FUDA | Friday (07/04/2023) - Vice Dean III of FUDA, Dr. Aang Saeful Milah, M.A. delivered a lecture in front of Lecturers and Students of Sakarya University, Faculty of Ilahiyat Turkey, about the portrait of Islam in Indonesia. This lecture is very important to introduce the history of the entry of Islam into Indonesia, the hospitality of the da'wah carried out by the previous scholars, and also the values of tolerance in Indonesia.
The event, which was held on April 7, 2023, after Friday prayers, at the Ilahiyat Faculty room, Sakarya University Turkey, and broadcast live on YouTube at Sakarya University Turkey, was lively. The language of instruction was Arabic. Dr. Aang said that there are differences among historians about the time when Islam entered Indonesia and the person who first spread it in Indonesia.
Islam that spread in Indonesia could not be separated from the role of Wali Songo who delivered da'wah with gentleness and compassion without war. This theme attracted the attention of Turkish lecturers and students. Then Dr. Aang conveyed the hadith narrated by Muslim from Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri radhiyallahu ‘anhu that changing an evil can be done with his hands, his tongue and his heart.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever of you sees an evil deed should change it with his hand. If not, change it with his tongue. If that is not possible, disobey with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.‘ [HR Muslim]
“There are some scholars who understand that preaching with the heart is the weakest form of faith. It seems that the gentleness of the early scholars in preaching is in line with another understanding of this Hadīth that indicates that the weakest faith is with the hand and not the heart. This is because the isim isyarah (ذَلِكَ) indicates a long distance, and the word that is most distant from the isim (ذَلِكَ) is the word (بِيَدِهِ) and not the word (فَبِقَلْبِهِ). So this is the manhaj da'wah of the ulema that spread throughout Indonesia with the heart-to-heart method. The heart of the ulama is always bound to Allah. By praying, Allah softens the hearts of the people to accept Islam. Until now, Muslims are the majority in Indonesia.” Dr. Aang explained.
Furthermore, Dr. Aang also conveyed the value of tolerance in responding to differences such as those in Indonesia and Turkey. Dr. Aang shared his experience a few hours ago, when he arrived at the Sakarya campus and prayed Friday prayers in Turkey.
“When I prayed on Friday, all the Turks did not raise their hands during bowing and rising from bowing, except during takbiratul ihram. Those of us who follow the Shafi'i school of thought raise our hands when bowing and rising from bowing.”
Dr. Aang also told the story of Imam al-Auzai and Imam Abu Hanifah's meeting about the difference in raising both hands when bowing and getting up from bowing, with responses that ended up throwing smiles at each other, shaking hands and not making sour faces or becoming hostile. That is the tolerance that later became a great value embraced by Muslims in Indonesia. The lecture was closed by receiving souvenirs and taking photos together.
Author: A. Najid Rasikhullah
