In Surah Ali Imran 140, Allah SWT explains a law that applies in the universe: "And the times (of glory and destruction) We rotate among people (so that they may learn a lesson)." Glory is rotated from one power to another. If we reflect on this verse which is associated with various historical events, we can understand several important meanings of the rotation of power as a world nature that will occur in all nations in the world.
First, the rotation of power can occur naturally due to the fragility of that power. Humans as a microcosm have power for themselves, and when the fragile period arrives (sickness, or old age) then their power slowly fades. In a larger realm, namely society, power is also rotated from one group to another. At the level of state or civilization, the rotation of power is also real. The glory of the people also changes. It seems that the natural factor, due to internal decay, is why the glory of one people changes to another people.
Second, the shift in power can occur due to attacks from other nations. Human history has never been free from attacks, invasions, or annexations of one over another. Islam is here to provide salaam (safety) to humans, namely an invitation to build peace, and war is the last way to, what A Hasjmy calls protecting the freedom of da'wah and strengthening the love of peace.
Attacks by one nation against another nation can be caused by the desire to control as many resources as possible. Control of the outskirts will strengthen the city area. Conversely, a nation with weak outskirts will be easily controlled by other nations which in turn will weaken the integration of the nation's power.
Third, the shift in power has lessons for the next generation. In this 21st century we learn how the shift in power has occurred in the past 20 centuries, even in the centuries before Christ. History is always full of lessons so that the next generation can build a better future based on the lessons of the past. As a lesson, any power deserves to be studied for its advantages and disadvantages. That is why books related to figures or the history of institutions are always important, or activities such as 'end of year reflections' or 'early year projections' are always inseparable from how we look for lessons from a series of events that have occurred to build better patterns of interaction and relationships in the future.
Muslims are a people who have been taught by Allah SWT the importance of taking lessons from past events. Starting from the story of Prophet Adam AS to the story of Prophet Muhammad SAW, there are always lessons that we can learn. The best story, namely the story of the Prophet Yusuf AS for example, is really full of various lessons for individuals, families, communities and even nations. In his story there is a lot of deep meaning about how to be the best for yourself, your family, and even for society at large. Allah SWT said: "We told you (Muhammad) the best story by revealing this Koran to you, and indeed you were before that one of those who did not know." (Yusuf 3).
Currently, Muslims around the world are in different situations. On one side we see our brothers and sisters under severe oppression, such as in Gaza, Palestine. More than 22 thousand people have become victims of Israeli attacks. On the other side, there are Muslims who are abundant with wealth and comfort of life. In this unequal world, solidarity with others is needed. The Indonesian Ulema Council has proven its commitment and real action in helping Palestine as part of its commitment to serve the people.
If various civil institutions in various countries work together to help those who are being persecuted, the world will feel better. Therefore, the appeal to others to continue to provide positive contributions, in the form of material or non-material to help others needs to be encouraged. The spirit of being a 'hand above', namely a hand that is happy to give, needs to be cultivated and cared for together. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said, "The hand that is above is better than the hand that is below."
Power or glory is rotated, at one time someone else is at the bottom, but at another time it could be us at the bottom. It is none other than the reason that power is passed between humans. Towards the succession of national leadership in Indonesia in early 2024, we hope that a leader will be elected who can make Indonesia successful in all its aspects. Therefore, the role of Muslims is very important in creating a safe, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia.
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://mui.or.id/baca/opini/umat-islam-dan-pergiliran-kekuasaan
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