Once Again About Gus Dur

Once Again About Gus Dur

Is there anything left that hasn't been written about Gus Dur? It seems that everything has been discussed, both the fanatics who support him and the fanatics who hate him. But that's okay, I'm also writing this note – it's not heresy, is it

I am a rational person, not fond of the mystical world. So, I understand Gus Dur also through a rational approach. If you understand him through the 'other world', it's certainly not where I'm talking about things like that.

Gus Dur was very rational. Many think he has laduni knowledge; whether true or not, yes I do not know. But what is clear is that everyone knows how hard Gus Dur is to read books. He is very hungry for information. When they moved to the pesantren, it is said that the students were shocked because Gus Dur had brought a sack of his collection of books. So regardless of laduni or not, Gus Dur is a nerd. Even when he couldn't see his eyes, he still 'read' through audio books.

His reading is also very broad, not only about fiqh. From light novels to heavyweight literature. Maybe as broad as his association with all parties. There is no hesitation for him to meet and chat with anyone – regardless of profession, social status or station.

For Indonesia today people like Gus Dur is rare. He is a person who is very well versed in Islamic knowledge and even studies in Arab countries but does not become Arab. He initiated the idea of ​​indigenizing Islam by accommodating Indonesian culture in carrying out and expressing Islamic Shari'a. That means, Muslims in Indonesia are no less Islamic than Arabs.

Gus Dur was originally Javanese but he did not impose his Javaneseness. We know that during the Suharto era, Javanese culture became so dominant that non-Javanese officials had to be Javanese to be accepted in the center of power. Gus Dur is different. When he became President, from Aceh to Papua were embraced. Likewise, Chinese descendants, all of whom are considered part of the Indonesian nation.

You don't have to be Arabic just to be a good Muslim. After all, the scriptures themselves say that piety is the measure, and the Prophet himself reminded that the best people are those who are most beneficial to others. Praying with a turban and robe is just as valid as praying with a cap and sarong.

Likewise, you don't have to be Javanese just to be recognized as part of Indonesia. Please continue to be Betawi, Sundanese, Bugis, or Minang people. You don't have to follow the majority culture. Be Indonesian with our respective ethnic diversity. Diversity does not need to be uniform. Diversity must be celebrated.

In the midst of the current situation where a number of parties are eager to shout 'the minority must join the majority', we miss the figure of Gus Dur who with his knowledge, wisdom, belief and courage actually wants to eliminate the majority-minority category. It is enough for us to be in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. As simple as that.