Foreword for book launch “Contemporary Islamic Discourse in the Malay – Indonesian World” by Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee
Select Bookstore 51 Armenian Street, Singapore 179939
Thru
this forum I would like to express the highest gratitude to my
colleagues, Dr. Azhar Ibrahim for his book launching “Contemporary
Islamic Discourse in the Malay-Indonesian World”. This book is an ocular
proof of the intellectual relations than increasingly productive
between Malayan people especially between Singapore and Indonesia.
I
know Dr. Azhar Ibrahim since 7 years ago in a discussion in Jakarta
between The Reading Group Singapore and Indonesian activist. On that
time, Singaporean friends brought their ideas about progressive Islamic,
which is Islam that reveals the intellectuality, pluralistic, and
future oriented not just from past as is became conservative or salafi
characteristics.
Dr Azhar Ibrahim Alwee, the Author of the Book
On
the same time, the politics and religious in Indonesia was busy with
the inter-group conflict between the radical and progressive. The
radical group wants to impose the Islamic symbols to public, including
creates the standard of living of the people and nation based on the
Islamic Shari’a. The progressive group seen it as a threat for Indonesia
where in this nation has many religious views.
The radical
group did sweeping to the nightclubs which is considered as a sinner
place. They also show the intolerant between other religions. In the
last few years we’ve record that this radical group has been doing a
physical attack to the Ahmadiyah, Syiah and others. Up to now hundreds
of Ahmadiyah and Syiah followers are still in the refuge places because
their villages were destroyed.
Noorsyahril Saat, Ahmad Gaus, and Prof Noor Aisha
Other
than radical Islamic, Indonesia is also facing the terrorism issues. If
the radical Islamic movement and its organization are easily seen
because it is live in the society, but it is very difficult to trace
terrorism, let alone by the activists like us, even the state
intelligence is often missed. They are only seen after the bomb
exploded. And their movement is a cross-country (tran-national).
We,
Indonesian activist, are often exchange our ideas and experiences with
the activists of The Reading Group Singapore, including Dr Azhar
Ibrahim. Our concern is how to build a network that enables the
progressive Islamic movement into a mutual movement. We try to make the
voice of the progressive group be heard out loud, louder than the
conservatives and radical. Our goal is to show the face of Islam is
tolerant, friendly, and open. Islam is neither angry nor hard.
Due
to the religious violence has becoming a global problem, therefore one
of the ways to deal with it is by building the broadest possible
network. What has been done by our friends from the Reading Group is
developing the nodes of a progressive Islamic power among the civil
society. They have built that network in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Thailand, and Philippine.
Dr. Azhar Ibrahim’s book is a review
of those activities. I belief that this book will provide a valuable
contribution to build the strength of moderate Islamic in the countries
that I have mentioned before.
Once again I would like to
congratulate Dr Azhar over his great book, and also for my friends the
activist of the Reading Group for all you have done. The road is still
long. Let us continue to learn and work.
THANK YOU
Ahmad Gaus
(Artikel
ini ialah "Kata Sambutan" yang disampaikan penulis dalam peluncuran
buku Contemporary Islamic Discourse in the Malay-Indonesian World karya
Dr. Azhar Ibrahim Alwee dari National University of Singapore, Jumat 27
Des 2013). Posted by Gaus: twitter: @AhmadGaus - FB: Gaus Ahmad
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