Politic as Instrument to Spread Islamic Values: Machfud MD

Pamekasan, (Antara) - Former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Machfud MD said Islamic followers  and  religious organizations are required to be involved in politics as an instrument to bring to reality Islamic values and teaching.

"Don't  be allergic to politics  as politics is a disposition," Machfud said addressing a gathering of the Corps of Alumnus of the Association of All Madura Islamic Students (KAHMI) here on Saturday night.

The chairman of the presidium of the National Council of KAHMI said, it is an obligation to spread the Islamic values for the good of Islamic followers, therefore, the methods and means to bring to reality the obligation is also obligatory.

Machfud, who was former member of the Association of Islamic  Students (HMI) said politics and religions are like a twin.

"It is impossible for one to struggle for religion without having (political) power. Therefore, taking over power as an instrument to spread Islamic values is a must. And that is politics.

"The positions of religions and power are inter-related. Religion is a guideline  and power is the guardian," he added.

The law professor at the Indonesian Islamic University UII) of  Yogyakarta cited the methods used by Prophet Muhammad SAW in spreading the Islamic teachings with what he called "Road Map".

First the prophet asked people to declare faith about the oneness of God and second spread  Islam through politics, before launching the fight against injustice, Machfud said.

Being a citizen of a nation is the same as a follower of Islam that is to fight against injustice  and despotism  for the people's welfare, he said.

Machfud MD asked  Kahmi  and HMI to play the role of a promoter in protecting the integrity of the nation  by strengthening the Islamic and national values  and respect anything which has been a national decision.

He said once HMI proposed  the establishment of Indonesia as an  Islamic nation when Hasan Metarium was its general chairman.

"But when the move was defeated in political process HMI accepted  and respected the decision," Machfud recalled.(*)