TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that Islam in Indonesia is a 'middle-way' Islam. Kalla explained that 'middle-way' Islam is a moderate Islam with social characteristic features that are different with Islam in the Middle East.
"A moderate middle-way Islam. Same faith but with different social characteristics, we are good in socializing ourselves parallel and together with other religious groups," Kalla said on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
Kalla said that almost all of the Islamic Middle Eastern nations are plagued with conflicts and disputes, such as Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and a number of other Middle Eastern countries. The differences in religious views in Islam most often becomes the main cause that started wars.
Kalla argued that the condition is different with Indonesia. "Indonesia's Islam was brought in by merchants who were more transactional and not a war commander," Kalla said.
Another example of tolerance and moderate beliefs according to Kalla gave is the Borobudur temple. "Other countries may have diminished I, but we preserve it as a nation's treasure," Kalla said.
Kalla asserted that studying Islam in countries that are shrouded with war and conflicts are no longer relevant with values of civilization and morals.
"Islam is basically a religion of civilization and morals, are there any left in countries [torn by war]? Every day we witness killings, bombings, slandering each other," Kalla said.
ANTARA | AMIRULLAH SUHADA