Surabaya's NU to initiate "Resolusi Jihad" monument

Surabaya, NU Online
Soetomo well known as Bung Tomo was named as a national hero by the government recently. In this regard, the NU Branch Board of Surabaya (PCNU) has an initiative to establish what called as "Resolusi Jihad" monument.

Chairman of the Surabaya's PCNU KH Saiful "Gus Saiful" Chalim said here on Wednesday (19/11) that the existence of the monument would be very important because there was a close relationship between Bung Tomo and the fatwa of "Resolusi Jihad" issued by the great chairman (rais akbar) of the Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Hadrotus Sheikh KH Hasyim Asy'ari on 22 October 1945.<>

Gus Saiful expressed his deep concern, saying many people had started to ignore the roles played by ulema in struggling for the nation's independence. Even their roles seemed to have been put aside either in history books or in the explanations of historians, he said.

Gus Saiful said almost in every Heroes Day anniversary (10 November), the roles of ulema had almost never been mentioned in formal celebrations like flag ceremony and so on.

While deputy chairman of the advisory council of the PCNU, KH Imam Ghozali Said said to stir up the spirit and pay tribute to the ulema, the establishment of the monument would be really necessary because it had to do with the issuance of the Jihad Resolution.

"There are many that should be revealed and the monument will expectedly portray how the Jihad Resolution was issued because people especially young people, have not yet understood the role of a great ulema dealing with the Jihad Resolution in struggling for independence," he told NU Online's Maulana.

The Jihad Resolution was the result of a meeting attended by thousands of ulema and santri across Java and Madura and led by KH Hasyim Asy'ari in Surabaya on 21-22 October 1945. One of its contents was defending the nation's independence proclaimed by Soekarno (Bung Karno) and Hatta on 17 August 1945.

The Jihad Resolution was a fatwa on the obligation to fight against imperialists and set up paramilitary soldiers. There have been many historians considering the great influence of the Jihad Resolution. Two weeks later, exactly on 10 November 1945, there was a battle called as the Battle of Surabaya between pro-Independence Indonesian soldiers and militia against British and Dutch troops as a part of the Indonesian National Revolution.

The Battle was the heaviest single battle of the Revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Considered a heroic effort by Indonesians, the battle helped galvanise Indonesian and international support for Indonesian independence. 10 November is celebrated annually as Heroes' Day.

In its following development, NU held its 16th Congress in Purwokerto, Central Java, on 26-29 March 1946. In the congress NU, again and again, issued the Jihad Resolution that obliged every Muslim to defend the nation's independence.

The resolution obliged all Muslims especially adult men who were at about 94 km radius from enemies' location. Out of the radius, other Muslims were obliged to give assistance. If those lying within the 94 km radius were defeated, other Muslims must take part in fighting against the enemies. (rif)