Al Zaytun

January 22nd, 2007, in News, by Patung

The Al-Zaytun Islamic school has fallen under suspicion of links to Negara Islam Indonesia (NII).

Al Zaytun, or Pondok Pesantren Modern Al’Zaytun, formally opened by President B.J. Habibie in 1999, and occupying some 1,200 hectares in Mekarja, Gantar (Haurgeulis), Indramayu, West Java, and led by one Syekh Panji Gumilang was visited by vice-president Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Religion Maftuh Basyuni, and Deputy Governor of West Java, Nu’man A. Hakim, on the 20th to celebrate Islamic New Year. It is home to over 10,000 students, including some from Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and Brunei.

After Kalla & co’s visit journalists questioned Syekh Panji Gumilang over accusations that he was the 9th Area Commander of the Negara Islam Indonesia (NII), otherwise known as Darul Islam (DI), a movement which in the past has violently fought, particularly in West Java, for the establishment of an Islamic state. Gumilang said:

That’s not true. Al Zaytun is a centre for the development of a tolerant and peaceful culture [quoting the school's motto].

Journalists said they had information from sources in Jakarta that NII was still actively recruiting among students and still had a formal structure, of which Syekh Panji Gumilang was an important part. The sheikh said people could say what they liked in a democratic system and reiterated that Al Zaytun was merely an educational institution.

Journalists then asked Gumilang for information on how the NII operated these days to which he again replied that Al Zaytun was just a school. [1]

Panji Gumilang
Syaykh Abdussalam Panji Gumilang.

Gumilang also said that in politics Al Zaytun did not side with any particular candidate or party. In the 2004 election the majority of votes from the school went to the pair of General Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid, according to Electoral Commission figures. [2]

Previously Kalla had given a speech in which he urged for the modernisation of Islamic schools and he praised Al Zaytun as an example of a religious education school that had left behind the image of Islamic schools as cramped, dirty, and simple places. [3]

  1. ↑1 kompas
  2. ↑2 kompas
  3. ↑3 tempo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11 Comments on “Al Zaytun”

  1. Bin Camel Says:
    February 8th, 2007 at 11:36 pm

    I met 2 key persons, this respected pesantren has plenty of money and internationaly linked, seems they promote tolerant to other religions, intelligent and diferrent kind of Islam, on contrary of Laskar Jihad, FPI and his gang. But you never know what’s in people’s minds, time will show after their 10,000 santri grow strong.

  2. Andrew Says:
    February 9th, 2007 at 2:12 am

    It is clear that our government cannot prioritize their issues. They leave Laskar Jihad and FPI alone, but worries about something like this. This Zaytun thingy can get nasty, but I just can’t understand why they haven’t taken care of the immediate issue right in front of their eyes.

    Back in the 70s, my parents told me, the government banned the Salvation Army (”Bala Keselamatan”) because its name sounds militant (despite its noble mission and calm demeanor), but now they allow Laskar Jihad whose very name sounds similar.

    And yet I’m paying tax that eventually is used to feed these government officials, most of whom don’t have a clue what they’re doing. It’s like feeding someone who robs you.

  3. Andy Kalipaksi Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 3:20 pm

    Al-Zaytun is the holistic city and land of Islamic. The followers of moslem of Indonesia Nation support this institution. We will developt its until the border of beyond.

  4. Kastro Says:
    May 8th, 2007 at 3:30 am

    Al Zaytun portrays true Islam (peace). The love grows here and hatred faded.

  5. Lukman Hasan Says:
    August 1st, 2007 at 8:30 pm

    What we should do is to help Al-Zaytun to become the best…not to hate or to underestimate.. Al-Zaytun just have been there since 1999..only 8 years.
    Don’t compare and contrast among the other religious school.

  6. Pantja Wibowo Says:
    August 28th, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    Few days ago I visited the “pesantren” and as a non-moslem, I was very glad to see that that Islamic school has the motto of tolerance and peace.
    The 20 grade classes were made to produce a master degree of young Indonesian (and foreigns).
    What they done there was very good.

  7. Priautama Says:
    March 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    Bravo alzaytun. Go ahead. Realise your mission. We always with you.

  8. Nurul Fathonah Says:
    May 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Al-Zaytun bring clear sign of peace which seems like disappear nowadays…keep it up…bring up the An-Nur…

  9. rina Says:
    June 1st, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    About 270 people including Mr. Panji Gumilang, the students and bike community from Al-Zaytun now held “Tour de Java” on bike, for 17 days (May-June 2008) around Java and Madura while they also plant trees in every city they visit.

    Wonderful contribution for our earth. I think we should appreciate their great effort.

  10. dariidonesia Says:
    June 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    the best version of Islam so far…

  11. hamba allah Says:
    June 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    As we know, that islam is stand on peace. And only in al-zaytun I found the true peace, not like in another place, always make me scary.

Trackbacks

Comment on “Al Zaytun”.

Comments Policy.

Copyright Indonesia Matters 2006-08