Keep Indonesia Secular, President Yudhoyono Urges

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Source: The Jakarta Globe

Jakarta. Indonesia is not a Muslim country and any efforts to turn it into one must be resisted, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday as he accepted an award for statesmanship.

Yudhoyono said that Sukarno, Indonesia’s founding president, had explicitly declared that Indonesia was a secular country and not an Islamic one, and that this basic tenet of the republic must be upheld.

“We have to protect this. My fear is that there are changes, pushes and thinking that tend toward turning this country into a non-secular one. Secularity is final, and this is an important legacy that we have inherited from Sukarno and the other founders of this republic,” Yudhoyono said at the Sukarno Center in Gianyar, Bali, where he was awarded the Sukarno Prize for championing humanity and democracy.

The president said he continued to study Sukarno’s teachings for insight into how to address Indonesia’s modern-day challenges.

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Solomonic wisdom needed to establish Separation of Mosque-Church-Synagogue and State

17 replies

  1. PLEASE do not delete my respond to this Topic, let us love the different interpretation of Islam. Religious Liberty is the core of Islam.
    May Allah will bless us with the truth of Islamic teaching.Thanks.
    .
    Is the seculare system compatible with Islam or Al-Quran? Yes, State and Mosque or Church have to be separated.
    .
    God already explained in Al-Quran, Prophet Muammad (Pbuh) practiced the system of seculare which is the State authority and Mosque is separated.
    .
    The existing authority does not involve with religions or beliefs. The ruler have to take no side of religion. The state have to be neutral and treat all religions and all beliefs fairly, without discrimination on the basis of race, religion and gender.
    .
    As Allah commanded in Al Quran;

    O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.QS 4;59
    .
    ( Messenger (Rasul) who teach religion, Authority can be Sunni,Shia,Christian,Jews, Hindu,Atheist etc. has to obey no matter what ).
    HADITS.Listen and obey your authority, though he struck your back and take your wealth force (Hr Muslim ).
    .
    When news concerning peace or fear comes to them, they go about spreading it. Had they referred it to the Messenger and to those having authority among them, the truth of the matter would have come to the knowledge of those of them who are able to investigate.QS 4;83.
    .
    Verily, the Islamic system of Government is Secular.or Secular is the Islamic system.
    .
    With all my love

  2. It is hoped that this position is taken with all sincerity but not for the consumption of the ever gullible international public.
    When Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the Security Minister of Indonesia, the Christians of Poso complained to him about the merciless and frequent attacks by the ‘Laskar Jihad’. His response was “THEY(jihadists)–PLAYED A ROLE IN DEFENDING TRUTH AND JUSTICE THAT IS EXPECTED BY MUSLIMS IN INDONESIA. FOR ME, AS FAR AS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS LEGAL AND NOT VIOLATING THE LAW, THEN THIS IS OK”.
    In other words, the official response to killings and destruction of Christians and their properties was approval since the culprits were defending ‘truth and justice’ as loyal Indonesians muslims.
    It remains to be seen how the same man will maintain Indonesia as a secular country when the same Laskar Jihad is doing its job which does not “violate the law”.

  3. When God says in the Quran, “Obey Allah and his messenger”, this instruction is only for the matters of religion. This does not include anything else. Unfortunately religious leaders have misrepresented this verse to grab power.
    If this verse is unqualified, then who among us is following the sdvise of the Prophet in the matters of health. We are all following the “Satanic” medicine of the “Non believers” and hence all of us are hellbound.
    May God have mercy on us.
    The matters of state are separate from religion and should be kept as such. No religious leader should ever assume political power.

  4. @ Lutf quote–No religious leader should ever assume political power–unquote.

    Lutf, in this case I do not agree with you, Why?

    A religious Muslim who really know Islamic teaching, he will be a excellent political leader, will be an excellent ruler.

    as long as he treat all people fairly as Allah commanded it.

    All love

  5. I said “religious leader” should not seek political office. Of course religious person can be a political leader as long as his politics is not driven by his religious ideology and he is not under the influence of his religious leaders. An example would be John F Kennedy who came from a devout catholic family. He sought political office and became the president of the USA. His politics was not driven by his Christian religion nor he looked towards the Pope to make his policy. He did not refer to Bible to solve the problems of his country. In other words he was secular in his politics. His religion was a personal matter and he never used it to gain political advantage.
    This is the teaching of Islam.

  6. Lutf,
    “THIS IS THE TEACHING OF ISLAM”.
    You have not given any example from Muhammad or his close companions. Without an example from the founder and frontrunners of muhammadanism, any talk of ‘secularism’ being ‘the teaching of islam’ holds no water.

  7. Religious Leaders may also be Political Leaders – it may be very difficult or unadvisable in most instances but sometimes both repsonsibilities fall on the same person even unwantedly.
    Joseph, Moses, David, Suleman and also Muhammad (Peace be on them all) had to shoulder both these repsonsibilities, But we believe they did it justly amongst all their subjects. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a great example that he was trusted for any mediation form all parties and he decided matters justly whether a Muslim or Non Muslim. And that’s how a King, a Caliph or a Leader should do – decide and rule Justly! You call it Secular or you call it Religious. Better Call it Just Ruler or leader.
    Ask any Muslim – what if Muhammad (SAW) had to decide between two groups or persons, would he decide with any biasness? What ever is the answer so shud current leaders do. I understand that no real religious or God fearing person wud be “unjust. So If “Secularism” or “Religiousism” words are not suitable then use “Justism”.

  8. @ Luft..quote–He did not refer to Bible to solve the problems of his country. In other words he was secular in his politics. His religion was a personal matter and he never used it to gain political advantage.This is the teaching of Islam.–unquote.
    .
    I agree, when religious person become a ruler, he can not refer to Bible, Al Quran, he should be neutral.
    .What happen in Indonesia claimed as secular state, but SBY government allow his aid, Depag, Syuryadarma Ali to use his power to ban Ahmadiyah. This is not right. We need to correct this. we urge Depag should be disbanded.
    .
    With love

  9. O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.QS 4;59

    iSLAM AND PRO.Mohammed recognised “Islam” to be true and other religions of the world anti -Allah. If you say Islam believes in Secularism – it is hight of folly and ignorance.

  10. As a devoted Hindu I thank Hon. President of Indonesia for his love for Non-Muslims subjects of his country. He treats all citizens equal irrespective of their religious affiliation. Long Live.

    • Dr. A. Anburaj,
      “ISLAM AND PRO.Mohammed recognised “Islam” to be true and other religions of the world anti -Allah. If you say Islam believes in Secularism — it is hight of folly and ignorance.”

      You should add – “as per my knowledge…..”, and your knowledge is surely little.
      Anyways, Rama and Krishna (Peace Be On Them) also shouldered Kingship, but they did it justly – were they called Secular or Religious?
      And do today’s Hindu Leaders act the same way as they did? Or like many Muslim or Jewish or Christian Leaders of today, they also fall into the pit of Mob and Media Politics?
      Today they do it in the name of Religion, Lord Jesus or Allah, tomorrow they will do it in the name of National or some other Interest! This is about human short sighted nature not about any Religion!

    • Dr. A. Anburaj,
      “ISLAM AND PRO.Mohammed recognised “Islam” to be true and other religions of the world anti -Allah. If you say Islam believes in Secularism — it is hight of folly and ignorance.”

      You should add – “as per my knowledge…..”, and your knowledge is surely little.
      Anyways, Rama and Krishna (Peace Be On Them) also shouldered Kingship, but they did it justly – were they called Secular or Religious?
      And do today’s Hindu Leaders act the same way as they did? Or like many Muslim or Jewish or Christian Leaders of today, they also fall into the pit of Mob and Media Politics?
      Today they do it in the name of Religion, Christ, Muhammad or Allah, tomorrow they will do it in the name of National or some other Interest! This is about human short sighted nature not about any Religion!

  11. Secular government only means that the government will not favor one religion over another. It does not mean anti-religion. By this definition the governance of Prophet Muhammad was secular. He did not implement religion through the instruments of the state. He protected other religions and minorities. He provided protection to their places of worship. He sought council from all of his subjects and not just the Muslims. All of this is secular government.
    In the present day, however, the so called Muslim countries are enforcing their understanding of the religion through legislation. Other religions and minorities are living in these countries in fear of their lives. This is theocracy. This not permitted in Islam.

  12. @ Lutf…
    .
    I would like add to your respond, it will be complete, otherwise Islamic teaching still look discriminative religion.
    .
    Islamic teaching do not only protect the right of religious minority as Extremist Muslim think, but also treat all His people including atheist,gay-lesbian FAIRLY..JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE. as America constitution.
    .
    In other word, Non Islam can be a leader in Majority Muslim if he won election from election.
    .
    As we see in Saudi Arabia, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, and Iran, there is no one from non Muslim became a minister, or President etc.
    .
    Because Extremist Muslim Leaders accuse that non Islam are infidel, enemy of Islam. This thought is wrong. They point people based on religion, not based on ability, honest, and knowledge. This is wrong, not Islamic teaching.
    .
    Extremist Muslim refer falsely to a verse from Al Quran as below;
    .
    O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians ( extremist ) as Auliyâ’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Auliyâ’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Auliyâ’), then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allâh guides not those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust). QS 5:51.
    .
    as we know that this verse sent down at time of war.When enemy of Prophet wanted to kill him.
    So this verse can not apply any more in 21st Century.
    .
    All love

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