Menag Asks UIN to Protect Extreme

BANDA ACEH - Minister of Religion (Menag) RI, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, asked the State Islamic University (UIN) Ar-Raniry to continue to be at the forefront as an institution that always develops science and Islam. Menag also asked all academic community, both lecturers, and students, to counteract the extreme Islamic ideology that has often appeared in the midst of society.

This was conveyed by Lukman Hakim Saifuddin in his speech when inaugurated the new building of Faculty of Economics and Business Islam (FEBI) and Faculty of Psychology at UIN Ar-Raniry Campus, Banda Aceh, Wednesday (28/2).

In addition to the UIN, yesterday Menag also visited STAIN Gajah Putih, Takengon, Central Aceh, on the same agenda, which inaugurated a new building under the Ministry of Religious Affairs RI.

"One characteristic of UIN Ar-Raniry is attached to our religious values, more specifically Islam. Therefore, UIN Ar-Raniry must always be a part of the Islamic values, "said Lukman Hakim.

So, what kind of Islamic values ​​should be developed by UIN Ar-Raniry, according to Lukman, is the Islamic values ​​that have been taught previous predecessors. Islam embraced by the majority, namely Islam rahmatan lil alamin, spreading grace, and Islam yang washatiyah (moderate).

"Moderate Islam is not extreme, because moderate is the opposite of extreme. Extreme is excessive, we do not want to understand Islam extremes are growing, we want ishatiyah Islam as the agreement of all Islamic organizations in the Indonesian Ulema Council, "said Lukman Hakim.

Therefore, Lukman sees, UIN Ar-Raniry as the center for the development of Islamic studies needs to take a role to reduce and prevent such extremes. Lukman sees this as important, because today there is a tendency in the age of communications information revolution that is interconnected with one another, these understandings are increasingly unstoppable.

"We are no longer confined to rigid administrative and geographical territory, we become a world community. With an era like this of course many positive side because it is connected between one with the other. But that is not less important, with this era, easily enter the notion that is not in line with our religious nation, "said Lukman.

On the occasion, the Minister of Religious Affairs said, Islamic society deepens the religion of the text, namely the Qur'an and uswah Rasulullah saw through a hadith which he also said the text.

"Well, there are two extremes that have emerged. The first is a group that is so exaggerated in understanding the text. They rely on text only and ignore the logic of reason and context. This is called the conservatives, the textualists, he does not care about the world has changed, "said Lukman.

Furthermore, the group that is too deifying the mind, even ignoring the text, whereas the text, the Qur'an and the hadith are the main source of reference. "So Islam must be washatiyah, UIN Ar-Raniry must be able to attract these two extremes, Islam should be as taught by our teachers and our predecessors," he said

Finally, Lukman congratulates UIN Ar-Raniry who can again seek the presence of new campus infrastructure and facilities. "We are grateful for the inauguration of this new building, hopefully this will enlarge UIN's carrying capacity in accommodating the demands of the young generation of Aceh who want to get a higher education," added Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.

Meanwhile, the Rector of UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, Prof. Dr. Farid Wajdi Ibrahim MA, expressed his gratitude to Menag Lukman Hakim Saifuddin who has been willing to inaugurate two new buildings on campus that he leads it. "In May last year Bapak who put his first new, very blessed and today Bapak inaugurated. Alhamdulillah, "added Farid Wajdi.

Present in the faculty of two faculty buildings, the vice rectors UIN Ar-Raniry, Dr. Muhibbuththabary MAg, Drs Lutfi Auni MA, and Prof. Dr. Syamsul Rizal MAg. Also present were Postgraduate Director of UIN Ar-Raniry, Prof Dr Syahrizal Abbas MA, Assistant II of Setda Aceh, Saidan Nafi, and a number of other invited guests.