Please explain.
To revive common sense to comprehend the texts. Those who lean towards scripturalism tend to disregard common sense. For me, guidelines are in your reasoning power, a mechanism to understand the texts and to live in this world at the same time. Consequently, Muslims can live based on rational calculation.
I am inspired by the Calvinism tradition that emphasizes so-called the double predestination doctrine. Calvinists don’t know whether they will be among those who would be saved to go to heaven or among those who would be damned to go to hell. They experience theological uncertainty when they have to work hard to be successful in this world because, Benjamin Franklin (a Calvinist), said success in this world is a sign of God’s blessing. I want Islam to be understood as a doctrine that encourages its followers to be successful in this world. So, success in this world purely arises from the understanding that rational calculation is a necessity to live this life.
Another difference (from Cak Nur) is that I don’t advocate secularism as he did. Secularism at that era was intertwined with the spirit of the West, and colonialism.
But people in general want definite meanings.
That’s the modernity bias that wants uniformity. The Islamic tradition in the early period was precisely a tradition of polyvalence and pluralistic and contradictory interpretation. Here’s another example. How for instance Cak Nur interpreted Idul Fitri? Idul Fitri according to Cak Nur is returning to a pure state. This is a widely accepted notion. Not one criticized it openly. It is the view that makes all the corruptors in this country very happy. They return back to a pure state each Idul Fitri (the end of the fasting month—Ed.). This is a misguided view in my opinion.
What is an alternative interpretation?
Idul Fitri is the day of feast. A festival of ending the fast. Idul Fitri means holiday and fitrah means eating. That’s why we are forbidden to fast on the first of the Shawal month. Like Idul Adha is the day of sacrifice, it’s not returning to sacrifice.
Then what is the spiritual meaning of Idul Fitri?
In order that you may become pious. The problem is oftentimes, Muslims only understand the symbolic meaning of piety and piousness whereas piety in Islam demands sincerity.
You focus on echoing the renewal ideas in Muhammadiyah. You don’t want their views to influence others, for example, NU?
I don’t specifically direct (my criticism) at them. There are quite a lot of responses from NU. They suspect I’m closer to NU because of (my advocacy) to return to the traditions. But actually, we are different.
Does the Qur’an have the answers to all the problems?
I criticize Cak Nur particularly for this because he, with his scripturalism, said that the Qur’an provided all the answers. Even though it doesn’t offer answers, they still draw (answers) from the Qur’an. As regards Idul Fitri, for instance. The Qur’an doesn’t talk about it. So, I want to say that the Qur’an doesn’t provide all the answers. It is in fact limited to the historical context of the time.
Why return to the traditions? Because with that, I can use my common sense to deal with the problems that we have now. How did humans distinguish right and wrong before the revelation came? In the mu’tazilah tradition, and I agree with this tradition, by using common sense. That’s why common sense is a noble instrument on par with the Qur’an to define every problem humans face today.
So, religious experts are all wrong?
In the historical context, many parts of the Qur’an were sent down in response to the statements, objections, and complaints addressed to Prophet Muhammad. That’s why it came down in stages, little by little.
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