Minister Of Religion: Mosques Are Not A Place For Low Political Consolidation

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas when inaugurating and reactivating the Mosque Welfare Agency (BKM) at the Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (03/5/2023) (ANTARA/Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated that the mosque was not a place for lowly political consolidation ahead of the 2024 General Election.

"Many other social functions are owned by mosques, even political functions, but not political ones of these choices. So, mosques are not a place for lowly political consolidation," said Gus Men, the Minister of Religion's nickname at the inauguration of the board of the Mosque Welfare Agency (BKM) at the Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 3.

The politics referred to by the Minister of Religion is a high level of politics taught by the Prophet Muhammad SAW, for example how to teach people to have opinions or teach people to be anti-corruption.

"The Prophet Muhammad once received 60 non-Muslims to discuss at the mosque, and when the mosque was discussed in high-level politics, how to improve and educate the community around the mosque," said Gus Yaqut.

The Minister of Religion said that during the time of the Prophet SAW, the mosque tower was also used to monitor whether houses around the mosque emitted smoke, because if smoke did not billow, it meant the house was not filled with enough food.

"The kitchen smoke indicates that there are cooking activities in the house (economic indicators)," said Yaqut.

The story that was used as an example by the Minister of Religion was when the Prophet Muhammad founded the Quba Mosque.

"Mosques must really bring benefits, not only for Muslims, but also for the benefit of the people around the mosque. We need to do something real, not sneering (too high), but no benefits," he said.

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The Minister of Religion emphasized the importance of building tolerant traits in mosques, considering the recently faded function of mosques, due to extreme and intolerant understanding, one of which is by reacting the Mosque Welfare Agency (BKM).

"Therefore, I also ask the Director General of Islamic Guidance to reorganize the sermons that were conveyed at the mosques. The preachers should be given training and strengthening religious moderation," said Gus Men.

He advised the new BKM management to participate in protecting the mosque from politicization and intolerance, especially in welcoming the 2023-2024 political year.

"This BKM does not carry out its supervisory function, but of course all social functions will be carried out, including protection for women and children, including the function of taklim (education, coaching, social function), economics, everything must be done," said Gus Men.