Dr. Syafii Anwar: Progressive Thought is not Socialized

This article was firstly published in Indonesian at 15/3/2004

The discussion about various faces of Islam is common today. Not only in Indonesia, but also in several muslim countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Malaysia. On one hand, the fundamentalist-radicals tried to show the firm, rigid face of Islam that is full of enmity. On the other hand, observing violence in the world, the progressive and moderate muslims strive to raise their voice louder.

Through the available media, they show the more hospitable, open and plural face of Islam. Nevertheless, they have some obstacles. In their original land, the progressive Islamic notion is not welcomed warmly. Hence, what is the prediction for the progressive Islamic future in the muslim world, especially in Indonesia?

The director of International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) who is an Islamic political observer, Dr Syafii Anwar, is optimistic about the future of progressive Islam. This former editor of Ummat magazine conveyed his views and predictions about the future of progressive Islam in the muslim world to Ulil Abshar-Abdalla from Utan Kayu Islamic Community (KIUK). The talk was on Thursday 11^th March 2004:

ULIL ABSHAR-ABDALLA: Mr. Anwar, how do you see the future of moderate Islam or progressive Islam?

SYAFII ANWAR: Firstly, I assert that progressive Islam has a good and promising prospect. It is because the attitude and nature of muslim society is hospitable, peaceful and dislikes violence. They are aware about the concept of Islam as the blessing for the whole world. They dislike the use of violent attitudes, in symbolic as well as in physical senses.

Secondly, when we observe the dynamic within the muslim society, we see that sooner or later, the progressive thought will be more understood. Even though slowly, the enlightening thoughts will get positive response, at least in the globalization context now.

ULIL: You are very optimistic. Will you give an example about that dynamic in Indonesia or in the neighboring country Malaysia?

SYAFII: In Indonesia, I assume that organization endorsing the moderate Islam, such as NU and Muhammadiyah that is the pillar of civil society, play a dominant role and exist up till now. Even Prof Dr. Azyumardi Azra says that the moderate people seem to come forward in discourses. He terms it as the return of the moderate wing. I think moderate here includes the progressive wing.

Indeed, we see the presence of strong sentiment feeling toward the notion of progressive or liberal Islam. However, we also see how their thought is welcomed in campuses, mainly among the middle class. The fundamental critic, humiliation etc are natural. But I see that the intellectual dynamic of muslim youth of the progressive wing, such as in internet, still win the intellectual discourse.

ULIL: You talked about the concentration of the progressive muslims in big cities and middle-upper classes. Meanwhile, the traditional prevails in the village and in the middle-lower class. How does one communicate the notion of progressive Islam within this traditional muslim society?

SYAFII: I think the main key is making the progressive Islamic movement or thought down to earth. Faris M. Noor (Malaysian young intellectual), said that the defect of progressive Islam is laid on that point. But I think it is natural. Notions delivered by Liberal Islamic network, Paramadina, ICIP, etc are concentrated upon the urban and middle class level.

Our task is bringing those notions down to earth for the wider society; let’s say to the grass root society in the villages. I think the issue of pluralism is urgent to discuss. The more plural and inclusive theology must be socialized aggressively; hence it is down to earth and infiltrating into the grass roots.

ULIL: An important agenda of the muslim progressive is the democratization of the Islamic world. However, we know that many muslim countries have no democratic political system yet, and even tend to be authoritarian. How do you see the tendency of democracy in muslim countries recently?  SYAFII: I agree with you on the point of democratization. I am pessimistic about democratic practices in the Islamic world. The Freedom House research indicates that the practice of democracy is hard to implement based on many samples of muslim countries.

ULIL: Mr. Anwar, besides the problem of the weak and the deficit in democracy, the matter of injustice is also important. Our political system does not seem to guarantee the distribution of justice, so that many people become frustrated and eventually become interested in the more radical type of Islam. If the political system fulfills people’s expectation, will it guarantee the firm moderate Islamic notions in the future?  I think, firstly, the progressive muslim must deconstruct Islamic political thought. Deconstruction here is a deconstruction upon the tendency of observing Islamic political thought in the legal and formal approach or the tendency to observe Islam as something derived as ideology. It is repressing Islamic ideologization by observing religion as the trilogy: din, dunya, dan daulah (religion, world and state).

I think such thought must be deconstructed. Observing Islam in that way will lead to political ideologisation. Yet, the key of Islamic politic is how to prioritize the substantive thought; which is upholding justice. Justice is the central point of the Islamic political thought, while its system does not matter whether it is western democracy or whatever.

ULIL: What is the form of Islamic political thought that you meant?

SYAFII: It is emphasizing on the substantive political thought. Its main value is justice. Therefore, we have to de-formalize sharia. Because sometimes, one interprets sharia however he liked, so it becomes narrow and legal-formal.

ULIL: So, we can translate sharia as enforcing the justice system in the political field?

SYAFII: I agree with that. We have to enforce Sharia as a just system, not as an inhumane system, which does not solve the fundamental problems. We have to formalize Sharia as a system that leads to the values of justice. To me, the fundamental function of Islam is justice. Justice must be the core of Sharia system. Therefore, sharia can be interpreted inclusively.

ULIL: Mr. Anwar, recently your institution held an international conference about Islamic contribution upon universal values. Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian Noble prize winner, and Islamic figures of Europe were participating. What is the background of this conference? 

SYAFII: This conference is inspired by a vision or a thought that those prominent Islamic figures get their position in the west. Firstly, we want to learn many things from them, mainly about how to express their thoughts securely and brilliantly. Secondly, we deliberately invite Shirin Ebadi as the fighter of Human rights as well as the Noble prize winner. We asked her to convey her experience as a figure concerning on inclusive thought and not radical without leaving the principle base of Islam. []

(Translated by Lanny Octavia, edited by Jonathan Zilberg)