Islam in Indonesia…

When I was on a Fulbright last summer in Java researching Sufism and Islamic education in Indonesia, I had the opportunity to visit a number of madressas, universities, and Sufi shrines. So I read with interest this week that Indonesia’s two largest Islamic organisations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, are positioning themselves as beacons of “moderate” Islam.

A recent Editorial in the Jakarta Post, “Would the Real Islam Please Stand Up,” (which claims that “radical and other senseless elements within the nation’s Muslim masses have come to dominate the conversation on Islam in Indonesia”) calls upon the NU and Muhammadiyah to “take back Islam from the radical groups, condemn the use of violence and strengthen the voices of moderation and pluralism.”

Indonesian President Joko Widodo also recently urged the country’s two biggest Islamic groups to continue their brand of “moderate Islam.” In addressing religious leaders this week, President Jokowi said: “Make Progressive Islam part of the renewal process, where you understand a religion which is rational and open to the development of knowledge.”