In front of the iconic Knotted Gun statue at UN Headquarters, New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gathered religious leaders and spoke. “Peace is needed now more than ever, because wars and conflicts cause devastating poverty and hunger, forcing tens of millions of people from their homes.” Today, Guterres said, “The entire planet is struggling with climate chaos, and even peaceful countries face yawning inequality and political polarization.” He then urged, “Let us hold fast to the common beliefs that unite humanity,” he said. “Let us unite as communities and nations. Let us pray for peace.” (UN News, April 14, 2023).
Guterres' statement makes it clear that today religions play an increasingly significant role in solving global problems such as war, poverty, climate change, and so on. 'Prayers for peace' have certainly been made at many gatherings, but what goes further is how those prayers are continued in various interfaith concrete works that are global, innovative and sustainable. In short, religion has a very significant role to play in creating global peace.
In February 2008, David Smock wrote a special report for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) entitled “Religion in World Affairs.” In the report, Smock argues that religion is not the main cause of conflict, or, as he puts it, the causes of conflict are diverse. So the view that 'religion as a source of conflict' should be replaced with 'religion as a force for peace', but it is realized that the role of faith-based peace has been overlooked. That report, 15 years ago, has relevance to us in 2023 that religions should be the arbiters or mediators for the creation of world peace. Smock wrote, “Religious leaders and institutions can mediate in conflict situations, serve as communication links between opposing sides, and provide training in peace methodologies.” This means that Smock's report and Guterres' statement above have one thing in common: religion is increasingly significant in creating peace.
The Indonesian Ulema Council has continuously carried out various peace initiatives in its various forms. Various commissions, bodies, and institutions within MUI play strategic steps to create world peace, in their various working domains. Here, MUI has believed and practiced for a long time that religion is a solution for peace, not only that, but also a solution for welfare with the adoption of various MUI products in various state policies that have a positive impact on society. Regarding the role of religion for peace, last November 2-3, 2022, the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board held the first Religious Forum Summit in the G20 series. The forum was strategic because it brought together global religious leaders from hundreds of participants, kept in touch, and sought solutions to various global problems such as religious extremism, and in short promoted religion as a source of global solutions to economic and political problems.
The Vice President of Indonesia, Prof. KH Ma'ruf Amin focused on the importance of managing religious moderation as a solution to global peace. For example, he said, “In the midst of a rapidly changing global and regional strategic environment, world challenges and crises require many countries to collaborate and cooperate. Especially in terms of maintaining world peace, efforts for religious moderation and tolerance need to be emphasized at all levels of society.” “Solutions to manage moderation in religion are important instruments in preventing conflict, building consensus, and maintaining national unity and peaceful world order,” said Vice President KH Ma'ruf Amin when giving a virtual keynote speech at the 9th Abu Dhabi Peace Forum Assembly (November 8, 2022). He then appealed to the international community to continue to encourage Wasathiyyah Islamic diplomacy, Islam that is rahmatan lil alamin for the international community.
Indonesia has a high commitment to advancing the world axis of wasathiyah Islam, a position for Muslims to uphold global ethics, mutual understanding, respect, and interdependence. “The Islamic world must rise to build a harmonious world civilization,” Kiai Ma'ruf said. This requires cooperation, support and strategic partnerships from the entire global community.
Regarding wasathiyah, the MUI Da'wah Commission (2019) explained that in the classical Islamic treasures, the definition of wasathiyah there are many opinions from scholars who are similar to this definition, such as Ibn 'Ashur, al-Asfahany, Wahbah al-Zuḥaily, al-Thabary, Ibn Kathir and so on. Quoting the Da'wah Commission, according to Ibn 'Ashur, the word wasath means something in the middle or something that has two ends that are comparable in size. According to al-Asfahany, the word wasathan means the middle between two limits (a'un) or can mean the standard. The word also means guarding against transgression (ifrath) and extremes (tafrith).
The wasathiyah or moderate attitude should be the footing of all of us in creating world peace. Referring to the opinion of the UN Secretary General above, David Smock's report, the 'R20' Religious Forum Summit, and the importance of Wasathiyah Islam explained by Vice President Kiai Ma'ruf Amin, it is time for all religious leaders to strive to create a peaceful world for all humans. The initiative of the Indonesian Ulema Council to hold an International Conference on “religion, peace and civilization” at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta (21-23 May 2023) in collaboration with Rabithah Alam Islami is strategic to strengthen the network of global interfaith leaders, academics, and activists and stakeholders to unite perspectives and movements to create world peace.
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/agama-mendamaikan-dunia
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