ASIA/INDONESIA - "Differences in the relationship with God are not cause for struggle: this is what we teach in schools". Interview with the Minister for Religious Affairs

by Paolo Affatato

Jakarta (Fides News Agency) - A painting occupies an entire wall in the office of the Minister of Religious Affairs, in the Ministry building, in the center of Jakarta. The large canvas depicts the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, Sukarno, carrying, laying in his arms, a wounded war hero. The man rescued is a Christian, as can be seen from the Rosary around his neck. In the background, in the landscape, are a mosque and a church, symbolizing that "Indonesia is home to all religions, not just one religion", explained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, known as "Gus Yaqut", appointed in December 2020 by President Joko Widodo as the 24th Minister for Religious Affairs of the Republic. The 49-year-old Islamic political and religious leader, grew up and trained in the Indonesian Islamic association Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and in the past led its youth wing, namely "GP Ansor", to which about 7 million young Muslims belong. In a meeting with Fides News Agency, in view of the imminent visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia, Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas answered some questions.


Minister Gus Yaqut, can you explain the mission of the Ministry of Religious Affairs?

The Ministry is charged with ensuring that all religious people in Indonesia may freely and correctly exercise their faith. Indonesia recognizes six major religions (Islam, Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism) and all believers must be guaranteed, so that they may profess their faith without problems, in a free and independent religious life. In addition to this, the Ministry also has the task of ensuring that there are no errors or deviations as the basic assumption is that, the more pious one is, the easier it will be for them to understand that differences must be accepted. We take this approach in many ways, primarily through education: in fact one of the tasks of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is to provide religious education services. With proper religious education, religious communities will understand their religion better and better. The Ministry is at the service of all Indonesians, and acts in close collaboration with the institutions in each religious community. The Ministry has a General Directorate for each of the recognized religions, with the task of ensuring that the Ministry's vision and mission reaches the specific community, monitoring it constantly.


Can you give some examples of your commitment to education?

I would like to mention the educational institutions originating in Indonesia that we call pesantren, that is, the Islamic colleges. There are about 40,000 Islamic colleges in Indonesia. Through them we support a form of Islam that makes things easier for other religions as well. For example, Hinduism also has a special educational institute called "Pasraman" that teaches how to understand Hinduism properly and how to coexist with those of other faiths. Catholic schools teach the same thing: that if there are differences in the relationship between one person and God, there is no reason to come into conflict with the others. Buddhism and Confucianism do the same: this is how we all benefit because in Indonesia each of these religions has its own characteristics but the common goal and vision coincide, that is to say, moderation and harmony.

What is the face of Indonesian Islam and what is meant by "Islam Nusantara"?

"Islam Nusantara" means "Islam of the Acipelago" and it is a concept that was developed by the largest Islamic organization in the world, the Nahdlatul Ulama, counting over 100 million members. Since I am part of it, I will try to give an answer: what I can say is that the Islam of the Indonesian archipelago is not a new Islam, nor a school of thought in Islam. It is instead Islam that has spread by adapting to the local culture, becoming a specific Indonesian Islam: it fully respects the local culture that existed before Islam came to Indonesia, there is the following of our Prophet Muhammad, who was not sent to create a new local tradition but, as he said, to perfect what is already present in the local culture. By "Islam Nusantara", we - thus - mean that Islam has not come to completely overturn existing local traditions, these existing local traditions have instead combined and merged with Islam so that they are not in conflict among themselves.

The process seems similar for the spread of Christianity in Indonesia...

Yes, this has also happened in the spread of the Catholic faith: our Catholic brothers and sisters in Indonesia speak of "inculturation" explaining that, by interpenetrating the local culture, the Catholic faith was thus easily accepted by the Indonesian people. I believe there are similarities in the historical and socio-cultural dynamics and, perhaps for this very reason, nowadays relations between Muslims and Catholics in Indonesia are very good, in the spirit of closeness, understanding, collaboration, unity.


Will the theme of interreligious dialogue and coexistence also play a central role in Pope Francis's trip to Indonesia?

The vision of Islam Nusantara that – as far as I can see – is shared by the Pope and by Catholic leaders, is this: those who profess a different religion from us are our brothers, we are brothers in humanity. On this basis, the relationship between Islam Nusantara and its Catholic brothers in Indonesia is strengthened. Thus, when it was announced that the Pope would arrive in Indonesia, Muslim worshippers also rejoiced, because we share the same vision and values. I must say that ties with the Catholic Church are quite strong: several times delegations of Indonesian Muslim leaders, in recent years, have made visits to the Vatican. I myself participated twice, and last time we were personally received by the Pope and were able to present a document in support of the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity, undersigned by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: we share the yearning to launch a message of peace to the world, and to ask for peace.

The Grand Imam of Al Azhar also treaded Indonesian soil this year

In July, Sheikh Ahmed al Tayyeb came to visit Indonesia, we had cordial meetings and a dialogue with the participation of Indonesian Catholic representatives as well. And now, after a short time, it is certainly an honor and source of pride for us Indonesians to welcome the Pope: we will be present at the meeting with the Pope and the religious leaders, this is a boost that cannot be wasted. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who will also receive him as head of state, wanted to immediately stress that the visit is a symbol of friendship and dialogue between religious communities, stressing that it will further strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Vatican.
This is also a favorable moment for the entire Indonesian country, to render Indonesia a sort of "barometer" of a harmonious and peaceful religious life. The presence of the Pope here is also a kind of recognition of life and of relations between religions in Indonesia, experienced in the name of coexistence and tolerance, with all the existing differences. We believe this can be an inspiration for many.

What are your hopes for the Pope's visit, as a man of government and as a man of faith?

We hope that the Pope's visit will serve to show, in this part of the world and universally as well, what religion always teaches, that is, compassion for others. All human beings are created different from each other, I think this is God's will, and God always teaches compassion for other human beings. God created us different, not equal, but he wants us to be united and in solidarity with each other, respecting each other, giving each other love. Love and compassion are the key words: we want to highlight living and nurturing our relationships between human beings with love and compassion. The Indonesian nation translates and expresses all of this by way of the "unity in diversity" motto, which can be extended to the whole of humanity. (Fides News Agency 24/8/2024)

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