Muslims all over the world should think in the light of way of thinking based on the Islamic legacy or what called as ulema as the inheritors of Prophets. So the prophetic principles should be the character of ulema. The forming of cadres can only be bridged through the prophetic method rather than others. The duties of prophets that should be inherited are namely the supremeness of moral, sincerity, sacrifice, and standing firmly on truth and justice.
The keulamaan is the matter of spirituality. That’s why it should be strengthened from within consisting of the matters of spiritual, intellectual, and moral. What is then interesting to note is that the substance of the spirituality rather than intellectuality for in this case in particular there is always misunderstanding. This, would in turn result in the forming of ulema cadres through intellectualization that possibly comes to unwanted objectives. For many whose bright intellectual have no such the very base of spiritual. These men can not be considered as ulema.
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As the ulama-based organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has a task to form the cadres of ulema in order to preserve its existence. The forming of the cadres of ulema is now very urgent especially following the development of liberal political system of parties tending to win the people's hearts. For instance, many ulema have now involved themselves in politics and at the same time the politics is now based on the materialistic liberal democracy. In this case, many of the most respected men have involved in the capitalistic political system.
When the ulema having no adequate integrity involved in the practical political affairs, they could not color the political system of course with what called as the akhlaqul karimah (moral). Instead, they enjoyed the pragmatic life style without paying more attention to the moral values any more. So the function of ulema as the moral keepers would be fading away. In this case, many of them are left by the ummat for they can no longer be the model men.
We are extremely worried about this case in which the ulema can no longer play their roles as the moral keepers. This would in turn raise the social conflict for their involvement in struggling their own interests. The fact would not make the people come to their much-awaited orientation. Whereas, in the modern era of ours, we need absolutely model figures playing their function as the guides and the keepers of moral. If not, the people tend to follow their own choice without the guidance of the ulama any more. So their steps and movements that were not integrated and organized by the ulema as the moral keepers would be faded.
Preparing ulema in the modern era of ours does not mean that it should be completed by the ability of technical management as usual, but through mental and spiritual training to avoid the storm of worldly materials. They should remain independent enables them to have good values such as istiqomah, zuhud, sincere, honest, and courage to express and act.
It seems that the fundamental issue is not so outstanding interest and tends to be put aside. More over there is no such an appropriate method to make it comes true. For that reason, it is necessary to consider the way as used by the tarekat circles in training spirituality in which there are systematic and continuous inheritance and seeding of values. So it is expected to be able to make anybody to be an ulama having intellectuality, spirituality, and morality.
In the light of their sincere hearts, the ulema may see their social surroundings and their problems without any personal interest and desire. The ulama are expected to be able to guide the ummat in the harmonious life and uphold the truth and honesty even in the most manipulative situation. For the most respected men, the capability of restraining self-interest from the wealth and power and whatever they search for is solely for the blessings of Allah SWT. (Abdul Mun’im DZ)
The keulamaan is the matter of spirituality. That’s why it should be strengthened from within consisting of the matters of spiritual, intellectual, and moral. What is then interesting to note is that the substance of the spirituality rather than intellectuality for in this case in particular there is always misunderstanding. This, would in turn result in the forming of ulema cadres through intellectualization that possibly comes to unwanted objectives. For many whose bright intellectual have no such the very base of spiritual. These men can not be considered as ulema.
When the ulema having no adequate integrity involved in the practical political affairs, they could not color the political system of course with what called as the akhlaqul karimah (moral). Instead, they enjoyed the pragmatic life style without paying more attention to the moral values any more. So the function of ulema as the moral keepers would be fading away. In this case, many of them are left by the ummat for they can no longer be the model men.
We are extremely worried about this case in which the ulema can no longer play their roles as the moral keepers. This would in turn raise the social conflict for their involvement in struggling their own interests. The fact would not make the people come to their much-awaited orientation. Whereas, in the modern era of ours, we need absolutely model figures playing their function as the guides and the keepers of moral. If not, the people tend to follow their own choice without the guidance of the ulama any more. So their steps and movements that were not integrated and organized by the ulema as the moral keepers would be faded.
Preparing ulema in the modern era of ours does not mean that it should be completed by the ability of technical management as usual, but through mental and spiritual training to avoid the storm of worldly materials. They should remain independent enables them to have good values such as istiqomah, zuhud, sincere, honest, and courage to express and act.
It seems that the fundamental issue is not so outstanding interest and tends to be put aside. More over there is no such an appropriate method to make it comes true. For that reason, it is necessary to consider the way as used by the tarekat circles in training spirituality in which there are systematic and continuous inheritance and seeding of values. So it is expected to be able to make anybody to be an ulama having intellectuality, spirituality, and morality.
In the light of their sincere hearts, the ulema may see their social surroundings and their problems without any personal interest and desire. The ulama are expected to be able to guide the ummat in the harmonious life and uphold the truth and honesty even in the most manipulative situation. For the most respected men, the capability of restraining self-interest from the wealth and power and whatever they search for is solely for the blessings of Allah SWT. (Abdul Mun’im DZ)
