On May 27, 2023, Secretary General of Rabithah Alam Islami Sheikh Dr Mohammad Al Issa met with Pope Francis in Santa Marta, Vatican. Among the interesting topics discussed by the two great figures were related to shared values, bridges between civilizations, and effective-sustainable initiatives. Regarding shared values, every civilization in this world basically has shared values. These values are like dialogue and cooperation to achieve the common good. Throughout history, humans have always gathered, interacted, and built alliances to achieve common goals.
These shared values are obtained through dialogue. In dialogue, each civilization will tell what basic things they believe and practice and what universal things can be synergized for the common good amidst the differences that exist.
Allah SWT teaches us to prioritize dialogue. For example, in Surah Al Baqarah 30 there is a verse about Allah SWT's dialogue with angels as follows: "Remember when your Lord said to the Angels: "Indeed, I intend to make a caliph on earth." They said: "Why do you intend to make (a caliph) on earth someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we always glorify You by praising You and sanctifying You?" God said: "Indeed, I know what you do not know."
Dialogue is important in creating a harmonious life. Moreover, we humans are often distracted by various activities that make us forget. Through dialogue, this forgetfulness can be overcome and the awareness to live together is better maintained. In Indonesia, the concept of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is the highest value of the summit of the minds of Indonesian people to achieve common goals. That cultural differences in more than 17 thousand islands in this country must be respected, and therefore the universal Indonesian values are what need to be fought for in one breath.
Respect for diversity and maintaining shared values are the keys to sustainable interactions between cultures, religions, and even civilizations. Therefore, the Clash of Civilizations in Huntington's lecture at the American Enterprise Institute (1992) and continued in his writing in Foreign Affairs (1993) that a person's cultural and religious identity will be the main source of conflict in the post-Cold War world, has recently become irrelevant. This is because there is a tendency for world society to understand "others" more deeply along with increasing education, the spread of information through social media, and ease of transportation that makes humans increasingly connected faster. What exists is the most severe clash is the clash between pragmatic interests that are intertwined in the struggle for power, not between civilizations based on cultural and religious identities.
These shared values are difficult for us to have if there are no teachers (role models), no learning process, and no interaction or association with those who are different. Quoting Buya Hamka in 1001 Questions of Life (2016) when asked about how Western-educated youth can transform to understand the essence of Islam, he said, “The first way is to learn, the second way is to read, the third way is to socialize.” This means that the transformation of shared values, in the context of this spirit, can only be obtained through teachers, processes, and interactions.
The issue of bridges between civilizations is also interesting to note. When talking about bridges, people tend to contrast them with walls. Build bridges, not walls. Various peace campaigns have raised this issue, including in the theme of academic conferences. Cooperation between civilizations is no exception. Meetings between religious figures cannot be separated from the roles of being a bridge of dialogue, a bridge of mutual understanding, and a bridge of synergy for the common good. Sheikh Al Azhar Egypt Prof. Ahmed Al Thayyeb even agreed on a 'document of human fraternity for world peace and living together' with Vatican Leader Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019. The day was later designated by the UN as 'International Day of Human Fraternity.'
Imam Al Thayyeb also made an agreement with the Pope of the Coptic Church, Tawadros II, on the need to consolidate the values of coexistence (mutually reviving), citizenship and peace. The aim is to create resilience in facing the ideology of extremism in the Middle East region. Sheikh Ahmad Al Thayyeb conveyed the need to bring religious principles and ethics into the turbulent reality. The success of this step needs to be done by eliminating the remaining tensions and concerns between religious leaders and their scholars.
Secretary General of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, Muhammad Abdul Salam wrote a great book "The Pope and The Grand Imam: a Testimony to the Birth of the Human Fraternity Document" (2021). The book is interesting because it starts from the visit of the Grand Imam to the Vatican, then Pope Francis' visit to Al-Azhar, after which the brotherly relationship between the two leaders grew further through the ongoing meetings they held together. It was in one of these meetings that the idea of human brotherhood was born. One interesting thing, as Abdul Salam wrote in the Arabic version of the book (published by the Muslim Council of Elders, 2021), is when he displays a photo consisting of six people on a table with a white tablecloth which is where the idea of ukhuwah insaniyah emerged which then became the document of human brotherhood. Apparently, 'culinary diplomacy' played a significant role in the birth of this valuable document. The photos of how the two charismatic figures improved the draft agreement are also interesting. Here it is seen that Abdul Salam truly understands the importance of simple things that will have a broad impact on the world community. Here, documentation of the work of charismatic figures is important to be immortalized.
Another important thing is related to effective-sustainable initiatives. Bridges between civilizations will only be passive bridges if there is no initiative. For that, creative and innovative-proactive minds are needed to maintain old values that are constructive for the common good and to maintain values in adaptive ways. Today we live in the midst of technological innovation and accelerative thinking of humanity. Various progressive approaches to maintaining and refreshing shared values are very necessary. This is because there is a tendency for humans to forget old agreements. For that, effective and sustainable innovative approaches are very necessary to be found and developed continuously.
Prof. Muhammad Quraish Shihab in Mutiara Hati (2014) wrote, "The ocean is much wider than the land. Human needs are much greater than their independent abilities, because humans were created in a weak state. But it is strong by working together. Working together makes it like a building made of different materials, but supporting each other.” Sheikh Al Issa once spoke about the importance of moderate Islam, the promotion of peace, tolerance and love. He said, “We must put aside our differences and embrace the diversity of our religions and cultures. As the Charter of Mecca commands us, we must build cultural and religious ties with each other, deepen understanding between different communities, build civilized partnerships,” and we must stand hand in hand against hatred and declare now and forever that every culture has the right to exist.
Last but not least, awareness to support each other among fellow religious people is important to be maintained and cared for by all of us. The steps of Imam Al Azhar and Pope Francis are part of the inspiration to tolerate different things, and support each other in matters concerning universal humanity. Becoming a bridge for the welfare of humanity is goodness. Because humans also have fujur (sinful) nature in addition to pious nature, Allah SWT reminds us not to cause damage. This means the same as doing good. Allah SWT reminds us in His word in Surah Al A'raaf 56: "And do not cause damage on the earth, after (Allah) has set it in order and pray to Him with fear (not being accepted) and hope (will be granted). Indeed, the mercy of Allah is very close to those who do good."
YANUARDI SYUKUR is an Indonesian writer who is also a lecturer, editor, researcher and speaker at various conferences and expert resource person on several Indonesian television stations and ministries. He has participated in various international programs in Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, the United States, as well as Ukraine. He is an anthropologist at Khairun University who is interested in various global issues. He is currently also active as Vice Chairman of the Islamic and Middle East Research Center (IMERC) of the University of Indonesia and is active in the Commission on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation of the Indonesian Ulama Council. E-mail: yanuardisyukur@gmail.com.
https://www.mui.or.id/baca/mui/membangun-jembatan-peradaban
No comments:
Post a Comment