Awakening tradition

Human interests tend to change and make progress. In achieving the progress, there are some using tradition as such a starting point and some rejecting it and even relying mainly on modernity without considering its significance. The two contrasting scenes are really difficult to be integrated. Rather, both tend to oppose to and deny one another. Whereas, in line with the healthy development of culture, no one of realities is to be denied. It should be expectedly able to manage any existing potential.

A moderate way is what called as Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah (Aswaja) having been so far practiced by the Nahdliyin (NU followers). On account of this fact, the existence of Nahdliyin in any region of the country has never disturbed a peaceful life of social surroundings. While there have been certain communities making fuss by rejecting all expressions, customs, and traditions in any area they live in. For that reason, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has developed and become a mass organization accepted by all societal elements throughout the Archipelago.<<>br />
Recently, many Nahdliyin circles even from Islamic boarding “pesantren" schools have undertaken purification movements that may shock pesantren world following their return from their study abroad in getting acquisition of religious knowledge in the Middle East. At the same time, many pesantren circles having gotten modern education tend to have deconstructed and remodeled educational systems that in turn cause such anxiety.

The two groups have lost their own Aswaja-NU, and even the nation-based character. They could no longer make the process of cultural acculturation. They just wished they could blindly adopt both the Middle East and the Western traditions. Imagine! They have used the name of religion (puritanism) and modernity (liberalism) to reject the teachings of the Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah that are regarded to have not been relevant to human freedom anymore.

The two existing tendencies are now very popular with their own militancy. But, their way of behaving by giving no appreciation to the tradition is like planting a tree without growing its roots. The idea can only be, again and again, implemented through both violence and force. Without the violence and the force, it will absolutely disappear without a trace. The idea will never be evolved for its supporters and movers are not creative but dogmatic individuals. On the contrary, such approaches used by the Nahdliyin are the processes of acculturation by creatively managing cultures.

Ironically, their rigid views have never been realized by people in general. They are so strange so there are no efforts to naturalize and seed the dogmatic ideals in accordance with the public worldview and mindset. They are the same as the modernists considering tradition as an obstacle. While NU is always of the view that the tradition should be awakened and directed in the light of modernity. Thus, one can be modern without losing his/her identity and character. This means he or she has both identity and dignity.

It is understandable that managing tradition is not easy. It needs accuracy, meticulousness, patience, and time. While, many activists are now busy in pursuing projects so they can no longer improve themselves in thinking, acting, and behaving. Ironically, they have no even a little time to reflect and evaluate what they have done so far. In turn they can not examine the distortion they produce while at the same time people do know and monitor what they do.

In this respect, the tradition should be managed creatively rather than consumptively and a priori. If not, the approach will never find the meaningfulness of the tradition and endorse its strategic power. That is why, their movements are always failed for ignoring the most important factor. While, ideas and concepts lacking of such scholarly insightful theories are success in directing people for paying more attention to the tradition in nature. For that reason, NU has all of the time been capable of evolving its thinking, science and knowledge. All of them can make progress for they are placed in the course of tradition so they are fully parts of social life.

Is it possible that human can survive without tradition? Whereas it constitutes a collective awareness guiding and directing human to act and develop science. The development of religious doctrines should again consider the existence of tradition. By placing the religious doctrines over the tradition, they will always develop naturally and be embraced by all human kinds.

Again, the tradition should be managed creatively. If not, people will be in stagnation. It is not a thing in such a way but it should constantly be developed. When the tradition is preserved and developed, it will grow maturely and be able to face any cultural progress. The maturity in facing cultural issues should be endorsed so individuals can handle any challenge they have. (Mun’im DZ)