Clerics called to lead followers to create harmonious life

Antara News, Tue, June 28 2011

Related News

• Education must create rational community
• President receives APTISI congress participants
• President reminds clerics of their role in teaching Islam
• NGOs urge president to issue decree on Busyro`s tenure
• Govt eyeing three sectors to accommodate workers after moratorium

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on clerics, religious figures and Islamic organization leaders in the country to lead their followers to create a harmonious social life.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. (ANTARA)

"Let us show a tolerant, friendly and peaceful behavior. Let us prepare the nation`s future which is in line with the just and high universal values to build an advanced nation with a progressive vision," he said at the presidential palace at a meeting with participants of the Asia-Pacific and ASEAN Quran and Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Hadith Memorizing Contest here on Tuesday.

President Yudhoyono on the occasion also urged the participants from Indonesia to play an active role in enlightening, leading and the straightening out of deviating religious interpretation.

"Prevent and protect the Muslims from wrong and deviating interpretation which could boost radicalism and hurt certain groups and lead to violences," he said.

President Yudhoyono called on all Muslims to use the Quran as a reference as teachings that spread love, peace, brotherhood, good approaches which are full of high civilization values.

"Let us make the Quran as a reference for building great character, clear minds, positive thinking and optimism to meet the challenges in civilization," he said.

Muslims are obliged to improve their quality of understanding, reflection and knowledge of the Quran, he said.

He said they must also continuously revive the spirit to learn examplary values put in the Prophet`s hadith and actualize them in the daily life.

"Various principles and philosphies of life are put in the Quran and Hadith which we have to continuously spread and develop to be the main reference for family, community, state and national life," he said.

The implementation of Islamic values and Quran spirit must be expanded to an international level especially now in the midst of shifts in the global values and civilization.

He said Muslims who live in the global era with all its dynamics are obliged to command full understanding of universal noble values sourced from the Koran and Hadith.

"We must also be able to actualize them constructively to build the world to become more secure, just, peaceful and prosperous," he said.

The contest from June 26 to 28 is attended by 83 participants from Indonesia (22), Thailand (13), Malaysia (12), Brunei Darussalam (7), Cambodia (five), the Philippines (4), Singapore (4), New Zealand (3), Uzbekistan (3), Kirgystan (3), Australia (2), Tajikistan (2) and Timor Leste (2).

The activity which has been held since 2008 is the idea of President Yudhoyono and is sponsored by Saudi Arabia.

Editor: Priyambodo RH