The Resolution of Jihad and Nationalism of Santri

 

The Resolution of Jihad and Nationalism of Santri

Sixty-eight years ago, a monumental event occurred for the history of the struggle of the Indonesian people. When the British landed their military forces on the archipelago, this nation responded with a spirit of daring to die to repel the invaders. Among the santri, Nahdhotul Ulama (NU) as one of the socio-religious organizations issued a "sakti decree" to instill the spirit of jihad called jihad resolution.

The jihad resolution is a message that NU sends to its citizens to carry out jihad, to fight to repel the British arrival in Indonesia, which in fact has proclaimed itself as an independent nation. In general, the content of jihad resolutions implies two categories of jihad. First , fardlu 'ain for everyone who is within a radius of 94 km from the epicenter of the occupation of the invaders. In Islam, the fatwa " fardlu ain " implies an obligation that must be carried out in the morning for every person who has mukallaf ( aqil baligh ). Second , fardlu kifayahfor residents outside the radius. However, under certain and emergency conditions, the status can be raised to fardhu ain . Fardlu kifayah is an obligation that becomes invalid if it has been carried out by one person in an area/community.

The jihad resolution had a major impact on the resistance movement against the British (NICA) in Surabaya. The climax was on November 10, 1945, when there was a super terrible battle between the students and the Surabaya students against the British military. This great momentum has been enshrined as Hero's Day to this day. So if you want to be a little "narcissistic", it is actually the NU's students and martyrs who commemorate the Hero's Day.

Santri, NU and Nationalism

The term santri, perhaps many people understand as students of knowledge in Islamic boarding schools. In this paper, the term santri has a broader meaning, namely Muslims who have a strong religious understanding. As Clifford Geertz , an American anthropologist who has studied Javanese Islam, also uses the term santri to refer to Muslims who practice their religious teachings consistently.

The santri, have a very strong character of obedience to the kiai. This obedience is a form of religious attitude, where the kiayi is seen as someone who has a good understanding of the scriptures. In addition, respect for experts in knowledge, people who have a lot of knowledge is also the core of Islamic teachings, which is also a source of obedience. In this case, Sayyidina Ali once said "I am a slave (servant) to the one who taught me one letter of the Qur'an". Submission to the kiai or teacher is what causes the students to do whatever is ordered by the kiayi, because they assume that there is a level of truth implied by the order. In the context of jihad resolution, the application of jihad as a “order” by the kiai, driven by KH Hasyim Asyari as Rais 'Am NU, is a manifestation of obedience and implementation of the sacred teachings of religion. So they responded with a blazing and blazing jihad spirit, even though they had to give up their body and soul.

At this level, the nationalism of the santri cannot be doubted. Religious orders that consider hubb al wathan , love of the homeland as part of faith, further emphasize the integration between fighting to defend the homeland and jihad to defend religion and the truth. When the spirit of jihad is burning, the world and everything in it feels small compared to the pleasure of the creator of this universe.

Institutionally, NU's nationalism is also proven in various historical events of the nation's movement. First , NU in a congress once issued a fatwa on dar Islam , in which Indonesia is an Islamic state that must be defended and defended. Second , regarding the position of President Sukarno, which is interpreted by NU as waliy al amri al dlaruri bi la-syaukah . Namely the acceptance of President Sukarno as the person who has the right to take care of the problems of the ummah, in the midst of debates by other Islamic organizations about whether or not the President's position in the Islamic sharia system is permissible.

Third , regarding the eradication of the PKI in 1965. In this case, NU through Banser carried out "annihilation" of the ideology of communism and its accomplices. Despite this being controversial, when NU was deemed involved in crimes against humanity, the massacre of people suspected of being involved in the PKI. Apart from this, NU is actually trying to protect this nation from being undermined by the rebellion. Although this was later "used" by the embers of the ruler to smooth out the mission of his interests.

Fourth , regarding the acceptance of Pancasila as the single principle. In the 1984 congress, NU declared its acceptance of the Pancasila principle. NU considers Pancasila a unifying symbol of the nation, from the diversity and differences of this nation. As we know in history, the New Order, in order to strengthen its dominance, and weaken Islamic-based organizations, established the single principle of Pancasila. All social, political, religious organizations must include Pancasila as the principle and basis of the organization, even though many Islamic organizations at that time used Islam as the basis of their organization.

Fifth , regarding efforts to solve national problems. In the 2012 National Alim Ulama National Conference yesterday, NU recommended that the government optimize efforts to eradicate corruption. In addition, the issue of tax corruption, direct post-conflict local elections, building national character are also recommendations in the National Conference. According to the author, this right is a manifestation of NU's concern for national issues. Even at the National Conference, discourses circulated about punishing corruptors to death, avoiding taxes that were heavily corrupted and returning the post-conflict local election so that it would no longer be carried out directly.

The crime of corruption is considered an extraordinary crime which must also be responded to with an extraordinary punishment , namely the death penalty. Corruption has damaged the economic, legal, social and political fabric of this nation. Regarding the direct election, NU considers that the direct election has given birth to a lot of harm and damage to the community, as well as the government bureaucracy. So that by returning the election to the DPRD, it means that it will reduce the madharat . Regarding the discourse on the taxation (boycott) of taxes, this departs from the increasingly massive misuse of taxes.

The Realization of the Jihad Resolution

The concept of jihad so far has been understood more classically, namely war in the way of Allah. This is not wrong, but this understanding is very narrow. Jihad literally means serious. In a broader understanding, jihad means all sincerity in carrying out religious teachings. If we agree on this, then jihad can be carried out by everyone, in a certain space of time and in their respective professions. Thus, every profession, from farmers to presidents, students to professors, has the opportunity to carry out jihad according to their expertise and profession.

In the context of the resolution of jihad, our seriousness to the nation and the homeland is a manifestation of the modern jihad resolution. Every citizen can give something meaningful with sincerity and noble intentions for this country and nation. The phenomenon of corruption, brawl, social conflict, crime are a series of behaviors that are reflected in the loss of our sincerity to the nation and state. True nationalism in this case is when we are able to become good citizens, good citizens.

Our current struggle may not be as great as the heroes who risked their lives for this nation. But it can be even more difficult, given the challenges and temptations that surround us. In the midst of the dimming spirit of nationalism of these citizens, it is time for us to make the resolution of this long-buried jihad as a momentum to give the best for this nation. Our current jihad is to build each of us, to become good human beings and citizens. As the Prophet once said when the battle of Badr was over, "We have returned from the small jihad to the big jihad". The Battle of Badr which is the biggest war in Islamic history is considered by the Prophet as a minor jihad. Because the real jihad (great jihad) according to the Prophet isjihad al-nafs , jihad fighting the passions in our left. Let's build this nation, starting from jihad to build each of us.