Sunni Islam movement in Indonesia
Nahdlatul Ulama
(
Indonesian pronunciation:
[nah?dat?l
??lama]
,
lit.
'
Revival of the
Ulama
'
,
NU
) is an
Islamic organization in Indonesia
. Its membership numbered over 95 million in 2021,
[2]
making it the largest Islamic organization in the world.
[3]
NU is also a charitable body funding schools and hospitals as well as organizing communities to help alleviate poverty.
The NU was founded in 1926 by the
ulema
and merchants to defend both
traditionalist Islamic practices
(in accordance with
Shafi'i school
) and its members' economic interests.
[3]
NU's religious views are considered "traditionalist" in that they tolerate local culture as long as it doesn't contradict Islamic teachings.
[4]
By contrast the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, the
Muhammadiyah
, is considered "reformist" as it takes a more literal interpretation of the
Qur'an
and
Sunnah
.
[4]
Some leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama are ardent advocates of
Islam Nusantara
, a distinctive variety of Islam that has undergone interaction, contextualization, indigenization, interpretation, and vernacularization according to
socio-cultural
conditions in Indonesia.
[5]
Islam Nusantara promotes
moderation
, anti-
fundamentalism
,
pluralism
, and, to a degree,
syncretism
.
[6]
Many NU elders, leaders, and religious scholars, however, have rejected Islam Nusantara in favor of a more conservative approach.
[7]
Ideology
[
edit
]
Nahdlatul Ulama follows the
Ash?ari
and
Maturidi
schools, taking the middle path between aqli (
rationalist
) and naqli (
scripturalist
) tendencies. The organization identifies the
Quran
, the
Sunnah
, and the abilities of the mind coupled with empirical reality as the sources of its thought. It attributes this approach to earlier thinkers such as
Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari
and
Abu Mansur al-Maturidi
in the field of
theology
.
[8]
In the field of
jurisprudence
, it recognizes the
Hanafi
,
Maliki
,
Shafi'i
, and
Hanbali
schools of law, but relies in practice on Shafi'i teachings. Regarding
Sufism
, NU follows the path of
al-Ghazali
and
al-Junayd al-Baghdadi
.
[8]
It has been described by
Western media
as a
progressive
,
liberal
, and
pluralistic
Islamic movement,
[9]
[10]
but is a diverse organization with large conservative factions, as well.
[7]
The Nahdlatul Ulama has stated that it is not tied to any political organization.
[11]
History
[
edit
]
Origin
[
edit
]
NU was established in 1926 as an organization for orthodox
Ash'ari
Muslims scholars,
[12]
as opposed to the modernist policies of the
Muhammadiyah
and
PERSIS (organization)
, and the rise of
Salafi movement
of the
Al-Irshad Al-Islamiya
organization in Indonesia, which rejected local customs influenced by pre-Islamic Javanese
Hindus
and
Buddhist
traditions at all. The organization was established after
The Committee of Hijaz
had fulfilled its duty and about to be dissolved. The organization was established by
Hasyim Asy'ari
, the head of an
Islamic religious school
in East Java. The organization expanded, but the base of its support remained in East Java. By 1928, the NU was using the Javanese language in its sermons, alongside Arabic.
[13]
: 169
[14]
: 168
[15]
: 233?236
In 1937, despite poor relations between the NU and other
Sunni Islam
organizations in Indonesia, the organizations established the Supreme Islamic Council of Indonesia (
Indonesian
:
Majlis Islam A'laa Indonesia, MIAI
) as a discussion forum. They were joined by most of the other Islamic organizations in existence at the time. In 1942, the Japanese
occupied Indonesia
and in September a conference of Islamic leaders was held in Jakarta.
[13]
: 191, 194
[15]
: 233?236
The Japanese wanted to replace the MIAI, but the conference not only decided to maintain the organization, but also elected political figures belonging to the
PSII
to the leadership, rather than members of the non-political NU or Muhammadiyah as the occupiers had wanted. Just over a year later, the MIAI was dissolved and replaced by the Japanese-sponsored
Masyumi
(Consultative Council of Indonesian Muslims). Hasjim Asjari was the notional chairman, but in practice the new organization was led by his son,
Wahid Hasyim
. Other NU and Muhammadiyah figures held leadership positions.
[13]
: 191, 194
[15]
: 233?236
In 1945,
Sukarno
and
Hatta
declared Indonesian independence
, which NU supported.
During the early months of the
Indonesian National Revolution
the NU declared on October 22, 1945, that the fight against the Dutch colonial forces was a holy war, obligatory for all Muslims of the nation (this day is since 2015 honored as National Santri Day).
[16]
Among the guerrilla groups fighting for independence were Hizbullah and Sabillilah, which were led by the NU.
[15]
: 233?236
NAHDLATUL ULAMA RESOLUTION
to all members in Java and Madura Islands
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious and Merciful:
The Regional Leaders and Representatives of Nahdlatul Ulama, assembled in Surabaya, East Java, in general session of the Java-Madura Conference of the aformentioned on 21-22 October 1945, hereby declare that:
Given that the testimonies and speeches given from representatives from Java and Madura revealed the huge desire of the Muslim Ummah and Ulama of these regions and in the areas of the aforementioned to defend and uphold both religion and the sovereignty of the newly independent Republic of Indonesia, declared on the 17th of August of this year, against foreign aggression, during the duration of this Conference,
considering that the defense of Republic of Indonesia according to the laws of the Islamic Religion as thus a obligation for every Muslim in accordance with Islamic doctrine, and that Muslims constitute the majority of the citizenry of the young Republic,
and considering the following realities faced by the Muslim community:
Whereas, That the Dutch (NICA) and the Japanese who came and were here in the lands of the Republic carried out many crimes and atrocities which disturbed the peace,
Whereas, That everything they did was done with the intention of violating the sovereignty of the independent Republic of Indonesia and the freedom of religion, and wanting to restore their former colonial possessions, there have been battles that have sacrificed many lives in many places of the republic,
Whereas, these battles were mostly carried out by members of the Muslim community who felt obliged according to their religious laws to defend the independence of their country and religious freedom,
And whereas, in dealing with all these incidents, in accordance with our response, we have not received concrete orders and demands from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on that matter.
NOW THEREFORE, WE HEREBY ORDER AND RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:
First, For the NU to urgently request the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to determine a real and commensurate attitude and action towards efforts, especially towards the Dutch and their allies and supporters at home and overseas, that will endanger religious freedom and the independence of the Indonesian nation,
and second, for the NU to continue the "sabilillah" struggle for the establishment of the independent Republic of Indonesia and Islam.
Resolved in Surabaya on the 22th day of October, 1945
(SGD.) THE NAHDLATUL ULAMA
Transformation into Islamic political party
[
edit
]
Following the recognition of Indonesian independence, a new party called
Masyumi
was established with the NU as a component of it. The NU leadership at the time had no political skills, and was awarded few influential cabinet positions, with the exception of chairman
Wahid Hasyim
, who was appointed religious affairs minister. The NU was unhappy with its lack of influence within Masyumi, especially after a decision at the 1949 party conference changed the party's religious council, on which the NU held several positions, into a powerless advisory body.
[15]
: 233?236
Two years later, a dispute over the organization of the
Haj
pilgrimage led to Prime Minister Natsir's opposition to the reappointment of Hasyim as religious affairs minister in the next cabinet. In the ensuing cabinet crisis, the NU made a series of demands, including the retention of Hasyim, and threatened to leave Masyumi. On 5 April 1952, a few days after the announcement of a new cabinet without Hasyim, the NU decided in principle to leave Masyumi. Three months later it withdrew all its members from Masyumi councils, and on 30 August it established the Indonesian League of Muslims, comprising the NU, PSSI and a number of smaller organizations. It was chaired by Hasyim.
[15]
: 233?236
[17]
During the
liberal democracy
era (1950?1957), NU members served in a number of cabinet posts. In the
first Ali Sastroamidjojo Cabinet
, the NU held three seats, with Zainul Arifin appointed second deputy prime minister. However, following the fall of this cabinet, some NU members were opposed to the NU joining the new cabinet, to be formed by
Burhanuddin Harahap Cabinet
, believing that if he was unable to form a cabinet, the NU would be invited to try. It was finally pressured into participating, and was awarded the interior and religious affairs portfolios in the cabinet, which was sworn in on 12 August 1955.
[15]
: 418?419
On 29 September 1955, Indonesia held its first
parliamentary elections
. The NU came in third, with almost 7 million votes, 18.4% of the total, behind the
Indonesian National Party
and Masyumi. It was awarded 45 seats in the
People's Representative Council
, up from only eight before the election. The NU was the largest party in its East Java base, and 85.6% of its vote came from
Java
. There was a clear division between Masyumi, representing outer-island, urban voters and the NU, representing the rural Javanese constituency. Three months later,
elections
were held for the
Constitutional Assembly
, which was tasked with drawing up a permanent constitution. The results were very similar, with the NU winning 91 of the 514 seats.
[13]
: 238?239
[15]
: 434?436
[18]
: 51
In the 1950s, the NU still wanted to see Indonesia become an Islamic state, and expressed its disapproval of a 1953 presidential speech in which Sukarno rejected this. Three years later, it also argued against Sukarno's "conception" that would eventually lead to the establishment of
guided democracy
, as this would mean PKI members sitting in the cabinet. On 2 March 1957, the
Permesta
rebellion broke out. Among its demands was the restoration of Mohammad Hatta to the vice-presidency. The NU supported these calls.
[15]
: 281?282, 544
[19]
Meanwhile, in the Constitutional Assembly, the NU joined Masyumi, the
Indonesian Islamic Union Party
(PSII), the
Islamic Education Movement
(Perti) and other parties to form the Islamic Block, which wanted Indonesian to become an Islamic state. The block made up 44.8% of total seats. However, with none of the blocks able to command a majority and push through the constitution it wanted, the assembly failed to agree and was dissolved by Sukarno in a
decree
on 5 July 1959 that also restored the original
1945 Constitution
, which declared the state to be based on the
Pancasila
philosophy, not Islam.
[15]
: 281?282, 544
[19]
In 1960, President
Sukarno
banned Masyumi for alleged involvement in the Permesta rebellion. However, the leadership of NU saw the pro-poor
Communist Party of Indonesia
, which was close to Sukarno, as an obstacle to its ambitions, and competed with it to win support from the poor. Five years later, the coup attempt by the
30 September Movement
took place. In 1965, the group took sides with the
General Suharto
-led army and was heavily involved in
the mass killings
of
Indonesian communists
. However, the NU later began to oppose Suharto's regime.
[20]
In 1984,
Abdurrahman Wahid
, the grandson of NU founder Hasyim Asy'ari, inherited the leadership from his father, and was later elected
President of Indonesia
in 1999. He formally apologized for NU's involvement in the events of 1965. He also stated that "Nadhatul Ulama (NU) is like
Shiite
minus
Imamah
; similarly Shiite is NU plus Imamah." There have been many similarities between the two, such as the position and role of
kyai
. The main contrast between them is that in NU, the concept is visible in the form of accepted culture, while in Shia, it takes the form of
theology
.
[20]
Following the
deposing of Sukarno
, the
New Order
regime under President
Suharto
held
elections
in 1971. Despite manipulation of the NU by the government, which caused it to lose much credibility, the NU managed to maintain its 18% share of the vote from the 1955 poll. However, in 1973, it was obliged to "fuse" into the new
United Development Party
(
Indonesian
:
Partai Persatuan Pembangunan, PPP
). The PPP came second, after the government sponsored
Golkar
organization in the elections of
1977
and
1982
, but in 1984, the new NU chairman
Abdurrahman Wahid
(also known as
Gus Dur
), the son of
Wahid Haschim
, withdrew the NU from the
PPP
because of dissatisfaction with the NU's lack of influence. As a result, in the
1987 election
, the PPP vote collapsed from 28% in 1982 to only 16%. From then on, it was expected that the NU would concentrate on religious and social activities.
[13]
: 276
[14]
: 32, 36?37
[18]
: 201
Outside politics
[
edit
]
In 1984, the New Order government announced that all organizations would have to accept state ideology Pancasila as their
basis
. Once again the NU was accommodating, with Gus Dur calling Pancasila a "noble compromise"
[14]
: 172
for Muslims. Five years later. Gus Dur was reelected for a second five-year term as chairman, a position he held until being elected president in 1999.
[18]
: 203
In 1990, the NU worked with Bank Summa to establish a system of rural banks. Suharto did not approve of the NU straying beyond purely religious activities, and the fact the bank was owned by a Christian ethnic-Chinese family led to controversy. The bank was eventually shut down two years later because of financial mismanagement. Gus Dur also incurred the disapproval of the regime by holding a mass rally at a Jakarta stadium three months before the
1992 legislative elections
, ostensibly to express support for Pancasila.
[14]
: 188?193
This resulted in Gus Dur being invited to meet Lt. Col.
Prabowo Subianto
, Suharto's son-in-law at Jakarta Military Headquarters. At the meeting, Gus Dur was warned to avoid unacceptable political conduct, and told that if he insisted in involving himself in politics, rather than confining himself to religious matters, he should express support for a further presidential term for Suharto. In response, Gus Dur threatened to leave the NU. This resulted in the regime backing down, as it could not risk bringing Gus Dur down.
[14]
: 188?193
Post-New Order era
[
edit
]
During the
fall of Suharto
, Nahdlatul Ulama members and Islamic clerics were
killed
by rioters in
Banyuwangi
in East Java when a witchhunt against alleged sorcerers spiralled out of control.
[21]
[22]
Following the fall of Suharto and his replacement by Vice-president
B. J. Habibie
, in July 1998 Gus Dur announced the establishment of the
National Awakening Party
(
Indonesian
:
Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa, PKB
). On 10 November, Gus Dur met with other pro-reform figures
Amien Rais
,
Megawati Sukarnoputri
and
Sultan Hamengkubuwono
. The so-called Ciganjur Four, named after the location of Gus Dur's house, issued a declaration calling the Habibie administration "transitional" and calling for elections to be brought forward and for the
Indonesian Military
to end its political role.
[14]
: 387?297
In Indonesia's first free
elections
since 1955, held on 7 June 1999, the PKB won 13 percent of the vote. In the ensuing session of the People's Consultative Assembly, Gus Dur was elected
President of Indonesia
, defeating Megawati by 373 votes to 313.
[14]
: 424, 461-
However, he was
deposed
just two years later. The PKB subsequently split into two warring factions, one led by Gus Dur's daughter, Yenny Wahid. An attempt in 2008 by Gus Dur to involve President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in resolving the dispute failed, and the PKB vote in the
2009 elections
was half that of the previous vote in 2004. At its 2010 conference, held in
Makassar
, the NU decided not to discuss the split, and passed a resolution banning officials from holding political posts, seen as a commitment to avoiding future political involvement.
[14]
: 501
[23]
[24]
[25]
After the conference, concerns about the longer term role of the NU continued to attract comment in the national media. During 2011, for example, there was continuing discussion about the national role that the NU should play and about the close political links between the NU and the National Awakening Party (PKB). Comments by Yenny Wahid, for example, reflected these concerns when she said that the NU was fragmenting and "sliding into irrelevance".
[26]
Aims
[
edit
]
The NU exists to spread Islamic teaching. As well as preaching, it undertakes educational activities through its network of 6,830
Islamic boarding schools
(or
pesantren
). It also owns 44 universities; is involved in economic and agricultural studies; and provides social services such as
family planning
.
[27]
Its goal is "to spread messages about a tolerant Islam in their respective countries to curb radicalism, extremism and terrorism," which, it claims, "often spring from a misinterpretation of Islamic teachings."
[9]
[10]
In December 2014, NU launched a global campaign against
extremism
and
jihadism
. Alongside NU theologians, the group built a prevention center in Indonesia to train Arabic-speaking students to combat jihadist
rhetoric
. Additionally, NU created a joint program with the
University of Vienna
entitled
VORTEX
(Vienna Observatory for Applied Research on Radicalism and Extremism). The project is funded by the Indonesian Ministry of Internal Security. It also launched an American
nonprofit organization
called Bayt ar-Rahmah in
Winston-Salem
,
North Carolina
.
[9]
[10]
On the other hand, Nahdlatul Ulama leaders gave a
fatwa
in favor of
female genital mutilation
(FGM).
[28]
[29]
In 2019, NU called for the abolishment of the term "
kafir
" to describe non-Muslims.
[30]
Leaders
[
edit
]
The highest body in the NU is its
Syuriah
(Supreme Council). Under this is the Tanfidziyah (Executive Council); the Mustasyar (Advisory Council) provides input to both. At the 2010 NU Conference,
Sahal Mahfudh
was elected chairman of the Executive Council, and thus serves as executive chief. At the same conference, Sahal Mahfudz was elected chair of the Supreme Council for the 2010-2015 period. Under the Executive Council, there are province-level Regional Boards, autonomous bodies, institutes, and committees, with the structure extending down to Sub-Branch Representative Council Boards in villages.
[31]
[32]
: 15
[27]
[33]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
http://pps.uin-suka.ac.id/id/berita/213-teliti-teologi-muhammadiyah-dan-nu-zuriatul-khairi-raih-doktor.html#:~:text=Drs.%20H.%20Zuriatul%20Khairi%2C,pandangan%20umat%20Islam%20di%20Indonesia.&text=Keduanya%20adalah%20penganut%20Islam%20ortodoks
.
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Patrick Winn (March 8, 2019).
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"
.
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ISBN
9780252030772
.
Archived
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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- ^
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.
www.philtar.ac.uk
.
Archived
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.
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a
b
c
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e
Ricklefs, M.C.
(1991).
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. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
ISBN
0-8047-4480-7
.
- ^
a
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c
d
e
f
g
h
Schwartz, Adam (1994).
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. Allen & Unwin.
ISBN
1-86373-635-2
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
Feith, Herbert
(2007).
The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia
. Equinox Publishing (Asia) Pte Ltd.
ISBN
978-9-79378-045-0
.
- ^
"Teks Resolusi Jihad NU, Cikal Bakal Hari Santri Nasional"
.
- ^
"Kebangkitan Nasional dan Awal Berdirinya Nahdlatul Ulama"
.
mediaipnu.or.id
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.
- ^
a
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c
Friend, Theodore (2003).
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. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
ISBN
0-674-01834-6
.
- ^
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Nasution, Adnan Buyung (1995).
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[
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]. Jakarta: Pustaka Utama Grafiti. pp. 32?33, 49.
ISBN
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LIEBHOLD, DAVID (Oct 19, 1998).
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.
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.
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. 2008-06-30.
Archived
from the original on 2022-04-03
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2010-08-15
.
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"PKB Still Hopes for Nahdlatul Ulama Help to Heal Split"
.
Jakarta Globe
. 2010-03-29. Archived from
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on 2012-03-23
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"NU leaders cannot hold political posts"
. Nahdlatul Ulama. 2008-03-27.
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from the original on 2019-03-02
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.
- ^
'Nation's largest Muslim group laments 'waning influence' ',
The Jakarta Post
, 20 June 2011
"Nation's largest Muslim group laments 'waning influence' | the Jakarta Post"
. Archived from
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
a
b
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- ^
Shahid, Kunwar Khuldune (10 October 2014).
"Self-defeating extremes"
.
The Friday Times
.
Archived
from the original on 10 May 2017
. Retrieved
5 December
2015
.
- ^
"Despite Ban, Female Genital Mutilation Widespread in Indonesia"
.
Jakarta Globe
. Jakarta. Archived from
the original
on 8 December 2015
. Retrieved
5 December
2015
.
- ^
"NU calls for end to word 'infidels' to describe non-Muslims"
.
The Jakarta Post
.
Archived
from the original on 15 November 2021
. Retrieved
1 March
2019
.
- ^
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.
mediaipnu.or.id
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.
- ^
Robin Bush (2009).
Nahdlatul Ulama and the Struggle for Power Within Islam and Politics in Indonesia
. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
ISBN
978-981-230-876-4
.
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2015-12-16
.
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. 2008-03-28.
Archived
from the original on 2016-03-04
. Retrieved
2008-06-30
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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