internal dynamics of the prosperous justice party and jamaah tarbiyah 51
it represents the spirit of Islamic teachings in political life. The problem
for the pks is that Indonesian administrations have not implemented
Pancasila comprehensively, because the rulers do not have a commitment
to Islamic principles. Only if political leaders and government officials,
who are mostly Muslims, have a personal commitment to Islamic values,
can Pancasila be applied comprehensively.
The pks accepts a democratic system on two grounds: firstly, democ-
racy is a flexible system; it can be socialist or capitalist, a monarchy or
republic, secular or religious. Political consultation as the basic princi-
ple of democracy is perfectly in line with Islamic teachings. Secondly,
democracy is a political reality in Indonesia – and internationally – and
therefore it should be taken as a starting point for building an Islamic
political system. Politics is a means to propagate religion (dakwah),
and it – as the term Tarbiyah implies – aims at changing people and
improving their conditions. Thus, dakwah activities, including those in
politics, should start from comprehension and acceptance of reality, and
not a denial of it.⁵⁰
3.2.2Religious Pluralism
For the jt-pks, Islam is the ultimate and universal truth that must
be propagated to all humankind wherever and whoever they are. It is
mandatory for all Muslims to preach their religion according to their
capacity and opportunity. However, Islamic propagation should focus on
achieving benefits and avoid loss and risks. In a societal and political
context, this means that dakwah activities should be carried out in ways
that avoid conflicts and instabilities – which will not only harm society,
but also give a negative image of Islam and Muslims. Indonesia is a
democratic and religious country, in which the constitution sanctions
freedom of religion. This means that Indonesian people are free to
live according to their faith. Religious pluralism does not entail an
acknowledgement that all religions are the same, but refers to a condition
in which people can profess and express their religious beliefs. Therefore,
for the pks it is not religious pluralism, but rather a pluralism of religions,
meaning that Indonesians live in a country that recognises different
religions. This does not abolish the obligation for all Muslims to propagate
Islam. Islam must be propagated, but in a peaceful way.
There are, in fact, two different pluralisms, external and internal.
External pluralism means coexistence and tolerance towards other
religions, while internal pluralism is understanding and cooperation
with other Muslims from different traditions. With regard to external
Interview with Abu Ridho, Jakarta.