ISLAM as Rahmatan lil alamin for Global Justice

Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin

One of fundamental concept of ISLAM is PEACE. As the root of the world Islam itself come from silm, it refers to making peace, greetings, rescue, safety, being secure, finding peace, submitting to justice and righteousness in order to reach peace and safety being in peaceful environment. From this perspective, Islam has meaning to submit into the will of God and only serving God, and embracing Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) teaching. Our purpose for being a Muslim is to live in safe and peaceful environment and to make effort to spread peace in this world.

ISLAM as Rahmatan lil alamin, Rahmatan means Affection or Love and lil alamin means for universe. So Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin means Islam blessing for all of universe, not only for human but for all living things in this universe. This idea expand connection between human as pluralism, humanism and tolerant, it develop utilisation of nature with more gentle and kind. Pluralism in this concept means have connection without considering ethnic, nation, race, and religion or any points who makes differentiation between one people and another. Humanism should uphold human rights and respect human as human being. Tolerant means giving a chance to others for doing something that they believe with peacefully.

Indonesia one of the Activator for Implementing ISLAM as Rahmatan lil Alamin

Indonesia as country who their majority people are muslim have significant role to show to the world how to implement ISLAM as Rahmatan lil alamin. Sure, this is not an easy job but Indonesia has capital to bear this trusteeship. Indonesia divided by many islands, culture, tribes, and belief. Pluralism is the common things in this country even when this country still not established. Nusantara, in 13 century this name was used to describe Indonesia. Nusantara means Archipelago. Since in Sriwijaya or Majapahit Era, all of this ancient kingdom has high tolerant within their people and when it established as nation, all of them united as Indonesian. Islam spread widely in Indonesia before Europe colonisation entrenched.

After colonisation and Independence of Indonesia, Islam become majority religion and has obligation to maintain pluralism, humanism and tolerant. One interesting point that should be remembered, even-though Islam as Majority in Indonesia, Muslims never want to make religious state in Indonesia since beginning of this country. Muslims tolerate another belief as long it comes with peace.

Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama symbol, both of them are the largest Islam organization on Indonesia

Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah are big organizations who has big roles in Indonesia muslim society. Although both of them have different view on some matters in Islam. They have same opinion about Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin and work together to fulfill this concept. On 2004, International Conference of Islamic Scholar born as initiative Hasyim Muzadi and Hasan Wirajuda as Foreign Ministry at that time. Through ICIS, Indonesia starting to implement Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin. ICIS as non-gorvemental, independent, non-political and non-ethnic organization who work to maintain dialog and collaboration between theologian and muslim scholar in the world to achieve peaceful society.

There are two principal whom underlying ICIS. Firstly, Destabilisation politic between Islam and west countries. After attack 9/11, Islam became scapegoat and accused as Religion who permit Terrorism and other violence activity as the name of religion. Secondly, conflict in Middle-East that mostly are muslims countries. That conflict indirectly shown Islam are religion with violence in the eye of western country. This condition aggravate with Western media who support those point of view. The only solution to answer this kind of circumstance are to shown to the world itself if Islam isn’t like that, Islam anti-violence and islam anti terrorism. Trough this forum, ulama and scholars try to explain in effective and efficient manner to the world if violence is not islam teaching.

International Conference of Islamic Scholar Profiles

One of ICIS Agenda, initiate interfaith dialogue towards Global Justice

Vision and mission ICIS to become organization who transform the greatness values of Islam to be the way of life for individual and social etiquette for creating a world peace and justice.

1. Actualise Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin
2. Spread and apply values of Islam Ahlu sunnah wal jamaah (Majority muslim in Indonesia are Sunni)
3. Dynamise ulama and scholar in order to create civic society.
4. As bridge for ulamas and scholars to develop initiative conflict resolution towards peace.
5. Strengthen national and international networks with institutes or figures who cares with peace.

Other than vision and mission, ICIS have programs and activities to:

1. Establish Islam studies and dialog as moderation towards peace
2. Establish dialogue between ulamas and scholars in local, national, regional and international to strengthen Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin.
3. Accommodating resolution conflicts toward world order which siding in justice and civilization.
4. Development of national, regional and International partnership networks who has same idea, vision and mission with ICIS.

With all of those values above, ICIS try to realize Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin that will bring Global Justice.