MUI Asks Commander of the Strategic Reserve Command , How Can You Know God Says Right

Head of MUI Bid Da'wah and Ukhuwah KH Dr. Cholil Nafis/ Screen capture of Hersubeno Point's YouTube broadcast

JAKARTA - Head of MUI Bid Da'wah and Ukhuwah KH Dr. Cholil Nafis highlighted the statement made by the Commander of the Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad) Lieutenant General Dudung Abdurachman during a working visit to the Combat Engineer Battalion (Yon Zipur) 9/Lang-Lang Bhuana Kostrad (Strategic Reserve Command) in Ujungberung District, Bandung City, West Java Province, last Monday, September 13.

Kyai Cholil understood Pangkostrad's statement in giving directions to soldiers to be wary of hoaxes. According to him, what Kostrad Commander Lt. Gen. Dudung Abdurachman conveyed to his soldiers was an important matter.

"I don't know the pros and cons. I understand well, that Lt. Gen. gives directions to soldiers to be aware of hoaxes, I think it's important. Because hoaxes are part of a proxy war. The war of thought that we are weakened by nationalism, we are made to compete with each other, and that we must be aware of.” said Kyai Cholil through the Hersubeno Poin channel, which aired on Thursday, September 16.

According to Kyai Cholil, the TNI's position must be in the middle, not to the right or the left, even though they embrace a certain religion.

"TNI (Army) must be in the middle to protect all religious people, protect the nation's children, have equal rights in the life of the nation and state. The TNI must be in the middle, not tilted to the right or the left. Even if you embrace a certain religion”, he explained.

However, there is one assessment that according to Cholil is incorrect, namely Dudung's statement 'All Religions Are True in God's Eyes'.

"That's wrong. The diction is wrong, all religions are right in the eyes of God, if the quote is true, how can you know that God is telling the truth? If in the eyes of the law it is true, there is a Constitutional Court, there are legal experts. So if in God's eyes it's true, I ask how can you know?”, said Kyai Cholil.

In building religious tolerance, Kyai Cholil has his own principles. According to him, tolerance is understanding, tolerance is understanding, and respecting, not equating.

“This is how we want to build tolerance. Tolerance is understanding, tolerance is understanding, respect is not equal. So, in the context of tolerance, we should not equate those who are already different. We are both within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, we are both religious people, we both understand tolerance between religious communities, but our religions are different. Our beliefs are different, also our rituals are different. So those who are different say different, those who are the same say the same", he explained.

However, Kyai Cholil understood that Lieutenant General Dudung Abdurachman did not misunderstand. Maybe, said Kyai Cholil, a short duration.

"I understand he didn't misunderstand, but maybe the quote. Maybe a short duration, so the way to convey all religions are true in the eyes of God in the sense that we both worship God together want goodness. No religion spreads evil. So in the national context, in the social context, it is the same, but our belief that what we embrace is what leads us to the salvation of the world and the hereafter must be different. The methods and beliefs are definitely different", said Kyai Cholil