importance of handshake, such as in a hadith narrated by al-Barrâ’ ra that the Prophet saw said: 

Two Muslims meet and handshake, surely their sins forgiven before they separately. (H.R. Abü Dâud, TirmidzI, and Ibnu Mâjah).

Handshake meant in Islam as taught by the Prophet saw. Actually there are many virtues of relationship, being what was mentioned above is just a picture alone. Thus it is clear, that silaturrahim and visit each other are very useful and important.

However, we still often see many of us who feel reluctant, even some of us don’t want to visit others. They prefer to stay at home, like the Ka’bah which always being visited by a lot of people, but never visit other people. More than that, some even feel ashame to visit their neighbor, family or relative’s house that was once home of his/her teacher. This attitude is unfortunate, especially if it is owned by a leader who becomes role models, or educators that may be emulated by their students. 

Ahmadiyah, is it Islam? (Hasrul)

Ahmadiyah is a religious movement which was built by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. It is widespread in several countries in Asia. Ahmadiyah is becoming a phenomenon nowadays. But, this paper is going to argue whether Ahmadiyah is a part of Islam or a deviance from Islamic teaching.

Ahmadiyah is a part of Islam.  A lot of evidence are supporting it. Such as, they do say A syhadu anlaailaaha illallah, Wa asyhadu anna Muhammadarrasuullah Rasulullah has been admitted by them as the last messenger of God. Al-quran is trusted as the holy book by follower of Ahmadiyah. Those are evidences which are able to encourage Ahmadiyah become a part of Islam.
On the other hand, Ahmadiyah appeared in India aim to uphold and encourage Islam back to Qurani’ah Syariat because regarding to the history of Ahmadiyah there were some cases that happened in india. One of them, India was marked by retreating of Islam. It because of the influences of Christian in 1804 as missionaries, especially when British and foreign Bible society was formed, and the Hindu’s movement was more and more vicious in influencing their beliefs to the society of India as a pure land of Hindu. Therefore, Mirza&Hulam Ahmad attempted Ahmadiyah as a weapon to defend the existence of islam in India.

However, some ulama have stated that ahmadiyah is a deviance from Islamic teaching. That is why it must be ignored among the society. It is proven by banning the Ahmadiyah follower from going to Mecca to do hajj. Because they think that doing hajj is only for rich man and it is not an obligation. Besides that, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad decelerated his self as Zilli prophet (shadow) and Ummati (as a Rasulullah’s follower). Whereas, in the holy Quran Allah commands us that Muhammad is the last messenger or prophet. In 1981, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad also proclaimed his self as a represeqtative of Isa Almasih and Imam Mahdi as well (jemaat Ahmadiyah Indonesia 1989, page xii). Both are people who have been trusted to come in the last period.

In conclusion, although followers of Ahmadiyah have proclaimed their selves as a part of Islam, but it is against by some ulama because it is a deviance from Islamic teaching. Therefore it needs to be anticipated by society. 

The True Friends (Awaluddin Syamsu)

This writing is inspired by YOUTUBE short video entitled qualities of a best friend. This short video is very touching for me and I believe it is very important to be understood by every single of us. That is why, I write this paper in order to make all of us, I myself in particular, to recognize people who should be our friends. There are three characteristics that should be attached in a person or people in order for them to be our true friends. These three characteristics are based on hadist from the Massanger of Allahutaala, sallallahualaihiwassallam.

1.       The person when you look at him, his appearance reminds you of Allah swt. Not the person who enslaves his/herself into their lust or any other things than Allah swt.
When this person appears, at least it will make you change your talk, from useless talk to a talk which is more beneficial.

2.       The person when he/she speaks, your knowledge about Allah increases. The question is how many of your friends make you conscious about your creator and makes you understand to stand as an upright Muslim in society? Many of our friends, when they talk they talk nothing. Most of the talk is all about joy that make us forget Allah swt. However, we cannot stay away from them, but what we have to do is to engage with them accordingly. We should not spend a lot of time with them. We talk and hang out with them if we think it will make things better for us and/or for them.
. This second character does not mean that the person always talk seriously and sophisticatedly. He/she may like playing a joke or talk in very simple words. Because the prophet himself liked to played joke and talked in simple words with his ummah.

3.       The person when you look at his/her deeds, you will remember akhirah.
This person will always behave beautifully according to Islamic teaching. This does not mean someone who just spends life for worshipping God in Masjid but someone who can embody Islamic teaching in their daily activities. This person might not wear clothes such as the prophet’s clothes but he/she behaves as the prophet’s teaching.

As Muslims, we have to think of to whom we always get together with. The reason is because your friends will define who you really are. They will influence your thought and also your future. Therefore, we have to be careful to choose friends. The characters above should be taken into account when we befriend with other people. Wallahualambissawab.

In the discussion section, I would suggest these two questions; what we can do in order to be a true friend and create an environment that makes us help one another in order to be the true friend.

KAREN ARMSTRONG, A FREELANCE MONOTHEIST “GOD WITHOUT RELIGION” (Saddam Husain)

Before defining what “freelance monotheist” is, I would like to tell you a little about Karen Armstrong’s spiritual adventure. Well, Karen is a former nun in one of Rome catholic churches in England. In a very young age, 17 years old, Karen decided to be a nun in the church. In contrast to the mainstream at that time when Britons especially in Birmingham were extremely secular, they didn’t care about religion, became materialists and even put money as “god”, Karen sank her life into religious obedience in 14th September 1962. Seven years later, she surprisingly took a decision to stop her carrier as a nun and tried to be a common people. That was because of bad experience at church, stiff regulation, seniority, and some systems that were not constructive. Moreover, she didn’t find “God” in every liturgy for seven years. Next, she went to Oxford University and took English literature as her discipline. Unfortunately, being academician was not better than being nun; she failed in thesis assignment, fired from campus and got some diseases including epilepsy.

In short, Karen didn’t believe in god anymore, she thought that religion is a constitution that has been created by human, and the idea of god is only the result of neurosis so called neuro-theology, because she saw billion scientists in her environment that didn’t believe in god and how a billion people killed each other in the name of god. Obviously, she assumed that religions are ignorance and problem. But, her live changed when she decided to examine the same thing that exists in every single religion. She observed holy books and she came to the conclusion that every religion pray to one “God” and teach the good things. Karen finally wrote his work in a book titled “a history of god”. The work of “a history of God” was the starting point where she climbed out of the darkness and she returned to be a believer.

Now, Karen believes in God, she feels close to god more than she did in the past. But now she doesn’t declare herself as a Muslim, Christian, Jew or other terms for believer, she becomes a freelance monotheist. “Freelance Monotheist” means a person who believes in god without bounding on specific religion.

However, God for those who involve in one religion believed that the only one way to experience the spirituality is by dealing with religious liturgy. For example Muslims believe that the right path to go is Islam. Being Muslims automatically people follow what Allah regulates in holy Qur’an and avoid what Allah forbids to do. As a consequence, Muslim must pray to Allah through the way prophet Muhammad do and instructed in strong Hadist.

To be frank, I myself don’t have enough knowledge to criticize the idea of freelance monotheist because it deals with philosophical understanding, deep contemplation and complex research. Someone must take a long journey among religious diversity, think out of subjectivity, pray in a way other believer does in order to experience the ecstasy. But religion has been part of my life since I was born in the Islamic traditional environment, so religion cannot be separated from spirituality, because they come together and construct my understandings about God, human and universe.

In conclusion, claiming that Karen is right or wrong is not my authority but her work to make world better where people can live together and respect each other in what she call ”global community” by inviting people to build mutual understanding through the “golden rule” should be appreciated. 

Al Qur’an; A Product of History? (Nasrullah)

This paper was written as a dialectic response to a statement coming from a notorious Indonesian scholar, Professor Komaruddin Hidayat several years ago. In one of his famous remarks he once said that the Muslim’s most important source of creed, the Qur’an, was a product of history. Despite the controversies and disagreements that it’ caused among many Muslim’s intellectuals I somehow believe that this statement deserves an in-depth thought and, if necessary, a proportional counter idea instead of premature and seemingly rushed judgment on behalf of defense against secular ideas towards Islam’s pillar of faith. This piece of writing is only an attempt to look at this issue in a – hopefully-  proportional way.

I personally have never tried to find a clarification of Mr. Komaruddin Hidayat’s notion of Qur’an as a product of history either by himself or other sources. Therefore this short writing tries to dig it in through as objective perspective as possible. I assume Mr. Komaruddin might mean that Al Qur’an was composition of revelation which had not existed before it was sent to Muhammad saw. In other words Al Qur’an was - like everything else- bound to a particular time line of history in which the occurrence could be traced within certain period of time. This opinion makes more sense if Mr. Komaruddin added the mushaf which is the physical-bundled form of revelation into the definition of Al Qur’an- making it physical as well as spiritual realm. If this is what he means by Al Qur’an being a historical product I personally have no problem of it due to the point of objectivity that it proposes.

But as we read some of the works of contemporary notorious liberal Muslim intellectuals in Indonesia — in which Mr. Komaruddin Hidayat by some people is categorized in — we could go further to assume that what he means by Al Qur’an being a product of history does not stop at the definition mentioned earlier. It is reasonable enough to say Mr. Komaruddin might mean that Al Qur’an was largely bound to the social condition of the Arabs in Mecca and Medina where Prophet Muhammad SAW lived during the time of revelation. Therefore a massive re-interpretation of Qur’an is needed in order to make its’ teaching work in today’s context. 

In my opinion, this could be true if the Qur’an explained things such as laws (Islamic jurisprudence or fiqh) or ethics in very specific manners concerning the situation of the jahili arabs — and we know that Qur’an did not do that). We could find Qur’an talking about very few things like those who can benefit from parents when they pass away or women that may or may not be married in a very specific way but leave a sense of universality in aspects such as law, attitude towards parents and felIow human beings, war and peace, slavery, nature and science, women and many others. It is obvious that social phenomenon such as slavery did not take place in the time of the prophet only or exclusively within the Arab society. Instead it could be found since - or even before -the Babylonian time to the modern American and European culture. We can still even argue that the seemingly specific verses of the Qur’an such as the categorization of women to marry or not have a sense of universality because it is a common sense and acknowledged by any culture in any period of time. 

REAL LOVE

Love, simple word but means a lot for humankind. It always becomes nice topic to discuss especially for the youth, where love finds its labile period. Everybody claiming their self as a normal person should have ever experienced love in their life. This paper is purposely to explain what love to opposite gender from both general and Islamic view and what the indicator used to measure ‘Islamic’ real love.

General definition of love as given by Wikipedia is an emotion of strong affection and personal interest. People falling in love to someone will express it in various actions
such as self-sacrifice, empathy, concern, compassion, help, follow the words, obedient, and willing to do whatever for the pleasure of the said someone loved. It can bring positive impact in a way it may change the ‘victim’ to be more excited in running life. However, love can be also the source of suffering. People getting pain from love may lose their spirit which the main important thing to run this life. Suicide is probably the common case nowadays as a result of failing in love.

Then how Islam defines love? Surely, love is not denied i forbidden in Islam. It is even seen as a bounty from Allah. Human by its nature does have love because it is something granted by The Owner of this universe. As stated in Al Qur’an Surah Ar Rum verse 21 as follow:

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.”(QS. 30:21)

Love is a sign from Allah. Sign is guidance to somewhere or something. Therefore, love in Islam is ideally guidance to the giver of love, Allah. That is the real love. Therefore, love for people who state that their love is because of and for Allah, will lead them to be closer to Allah. Otherwise, it is not love but rather nafsu. Then it does not deserve to be called love if it brings the lover away from Allah. Worst thing is some people engage in immoral acts in the name of love. Really, that is kind of betraying the value of love and blemishing its sanctity.

So, how do we measure our love is real love in Islamic view? Firstly, it is simply by measuring our closeness to Allah while loving someone. Is it growing or vice versa, we are further away from Him. Answer that with an honest heart. Secondly, ask our self, “Who is fulfilling our heart and mind the most? Is it Allah or the one that we love?

If Allah warn us in Surah At Taubah verse 24 not to love anyone, even if they are our closest family, exceed our love to Allah and His Messenger, then how about love to the one with no consent of ijab qabul yet?

 “Say, (0 Muhammad), ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.” (QS 9: 24)

To conclude, may Allah grant us with the blessed love. Love in Allah, because of Allah, and for Allah alone. Amin.

ISLAMOPHOBIA (Sulaiman)

Islam religion has developed entire world. In America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia every year population of Muslim grows faster than other religion. Many people convert to Muslim because they want to learn more about Islam. Despite Islam has been liked by many people, in other side there are few people fear Islam or Islamophobia. They dislike all Muslim. Their paranoid emerge because there are many incidents involve Muslim people like incident of WTC (World Trade Centre) in September 11^th.

Terrorism issue is one of factor that causes Islamophohia. WTC attacks had given a negative stigma for many people in America and some countries because there are many victims over this incident. Although few people assume that is a part of conspiracy to overturn Islam.

Islamophobia has mushroomed in Europe and America. It was listed as a form of intolerance. Hatred and dread of Islam stimulate discrimination, for example in the airport. Securities suspicious on Muslim people, rigorous investigation always happen over Muslim people in the airport. Muslim people also get discrimination in public services. Few Muslim even change their name so that they get good treatment, they also hard to get a job because of their identity as Muslim.

I think lslamophobia emerge because misunderstanding about Islam values, some people only assume that Islam is a radical religion. Islam is a part of terrorist, Islam identical with jihadist. That paradigm should be eliminated with explanation about Islamic values.

To conclude, Islamophobia is an irrational fear. As Muslim, we bear the obligation to explain about Islam values so that people can accept the existence of Islam in their life.

Our Education (Awaluddin Syamsu)

One of the purposes of education in our country, Indonesia, is to gain a spiritual generation. Therefore, Children are being taught religion at school. It is different case in western country or even in Australia. Religion is not taught at school. It is not too much if we say that we are lucky enough because our education provides religion teaching at school in order to create a religious generation. This short essay will discuss education at elementary to senior high school, in terms of the educational system. Then it will present some questions to be discussed.

Education in Indonesia could be divided generally into two, general school and religion school, any school which provides more religion subjects such as Islamic boarding school and madrasah. Both types of schools are addressed to create a spiritual generation. However, I am pessimistic on our education to be able to create spiritual generation because the educational system is secular. Either general schools or religion schools are just the same. They both adopt secularism system of education. The difference is only at the number of subjects that students have to learn. If our education purpose is to produce spiritual generation, then the system should be integrated. All subjects that students learn at school must be linked to religion. Even more, Religion should be the basic foundation of all subjects. When the students learn math, biology, physics and so on, they have to learn religion at the same time consciously or subconsciously. That is only the way to create a spiritual generation in terms of school context.

Some of you may think that some people who graduated from Islamic boarding school are able to understand religion well or even memorize the entire Qur’an. This assumption is true if the definition of religious generation is the generation that is able to memorize and comprehends Islamic concept and teaching. Yet, the definition of religious generation should be more extended. The true Spiritual generation is the ones who can internalize religion in any aspect of their life and any subjects. They are experts in math, biology, physics and so on but the basis of their understanding on the subjects are coming from religion.

In conclusion, the purpose and the system of our education are not fit.

Questions:
1. What do you think about our educational system?
2. Can our educational system produce religious generation?
3. How to deal with this fact?
4. Have you seen any school that is truly applying the integrated religion in all subjects that they provide?

Should Burqa or Niqab be Banned? (Sulaiman)

Muslim women have an obligation to cover their aurat. They usually wear veil to cover their face. It reflects them as a Muslim woman. Nowadays, there are many trends of veil but few Muslim women still use traditional Niqab or Burqa (Full-Faced veil). It is commonly worn in many Muslim countries especially in the Saudi Arabian peninsula. Wearing Niqab or Burqa is a choice, made by individual Muslim on a personal basis. In Holy Quran in Surat AI-Ahzab verse 59:

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful

            This surah describe to women that how important cover their aurat; it is their obligation in Islam. Muslim woman who wear veil also must maintain their good behavior so that can reflect a good Muslimah. There many cases or issues that ban wearing the traditional Niqab, especially in UK. If Muslim woman as a witnesses or defendants, they must remove their Niqab when she gives evidence in front of the trial, but she may wears it other times during the trial. Only the judge, legal counsel, and jury will be able to see their face when she gives evidence. On the other hand, many people complaint with Judge’s ruling to remove Muslim woman Niqab in the trial, It reflects discrimination and they don’t give women rights in religion as set out by article 9 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European convention on human rights. Discrimination over wearing veil also had happened in some countries, like France which prohibits all children from wearing religious symbols such as Muslim headscarves in schools

As a humane being we must respect each other, we need mutual understanding. Muslim women have a same rights like other people, they should get their freedom to manifest their religion in daily life.

United States’ Military Intervention in Syria’s Civil War (Sardjito Ibnuqoyyim)

As far as we can see, the intervention of U.S tries to help Syria by giving a help to the rebels due to the military malice to society. U.S affords to stop the bloodshed done by the government led by Bashar Al Ashad. In the same way, by giving them a help would enlarge the chaos in not only Syria but also, it will take effects in other countries.

It is clear that the scene in Syria will take our attention, with a lot people die, and dying to protect their country. Then, U.S comes to offer a hand to those people. They send their own weapon to the rebels in a hope to stop this tragedy. We do agree that a war never stops the chaos but we cannot also agree that the diploma can take a good role to make a peace. What U.S trying is not making this conflict worse but they know what to do for them which this conflict will not circulate to the other countries.

However, we also know that U.S is a superpower country which might be called as “the king of the kings”. A king always does everything it takes for their own sake. Syria is also known as “The Lion of The Arab”. So, this country has a really big important role in the Middle East Countries. Would the extremists like Hizbullah in Lebanon stay silent to see this happen? Perhaps, the other extremists will not think exactly same. It will motivate them to commit the war not making any peace.

A survey done by reuters.com, August 30, 2013, showed us that 60% the people of U.S refuse the intervention of the U.S military in Syria. And also, UN does not agree because this action will provoke the other countries to involve in this conflict. Meanwhile, some Middle East Countries such as Iran and Lebanon well-known as allies for Syria will never remain silent to see the bombarding in Syria.
Above all, it can be concluded that the potential of word war 3 will appear from the conflict of Syria with the consideration that U.S military’s intervention will never bring any peace in Syria. Otherwise, this conflict not only about a civil war but this involves some interests of other countries.

PROSTITUTION (Vee)

Prostitution is an act of providing sexual service in exchange of money (or other beneficial payment) between two or more people. Prostitution sometimes referred to as “world’s oldest profession”, nevertheless the legalization of prostitution itself is different from one county to another. Some countries prefer to illegalized and criminalized prostitution while others may varies from decriminalized to regulated (legalized) prostitution. Until now ongoing pro-contra debates and opinions regarding legal prostitution are still spread wide across countries as they include human rights, personal choice liberation, moral degradation, human trafficking, poverty, law enforcement, violent/rape cases, religion and HIV/AIDS into the equation.

People who favor the legal-prostitution argue that the benefits come from legalizing prostitution are enough to protect the society in general and the persons actively involve in the act itself in particular. Regulated prostitution will provide law protection for the sex-worker and legitimate prostitution as a decent work along with the benefits that come from it; it will reduce the act of violence from the clients or the pimps, because the female sex-worker can report the abuse without being charged as a criminal for selling sex herself. It will also reduce the number of HIV/AIDS transmission because the sex-worker is finally granted regular health checks as a mandatory requirement for the profession. Economically, it will also benefit the sex-worker because they can earn their income legally and pay the tax which will also benefit the government. This pro legal-prostitution stated that it’s ridiculous to keep prostitution as illegal while the demand of sex service increasing each day, it will only lead to illegal human-trafficking. While human-traffic is wrong because it’s a coercion act, prostitution is seen as a decision between two consenting adults; it’s a human right for people to choose what they want to do with their bodies.

On the contrary, people who support the decision to keep the prostitution as illegal argue that prostitution needs to stay illegal because the destructiveness of prostitution outweighs its benefits (if any). Prostitution devalues all of our moral standards and thus legalizing it will mean legitimizing the idea of some women as commodities to be exploited. And grant implicit approval to a dangerous and immoral practice in society. Sex-workers are often forced into the industry by sex-trade, pimps or poverty, so it’s indicating some underlying problems within the society. Instead of legalizing prostitution as a legitimate work, we should provide adequate education for everyone to ensure them options to a better work than being sex-workers. Religion also hold strong opposes to the legal-prostitution as it’s a sinful act for selling sex when it should have held sacred within marriage, it’s not a legacy we would pass down to our children. It’s also wrong for the government to gain economically from legal-prostitution since it’s no better than encouraging government to involve in other unlawful trades such as the trafficking of drugs. Moreover, legalizing prostitution will increase demand which will increase the rate of human-trafficking to meet the demand and will eventually endanger our society health as it’ll increase the probability of HIV/AIDS transmission

The Women (Hasrul)

Every single religion and culture has an owned different premise about woman.  Even less, the history had told that before holy Quran was relegated, there were lots kind of big civilizations such us Greek, Romani, India, and china. And the world also knew some religions such us Jew, Christian, Buddha, and Zoroaster.

In Greek, the woman had got an intimidation from the ruling government; they could do whatever they would like to do. Such us, the women was put into the prison without any problem, the women could be sold by their husband, the sex relation at public place was fairly, the localization had become a central of politic and art. It is proven that the number of naked sculpture of women in Greek was increasing well.

The civilization of Romani, the parents of woman had proprietary right to sell their daughter. After marrying the proprietary right moved to the husband. In this situation the husband had authority to sell, to hit, to chase away, to kill, and to ill treat. These circumstances were occurring up to 6^th century of Masehi.

In my point view the story of Hindu and china were the worst story. Why? Because of the age of wife was determined by the age of husband. It means if the husband pass away of course the wife as well. The wife should be burnt while her husband was burnt too. It terminated in 17^th century of Masehi. At the time the women also became a ritual offering to which was named as the God. The ancient history says that the poison, the snake, and the fire are less evil than the women. Meanwhile the ancient of China says that you are able to listen to what the women say but do not trust what they are talking about.

In teaching of Jew, the status of women was like a servant. The father had a right to sell his daughter if she had no brother. In their thought of teaching that the women as a source of curse because the woman engendered Adam evicted from the heaven.      

On the hand, the Christian’s view the woman was devil’s tool in misleading human being. The 5^th century Masehi had been held a church council which was talking about whether the women had the soul or not, finally the women had no holy soul. It continued in the 6^th century Masehi was held the same activity which was talking about whether the women were human being or not. The conclusion was the women were created by the god only for being the servant of the man.   

To sum up, the living condition of women from the 5^th century up to the middle century were really concerning. The man did not think that if they were born by the women. And of course, behind the great man there is a great woman. Save the women from exploitation.  

MUSLIMS VIEW TO RELIGIOUS BELIEF (Saddam Husain)

Indonesia is the country with the biggest number of Muslim population in the world. But, do they enough believe to consider that Islam is the best religion among others? Most Muslim in Indonesia didn’t choose their religion by themselves. Islam for them is an inheritance from parents to their children. They even don’t know why they have chosen it. Could you imagine what would happen if they were born in another religion environment? Maybe, they would believe in other religion without any objections as well. In short, only few of those want to learn deeply about Islam itself.

In Islam, there is no compulsion in choosing religion. But, Muslim consider that Islam is the truest religion in the whole world. It is an obligation as Muslim to learn more about Islam. Who will learn this religion except us as Muslim? The Lord has established some of His slaves to be righteous one. He had revealed Muhammad with his book to give lessons to all of us in the world. It guides every single person to walk on the right direction.

Every Muslim really believe that one day in the resurrection day all of human and jinn will be gathered in Masyhar Field and get their books checked to hold responsible what they have done in the world. Some of them look happy but others look afraid in line with their books. Could you convince your self to be in the first group? No one can convince themselves even if they ted they have done many right things. 

Is Islamic Identity Important? (Saddam Husain)

The spirit of religiosity is embodied in the Islamic identity. Some Muslims are very proud of showing their identities up such as using fashionable veil, headdress, names, card identities, quranic ringtones, and so on. By using Islamic identity sometimes people pretend to be real Muslims as if Islam can be understood from the surface appearance. This phenomenon can affect people’s perspective about Islam because people assume that the religious one whose appearance is nice will do better thing than non-religious one. Meanwhile, some cases that happen in the world are done by those who look like Ulama or preacher for example corruption, sexual harassment, war and even massacre.

It has been believed that Islamic identity, attributes and symbols, will persuade Muslims to do the best as reflections of their identities. This is because of the attributes should be followed by good attitude. Thus when Muslims wear the identities they endeavor to show the best because they will feel ashamed if the attitudes and the appearances are different. In this case, Islamic identity seems very import*nt for Muslims.

However, some people stated that Islamic identity doesn’t have any correlation with good attitudes at all. Otherwise, it has been precisely an artificial identity to cover fundamentalism, extremism, conservatism, and personal interest in order to deceive anyone in anywhere. For example a group of mass organizations in Indonesia that looks like Ulama or preacher but unfortunately their movement contradicts with the identity that causes society blame on Islam rather than the group.

It is ironic to realize that Muslims compete to show Islamic identity each other, not only in fashion, economy, educational system, but also in national political development Islamic identity is used by some people as a pretext to empower their group. Let us see international political constellation these days that is very dirty where Islamic countries, Middle - East fragment to be partitions, sects, fundamentalisms, moderates, and many others. That proves how bad Islamic brotherhood nowadays is.

In conclusion, Islamic identity will be better if the value of Islam as a “rahmatan ill alamiin” is embodied in attitudes. I personally think that the identity of Islam has been perfect, so it is no longer important to debate about identity; it is time to prove to everyone that Islam is peaceful at wherever, on whenever and for whomever it is.

Religion, Problem or Solution? (Saddam Husain)

Source: Charles Kimball, when religion becomes evil.

            Looking back to long history 4000 BC when people defined something as God, which was the time where people created religion and sacrificed many things to satisfy the God.  People’s perceptions about god evolve time and time and it causes many conflicts in the world. In this case, religion becomes a problem that frightens people to live together. But history has also proved that religion is a solution of human’s problems.

            In postmodern era, there are some experts of atheism who claim religion as a problem and criticize religion in their books, such as Richard Dawkins (the god delusion, 2006), Sam Harris (the end of faith, 2004 ), and Christopher Hitchens ( god is not great, 2007). They claim that material is the only reality that exists in the world, there is no abstract things like soul, spirit, love, and even god that believed as a creator of universe. Moreover, religion promises peacefulness but the fact is nonsense. Human tragedies which are done in the name of God have slammed human rights. For example sectarian conflict in middle east, holy war, and  11^th September 2001 tragedy that killed many innocent people in U.S. and other tragedies caused by religion.

                 But some experts like Huston smith the author of “The World’s religions” and Kenneth miller dispute those claims. They argue what atheists claims are the weakness of science. They think that the main crisis we face in 21^st century is the crisis of spirituality. Science that atheist offer as the way for better world precisely is not solution because we may see holocaust as the real example and some other anti – Semitism movements which kill many people such as in soviets and china. Otherwise, religion opens a way out to regulate the world through its teaching about love and compassion.

            Essentially, religion with its holiness is undisputed  truth but human make it complicated by mixing it with their own interests. Thus religion appears like a problem that causes many conflicts and disaster for people. 

ARE YOU READY TO DIE? (Sabah Laitupa)

What if tomorrow you will die? Are you ready? Death is undoubted, nobody can escape from it. Everyone wants to live longer. As Chairil Anwar said that “I want to live a thousand year”. Everyone tries to avoid all of ways to die. Our soul will always want and imagine eternity.

Will Durant, a contemporary philosopher of America, who confirmed that death is the origin of all religions. “If only there is no death, God will never exist in our mind” he wrote in his writing The Story of Civilization.

There are two opposite views about life. There are pessimistic view and optimistic view. Pessimists view that life is something hard, sad, and difficult and ends with death which means extinction. While optimists judge life as homage and responsibility that can end up with happiness and immutability acquired through death. Philosopher Schopenhauer (1788 – 1860) said that sleepy is comfortable but dead is more comfortable.

If we realize that one day we will die certainly, the question is “What happen after death?”. How far the theory can explain about death?

Because we never know when the death comes, then use your life that given by Almighty God wisely. “Yesterday is a history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that’s why we call it present.”

Enjoy Your Life..”,)

Recognition of a Christian Philosopher to Islam (Hasrul)

Normally when we say we are Muslim, mostly because we are living in Islamic environment or in other words, we live in Muslim majority country. Beside, we can’t also deny that most of us are Muslims through inheritance from our parents who were Muslims as well. This paper is talking about the people who were Christians but admitting there is a religion superior to Christianity-

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After reading Murthada Muthahari’s book “Islam and Pluralism”. I am interested in a particular chapter of his book. That chapter describes about recognition of a Christian philosopher to Islam. He is Descartes. Descartes is one of the greatest philosopher in entire world who was farnous with his thesis “I think, therefore I exist”. In his biography, it was written about his philosophy of doubt, he doubted all that he knew and began from zero.

In that book, after proving his own existence he proved the spirit, and God became definite for him. Finally he chose Christian as his religion because it was the official religion in his country. Even though he was a Christian, he did not acknowledge Christianity as the best religion at the time. He also said “I do not say that Christianity is definitely the best religion in the entire world; perhaps there is a religion in other parts of the world that is superior to Christianity”. Incidentally, he mentions Iran as an. However, most Iranian is Muslim. So I conclude that it was his implicit remark of Islam.

To sum up, the writer is challenging the readers who are Muslim to acknowledge Islam as the truest or the best religion ever existed. We should also be jealous to people who are not Muslim but behave more like Muslim than Muslim ourselves.