Letter to SBY-AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM

AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
2701 Sinclair Avenue, Concord, CA 94519 (USA)
PH(925) 726-7279 – Fax (925) 706-1378
Email: theindonesianliberty@yahoo.com
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Honorable President of Indonesia January 2nd, 2008
Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Istana Negara,
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
Jakarta Pusat 10010, INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 3845627 ext 1003 Fax: + 62 21 3457782

RE: Democracy is NOT a government of the mainstream, by the
mainstream and for the mainstream.

Dear President Yudhoyono:

It is shocking to learn that head of the Indonesian Religious Council (MUI) continues his efforts to violate the Indonesia’s constitution by sending a recommendation to the Indonesia’s Attorney General to ban the Ahmadiyya community by ignoring basic human rights on freedom of religion.

He seems blindsided to the fact that Ahmadiyya community has been established in Indonesia since the 1920’s and live there peacefully since. He seems blindsided to the fact that the 2nd Kalifah of Ahmadiyya, Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad issued an order to all Ahmadis worldwide to support the Indonesia’s Independence struggle. It is in the record that many Ahmadis sacrificed and joined the fight against colonialists during the independence struggle in the 1920’s till the independence was declared by the 1st President of Indonesia, Dr. Soekarno on August 17th, 1945.

It is ironic that after 86 years or so living peacefully in Indonesia, Ahmadiyya community is now being targeted by these ill religious leaders who claim to understand better about Islamic teachings than us. It is ironic that this happens in the biggest Muslim country in the world that has just loudly and proudly announced to the world about embracing a true democracy and cited that Indonesia as a real example to the world that Islam and democracy is compatible.

Now, what kind of democracy Indonesia is embracing if the government is not capable of protecting the basic human rights of their citizens, especially, on freedom of religion? What kind of democracy Indonesia is embracing if the Government can’t stand up against the demands from mainstream extremists? Indonesia shall not follow the path of Pakistan or, Bangladesh. Look at what happen when a Government can not stand up against the demands from the mainstream extremists? It is never ending violence and turmoil. The more you follow their demands, the more violence they will shed. Democracy is about protecting the minority’s rights and it is certainly not a government of the mainstream, by the mainstream and for the mainstream.

If Indonesia is embracing Democracy, where is the rule of law? Democracy despite its different names is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Democracy is established based on the rule of law and not the rule of man or, the jungle. Those attacks, killings and crimes against innocent people must be stopped and hold those who commit such a crime be accountable under the rule of laws and due process.

One of the 11 principles of Democracy is protecting the minority’s right and freedom of religion is one of the most fundamental basic human rights. The Government of Indonesia has every obligation to protect its citizen for their basic human rights and to comply with its International responsibility to respect and protect this right as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Being a country that recently claims to establish a democracy, the rule of laws must be upheld and those people who have no authority or mandate from the Indonesian people to uphold the rule of laws, such as: Majelis Mujahideen Indonesia (MMI)," headed by former Jemaah Islamiyah leader Abu Bakar Bashir, Front Masyarakat Pembela Indonesia (FMPI), Gerakan Umat Islam (GUI) with its leader Mr. Abdurachman Assegaf and his followers, and even Indonesian Religious Council called MUI must be stopped and held accountable for making any ruling that can trigger to these kind of crimes and atrocities. MUI’s religious decrees have incited violence and have proven to be used again and again to justify the attacks.

Those organizations claim to attacks Ahmadi members to defend Islam. The Qur’anic teaching states that there is no compulsion in religion. Islam does not teach any preemptive attacks. So, which Islamic teachings they are talking about? Don’t they understand that two wrongs can not make a right!

The recent suggestion from the former President of Indonesia, Mr. Abdurachman Wahid or Gus Dur to DISSOLVED MUI is perhaps a better choice to defend the Indonesia’s constitution. The MUI and those religious organizations have no mandate from the Indonesia people, neither under the Indonesian’s Constitution and for that matter they can not take the laws in their hands by allowing them to commit these crimes, destructions and atrocities against innocent and law abiding citizens, such as: the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. That is certainly not how a democratic Government works in any stretch of imagination and understanding.

These no mandate religious organizations can not and shall not be allowed to rule out anything that is in violation of the Indonesia’s Constitution. The Indonesia’s Legislative Branch is the only entity that has the mandate to do so.

Majelis Ulema Indonesia (MUI) has issued its fatwa in 1984 and reissued similar fatwa over and over again to suggest that Ahmadiyya is out of the pale of Islam. This fatwa has been challenged many times. This religious decree or fatwa issued by the MUI warrants further discussion and open religious dialogs and the Government of Indonesia shall accommodate such a dialog.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said and made a simple rule of a person to be Muslim which is that if anyone recites “Kalima Sahadah” to bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, that person is a Muslim if he/she wants to. That was a simple requirement laid down by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to become a Muslim.

The Ahmadiyya community believes and recites the same “Kalimah Sahadah”, pray 5 times a day as prescribed facing the same direction toward Mecca, observe fasting during the month of Ramadhan, believes and practices the 5 pillar of Islam as well as the 6 articles of the Islamic faith and they are now declared by the MUI to be outside the pale of Islam and thus warrant to be attacked and demolished from the face of the Earth? What is the justification of this fatwa in respect to the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) teachings above? Or, is it because the Ahmadiyya community believes the existence of a subordinate Nabi that there can be a messenger or Nabi who does not bring a New Shariah (LAW) after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?

LET’S UNDERSTAND THE WIDELY CONTESTED and often times twisted AHMADIYYA’S BELIEF AND TEACHINGS BY THE MAINSTREAM MUSLIM:

There is no doubt that the Ahmadiyya community believes in the same Holy Qur’an, hadiths and sunnah, pray the same way 5 times a day as prescribed facing the same direction toward Mecca and observe fasting during the month of Ramadhan just as the main stream Muslims do.
What differentiate between the Ahmadiyya followers and the main stream Muslims worldwide is in the “INTERPRETATION AND UNDERSTANDING” of certain verses in the Holy Qur’an and one of them is surrounding the meaning of the “KHATAMUN NABIYEEN” in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40).

The main stream Muslims’ translation:
“O ye people, Muhammad is not the father of any of your men but he is the last of the Prophets and that no prophet will come after him and he will firmly close all doors and avenues to such spiritual eminence” (The last or the end of any Prophethood)

The Ahmadiyya community’s translation:
“O ye people, Muhammad is not the father of any male from amongst you but is a Messenger of Allah and is the Khatamun Nabiyeen (the Seal of the Prophethood, meaning the last prophet who brings a new Shariah. There can not be any new prophet from his Ummah or followers who will bring a new Shariah). However, Ahmadiyya community believes that the succession of Nubuwat i.e in continuation of prophet’s mission still continues….as stated in different verses of the holy Qur’an) as stated below:

1. Surah Al-Jumu’ah (62:2-3):
   “Allah has raised a Prophet in Arabia from amongst the unlettered people (the Arabs), who recites unto them His Signs, purifies them, teaches them the Book and Wisdom when prior to his advent they were clearly in manifest of error.”
   “And He will raise him among others of them who have NOT YET JOINED them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.”
   
2. Surah Al-A’raf (7:35):
   “O children of Adam! If Messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing My signs unto you (then do not reject them). Indeed you should fear God and do good deeds as then no fear or grief shall touch you.”
   
3. Surah Al-Nisa (4:69):
   “And whoso truly obeys God and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom God has bestowed His blessings, namely the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs and the righteous.”
   

Now try to reconcile the meaning of KHATAMUN NABIYEEN in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40) with the following verse in Surah Al-Kauthar: (108:2-3):

“Surely we have given thee abundance of good. So pray to thy Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely it is thy enemy who is without issue (without children)”.

The above verses, especially, in Surah Al-Kauthar (108:2-3) was designed to answer the taunt of the enemies. It challenged them that although Prophet Muhammad (SAW), peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, has no male issue (children), he is the Messenger of Allah and as such is the spiritual father of the whole mankind. In fact, he is greater than other prophets in that he is also Khatamun Nabiyeen (i.e. the seal of prophets, under whose wings and spiritual upbringing there will be people with the exalted status of prophets and messengers. Therefore, how dare any Muslim call such a person issue-less? That is the spirit of main stream Muslims’ translation of Khatamun Nabiyeen as being a last or the end of Prophethood. Here is why?

In respect to the translation of Khatamun Nabiyeen as “the last or the end” of the Prophethood is MEANINGLESS AND STRANGE to the taunt of the non-believers that Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will die issueless. Such interpretation will make the verse OUT OF TUNE and OF NO RELEVANCE with the context. Just think about it.

Those are the Ahmadiyya belief and teachings that are widely twisted, being opposed and labeled by the MUI as out of the pale of Islam. Really…? Who is right and wrong, only God will determine but no one shall impose their interpretation just because they are the mainstream Muslims. This also does not mean that they are allowed to attack, limit or prohibit the Ahmadiyya community to embrace and practice what they believe. The history of religions teaches us that the truth rises up from a minority, being opposed and persecuted. We see it now right in front of our own eyes.

Despite the existence of the Indonesian Religious Council called MUI as the highest entity on religious matters in Indonesia, its existence was not as a result of any election and thus, its rulings can not and shall not in violation of the Indonesian’s Constitution and protection of Basic Human Rights. Any rulings that are in violation of the Indonesia’s citizen of basic human rights and the Indonesian’s Constitution shall be reevaluated, debated and nullified to avoid further violence and atrocities.

Mr. President, I pray that God will give you the strength and the wisdom to defend the nation of Indonesia from external and internal forces, to defend the Indonesia’s Constitution and to guarantee the basic human rights, especially, on freedom of religion.

It is within your responsibility Mr. President, to uphold the Indonesian’s Constitution, the rule of laws of the land, and not the rule of man. These violations of basic human rights shall not continue. Indonesia shall not follow the foot step of Pakistani Government and/or the Bangladesh Government by siding and allowing these radicals and extremists to commit violence, destruction and turmoil.

It is in the best interest of the Indonesian people, its constitution, protection of its citizen’s basic human rights to live in peace and harmony in the country that MUI is dissolved and a Presidential decree shall be issued to prohibit any other government or religious entities except the Indonesia’s Legislative Branch to collectively amend or create a new set of rule or regulations or law that regulate, limit and prohibit certain activities that is in violation with the 1945 Indonesia’s Constitution.

May Allah bless you and give you strength to do just that.
Sincerely,
Chris Komari
Chris F. Komari
General Secretary Ansarullah Bay Point Chapter (USA)
Email: theindonesianliberty@yahoo.com

Cc: Honorable George W Bush, President of United States
Cc: The House Speaker Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Cc: Senator Russell D. Feingold
Cc: Congressman Joseph Crowley
Cc: Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Cc: Senator Barbara Boxer
Cc: Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
Cc: M Jusuf Kalla Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia
Cc: Indonesian Speaker of the House/Parliament
Cc: Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni,SH Department of Religious Affairs
Cc: Hendraman Supanji, Attorney General
Cc: Minister of Justice & Human Rights Department
Cc: Jendral Polisi Sutanto, Chief of the National Police of Indonesia
Cc: Komnas HAM
Cc: Indonesian Minister of Religion
Cc: UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion
Cc: Executive Director Global Rights
Cc: Dr. Hassan Wirayuda Department of Foreign Affairs
Cc: Andi Mattalata. SH, MH Department for Justice and Human Rights
Cc: Panglima TNI.Djoko Santoso, Chief of the Indonesian Military