Maarif Award 2008
In the midst of intense discourses surrounding the conflict between Front Pembela Islam and Aliansi Kebangsaan untuk Kebebasan Beragama [Link], good news seemed to have been left unnoticed. One to mention is the annual awarding of Maarif Award 2008, last 3rd June at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta. This year’s Maarif Award honoraries were given to three leading social figures: Cicilia Yulia Handayani from Blitar, East Java, Tuan Guru Ngaji (TGH) Hasanain Djuaini from Lombok Barat, and Ahmad Tafsir from Semarang, Central Java.
Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity [Official website] is founded by Ahmad Syafii Maarif or familiarly known as Buya Syafii and mainly concentrates in the complex issues of modern humanity, such as democracy, human rights, gender equality, pluralism, as well as issues regarding the Islamic principles in Indonesia. Ahmad Syafii Maarif himself is the former general chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, former president of World Conference on Religion for Peace (WCRP), also informally recognised as one of the “Chicago trio” along with his colleagues, the late Nurcholish Madjid and Amien Rais. Maarif is mostly known for his pluralistic standpoint regarding the role of Islam in the modern societal and political realms of Indonesia – the ideology that views all religions as essentially the same, equally valid and with relative truths. Maarif Institute’s executive director, Raja Juli Antoni, elaborates Maarif Awards as the honorary given to activists and social workers that have been effectively initiating social change from grassroot levels; the social change characterised by its the persistent strive for pluralism, tolerance, and social justice in the diversed Indonesia, which is surely prone to various dogmatic barriers.
The Maarif Award 2008 honorary trophies were handed over by Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Jeffrie Geovannie and Raja Juli Antoni to individuals who take significant part in contributing positive nationalistic ideals, hence providing the leadership models during the lack of visionary governance of today’s Indonesia. Cicilia Yulia Handayani from Blitar, formed cross-religious educational institution at Banyu Urip village, Kecamatan Wonotirto, Kabupaten Blitar, the village that has been isolated due to the stigmatization of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and has also initiated the farmer’s co-operatives at Karang Gayam. Hasanain is the caretaker of the Nurul Haramain Putri Narmada Islamic Boarding School in Lombok and he has succeedeed in encouraging 427 Islamic schools in the region to establish a green book (kitab hijau) and to carry out conservatory efforts that has rehabilitated 30 hectare barren hills. The third honorary recipient is Ahmad Tafsir, head secretary of Muhammadiyah Semarang, for his consistent determination in delivering progressive ideas in the Muhammadiyah body by engaging himself in open cross-religious societal framework and by handling issues associated with a number of marginalized groups.
Ahmad Syafii Maarif himself, albeit being the ex leader of one of Indonesia’s strongest Islamic organisations, hasn’t been completely immuned to critics from his Islamic fundamentalist counterparts, especially knowing that Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) and its Fatwa Comission has condemned pluralism as a forbidden ideology under the Islamic law or haram [Link]. The nationalistic and pluralistic emphasis in Maarif’s ideals is often perceived as a betrayal to the Islam teachings and his intellectual assesment has been considered part of the West-influenced capitalistic agenda. As an example, through Hidayatullah.com, Irena Handono from Gerakan Muslimat Indonesia (GMI) critisized Maarif’s intellectual approach regarding the universality of God when responding the issue of Poso massacre [Link]. He has also received several opposing reactions in Republika, a local news media that publishes a section elaborating the pros and cons of pluralistic Indonesia.
Aside from its challenges, Maarif Award expectedly could help promote a normative standard in Islamic movements in Indonesia — a nation enriched by its diverse religions, ethnicities, and races, but also a country with several complications mainly related to the issue of religious pluralism. By such standard only that the interfaith collaborative framework could be achieved; a framework that could continously resolute as a common ground that enlivens the spirit of Pancasila as the state ideology, proactively engaged and improved without having the threats of religious inclusivism, personal bias, and theological violence along the process.
There are similar organisations that support religious pluralism in Indonesia, for instance the Center for Religious & Cross-cultural Studies [Official website] and International Center for Islam and Pluralism [Official website]. It is unfortunate to say that such organisations haven’t been as popular or as influential as Front Pembela Islam (FPI) or fundamentalist institutions alike. However, as long as the universal human conscience still resounds, the strive for Indonesia’s pluralism still continues — awarded or not.
Images taken from here and here.
Hello. You are now reading an article written by Marisa Duma, published on 10Jun08 along with other notes on Activism, Commentaries, Events, Indonesia, People.
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aku suka artikel2 anda..jadi mbantu aku berbahasa inggris…salam kenal
And ab69dotcom also says Ibra Hapus Penantian Panjang.
Too bad, this kind of news is not likely to be popular at television at present time.
And Nenda Fadhilah also says Dungeons and Dragons Alignment.
My respect to Syafi’i Maarif and many people who promote pluralism in Indonesia amidst the pressure from ugly jihadist such as FPI, MUI, FUUI, MMI, HTI, you name it. While it sad that our government finally surrender to the will of radicals with Ahmadiyah decree, I strongly believe that majority of Indonesian Moslems are still moderate and they always will. Nice reading, btw.
And Toni also says Jangan beli “Made in Amerika” di FO.