An Open Letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from an Indonesian 'Ulama
Assalamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh Dear Mr President Mahmoud Abbas, May peace and the blessing of Allah be upon those who are faithful in the defense of Islam and the interests of the Muslim ummah. For more than 350 years in our history as a nation, we Indonesians had experienced the pain and suffering of occupation and oppression that your people, the Palestinians, have been experiencing for the past 60 years. Throughout that period, we too, had experienced waves upon waves of struggle to attain our independence waged under the leadership of our 'ulama who remained steadfast (istiqamah) and humble (tawadhu), much like the situation facing your people in Palestine. Subhanallah (praised be Allah the Exalted) Who has made the Palestinian people the inheritors of the fighting spirit of Caliph'Umar ibn Khattab and the Muslim army commander Shalahuddin Al- Ayyubi (may Allah be pleased with them). We Indonesians remain indebted to the Palestinians for your nation's support in the early days of our Independence in 1945, when Palestine became among those nations and countries who recognized our sovereignty the earliest. All these, and more, are reasons why today we are extending our welcome to you. Welcome to Indonesia, whose people and leaders remain steadfast in our support for the struggle of the Palestinians against the Zionist-Israel occupation. On behalf of the Indonesian 'ulama, we express our wish and prayer for true, lasting peace in the blessed land of Palestine. Allah has decreed that our nations live far apart from each other, but rest assured that our hearts and minds are with you all the way. Whatever befalls your nation, we strive to learn and know about it. Whatever pains your nation, pains us. Through this risalah, allow us to place upon you the amanah to convey to all leaders of the Palestinian fighters regardless of their factions and groups the following message: First, that you fight for the independence of Palestine only hoping for, and seeking, the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala alone. Please keep close to Allah by upholding the syariat of Al-Qur'an and As-Sunnah. Only then will you be able to secure the true victory, and only then can you hope for the love of Allah to pour upon all of us. Any victory gained outside of the path of Allah will not be a true victory, and will bring upon us all the wrath of Allah. Second, that you be gentle toward your Muslim brethren sharing the same struggle for Palestine and that you be firm toward the enemies of Islam whose intent is to continue to occupy and oppress the Palestinian Muslims. Only by maintaining this stance will your identity as Muslim fighters be kept intact. This will be the only identity that we shall all bring to our graves. Third, that you lower the wings of compassion and protect the `ulama who are steadfast in the path of Allah, who refuse to compromise their faith even as they stand firm before the enemies of Islam, because it is through their prayers and knowledge that your and our struggle will win the blessing of Allah and the true victory. Oppressing the `ulama will only hasten the wreath of Allah upon us all. We pray that by conveying our salutation of peace and this message to the leaders of the Palestinian fighters, you and all of the Palestinian Muslim fighters will be blessed and granted by Allah the strength to attain your independence and liberate Masjidil Aqsha. Even if we may not see you again in this world, Insha Allah we shall meet again before the Most Just of all Judges on the Day of Judgment. Keep on fighting, Allaahu Akbar! Jakarta, 10 Syawwal 1428/22 October 2007 KH Cholil Ridwan, Co-Chairman Majelis Ulama Indonesia Co-Chairman Dewan Da'wah Islamiyah Indonesia
