NU challenged to face fundamentalism and liberalism

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Preaching Institution of Nahdlatul Ulama (LDNU) KH Nuril huda said that NU, as the country's largest Muslim organization, had recently been challenged to face such movements as fundamentalism and liberalism.

Kiai Nuril said that NU would stay committed to the teaching of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) despite any emerging new Islamic movement capable of threatening it.<>

"It is now time of the battle of thought. If we do not prepare new generation to defend Aswaja, we will lose," Kiai Nuril told NU Online here Thursday (23/4).

He explained that NU was a tolerant organization and recognized the existence of other religious groups. "Unfortunately NU has always be disturbed."

"We will not compete for the day of others. Instead, we just want to put the teaching of Aswaja on the right track," Kiai Nuril said, adding that NU would fight against those who want to disturb the teaching of Aswaja.

He admitted the followers of Aswaja in the Islamic world were the majority. But those non-Aswaja minority groups were very militant in their movements.

While various strategies in developing Aswaja were recently discussed in a Meeting in Libya. It was attended by ulema from some 120 countries. The forum decided that the dakwa (preaching) would be conducted by using wise and touching heart approaches.

Another strategy is by spreading the teaching of sufism (tasawuf) which is considerably able to relieve the burden of others and purify heart.

While as part of efforts to preserve the teaching of Aswaja carried out by LDNU in Jakarta is by holding monthly religious "istighotsah" gatherings. For this month, LDNU will hold an istighotsah on 29 April ahead in collaboration with the Nurul Mustofa group led by Habib Hasan Assegaf. (mkf)