‘Ilusi Negara Islam’
May 21st, 2009, in News, by Patung
The new book “The Islamic State Illusion”, taking on hardline Islam in Indonesia.
The book Ilusi Negara Islam: Ekspansi Gerakan Islam Transnasional di Indonesia, (The Illusion of an Islamic State: the Expansion of Transnational Islamic Movements in Indonesia) published on 1st April and ‘launched’ on 16th May, is edited by former president Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), published by PT Desantara Utama Media with funding and/or support from the LibForAll Foundation in the USA, the Wahid Institute, Gerakan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, and The Maarif Institute.
At the launch, apart from Gus Dur:
- Ahmad Syafii Maarif (Buya), ex head of Muhammadiyah, author of the prologue
- Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure, A. Mustofa Bisri (Gus Mus), author of the epilogue
- Azyumardi Azra, liberal Muslim thinker
- Try Sutrisno, ex-vice president
- Wiranto, vice presidential running mate of Jusuf Kalla
- Akbar Tanjung, former head of Partai Golkar
- Romo Franz Magnis Suseno, well-known Catholic priest
The book’s general premise is that the unity of Indonesia, the strength of its mainstream moderate Muslim organisations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, and the true meaning of Islam as “a blessing for the world” are under threat from radical ideologies emanating from the middle east, primarily Wahabi Ikhwanul Muslimin.
It’s chapter headings:
- Looking at transnational Islamic movements and their agents in Indonesia
- The infiltration into Indonesia of Wahabi Ikhwanul Muslimin ideology
- The ideology and agenda of hardline Islam in Indonesia
- The infiltration of the agents of hardline Islam into Indonesian Islam
- Conclusion and recommendations
C Holland Taylor of the LibForAll Foundation in the USA says of it: kompas
This book is very useful in showing the face of real Islam.
Ilusi Negara Islam is said to be not widely available in bookstores with some reports, said to be spread by a blogger, that Gramedia, the largest bookstore chain in the country, had received threats that if it carried the book Gramedia stores would be burnt down.
However Bambang Nuryono of Gramedia’s Human Resources Department said he had no idea about any threats, nor had he heard of the book, while another person from the Sales Department said Ilusi Negara Islam was not yet stocked by Gramedia. tempo
The book’s 322 pages can be downloaded below:
You cant see this bit
40 Comments on “‘Ilusi Negara Islam’”
-
Rob Baiton says:
An interesting read no doubt.
I have downloaded it and will now sit down and read it.
-
indonesiabraveheart says:
Got it downloaded already …
better take a look at that first … š -
Astrajingga says:
Who kosi? The reader?
-
Odinius says:
Wow…very interesting book. Definitely going to read this!
-
By the way, it’s pretty ballsy for several high profile political figures to be associated with this book. But necessary. Perhaps it’s a sign of changing times in Indonesia, when the moderate, conservative and liberal majority of Indonesian Muslims finally start taking the (intellectual) fight to the fundies…
-
Lairedion says:
Thanks for the download, Patung.
One should also consider visiting Martin van Bruinessen’s personal page from the University of Utrecht. He has written a couple of interesting essays on Islam, some dealing with Indonesia.
http://www.let.uu.nl/~martin.vanbruinessen/personal/publications/index.html -
Toni2 says:
Hello
Sorry but I don’t speak bahasa, Has it been published in english? if so, where could I find it?
I think it must be very interesting
thanks for your help
-
Sorry but I donāt speak bahasa, Has it been published in english? if so, where could I find it?
No I haven’t heard of any translations.
-
jaka says:
It was mentioned in politikana.com that it will be translated to some languages, including English and Arabic.
-
Yeah, I read it’s going to be distributed in Turkey and several Middle Eastern countries, as well as in the US.
-
tomaculum says:
Toni2:
I would translate it into language for you … šThanks Patung!
-
Ben Ezra says:
I have tried to download it several times but with no success. Can someone send me the file via email? Thanks a lot!
-
Sylvester says:
I am finishing reading this book. It might be an old issue, however I think Gus Dur and friends are trying to warn more people on how dangerous PKS and HTI with their Wahhabism and guerrilla/intellegent tactics. The interesting part is on how PKS and HTI can be linked with JI, Al Qaeda, and Ikhwanul Muslimin, all terrorist organizations.
Making me not sure if SBY-Boediono is a good choice with PKS hiding in behind. -
dejavu says:
Regarding the idea of some fundamentalist to establish Islamic state, we need to put a lot of efforts to fight them and their shallow idea. Freedom of fear, freedom of speech, freedom of religion should not be raped by these mad guys from PKS, HTI, whatever…I These bunch of guys have misused religion to accomplish their interest.. You might still remember how outrageous PKS people were on TV when they knew that SBY had chosen Boediono as his running mate. These PKS people with their crappy mind just want to take power and rule this awesome country by their own crappy rules. They are actually thirsty of power. Recently, I read that in West Java, the Governor which is from PKS, has made some troubles on local people by criticizing Jaipongan as indecent behavior. He also insulted some other art works which he perceives as obscenity such as decorations and sculptures representing a human or animal. How come as a leader he can be so unwise. He should become an inclusive leader not a crappy leader.
-
sputjam says:
The book did not go far enough. It should also include the illusion of the islamic religion. In the old days, Prophet Mohamed had to endure people with the same mentality as today’s islamic religionist.
He tried to discourage the arabs from idol worshipping stones in mecca. Today, hundreds of millions are doing the same things the arabs did 1500 years ago. This, despite the koran warning mankind from idol wporship of anything. You merely need to turn to God, anywhere, anytime, in any direction. It is that simple. There is no requirement for a person to get involved in any religion to believe in God. -
There’s a facebook page for the book
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ilusi-Negara-Islam/102014865856?ref=mf
One should also consider visiting Martin van Bruinessenās personal page from the University of Utrecht. He has written a couple of interesting essays on Islam, some dealing with Indonesia.
http://www.let.uu.nl/~martin.vanbruinessen/personal/publications/index.html
Somebody on that facebook page took note of your link!
-
Yup, after your link!
Now we’re eager to know who started this group on FB, perhaps a IM friend of ours… š
-
Tomaculum
Thank you very much for your offer but I think it could be a hard work, probably it’s going to be translated and I’ll be able to get it, no matter if I need to wait some time.
Thanks a lot again
-
ET says:
dejavu
Regarding the idea of some fundamentalist to establish Islamic state, we need to put a lot of efforts to fight them and their shallow idea.
First thing to do is shut down Salafi pesantrens and madrasas. Funded by the Saudi’s and the Yemenites they are the cancer resposible for spreading their fundamentalist messages of radicalism and expansion.
-
ET
First thing to do is shut down Salafi pesantrens and madrasas. Funded by the Saudi’s and the Yemenites they are the cancer resposible for spreading their fundamentalist messages of radicalism and expansion.
Yeah..wahabism is strange and bad philosophy….make a war on anything hurting humanbeings ….
-
“Wahhabism” (i.e. Salafism) is sort of a red herring, as I see it, for different problems with specific variants of Islamism in Indonesia. PKS and a lot of other Islamists come from a different tradition, that of the Muslim Brotherhood. PKS comes from this ideological/theological lineage, not that of Abd-al-Wahhab.
Looks a bit “People’s Front of Judea/Judean People’s Front” at first glance, but it’s actually a deeper and more significant cleavage. If you ever want to puncture the myth of Islamist unity, read what the official Salafi establishment in Saudi Arabia writes about the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots.
For Indonesia, this is an interesting take on the supposed (and only sometimes real) linkage between Salafism and terrorism.
-
Cukurungan says:
Thank you very much for your offer but I think it could be a hard work, probably itās going to be translated and Iāll be able to get it, no matter if I need to wait some time.
It is not so hard, the core point of the illusion book is GurDur and the Wahid institute should produce something to make the western taxpayer happy to spend more money to him and his institute, otherwise, he has lost control over his money machine of PKB.
PKS and a lot of other Islamists come from a different tradition, that of the Muslim Brotherhood. PKS comes from this ideological/theological lineage, not that of Abd-al-Wahhab.
PKS strategy is inspired by un-workable premise of the Muslim brotherhood, their political struggle has failed to materialize Negara Islam of their version, it was failed in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and anywhere when FIS won election on Aljazair the military simply crushed them, when Hamas won election the western and the Arab world simply blocked them.
-
openk says:
so inspiring…
-
Ross says:
I notice in the press there is some talk of retailers not selling the new book due to threats from intimidatory ‘goaties’ on the prowl.
If this is substantiated, let’s hope the good guys (aka IM posting types!) impose a boycott on the culprit retailer. Bules buy lots of books here and such a threat might carry some weight. -
Sylvester said:
Making me not sure if SBY-Boediono is a good choice …
And why does Goenawan Muhammad support Boediono as VP-candidate ? Do you see the anomaly here ? Or is it simply natural, to keep the balance in the team ?
And the book puts focus more on NU-Muhammadiyah issue. For me, other important aspect is the effort put by the Tarbiyah IM movement in campuses. They have been sistematically put since 1980’s, and no research has been made so far ? They are the seeding beds for KAMMI and PKS.
-
jschranz says:
An Adobe (.pdf) is also available at http://www.bhinnekatunggalika.org/
English translations of excerpts are available at: http://www.libforall.org/media/media-current-news.html#launch -
Cuk said:
PKS strategy is inspired by un-workable premise of the Muslim brotherhood, their political struggle has failed to materialize Negara Islam of their version, it was failed in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and anywhere when FIS won election on Aljazair the military simply crushed them, when Hamas won election the western and the Arab world simply blocked them.
Yeah, not really going anywhere, are they. But PKS is different, I think. They are committed to playing within the rules of the game. As I think I mentioned earlier, for all the anti-American bluster, Hidayat Nur Wahid and the other cadres have been cultivating ties with US officials and Washington opinion-makers for years. Thus they are unlikely to provoke great fear in the West like the more doctrinaire MB groups in the Middle East.
That makes them mostly dangerous for Indonesia and Indonesians. Unfortunately for them–and thankfully for those who like Pancasila–they seem to have hit the glass ceiling in terms of popularity.
-
Odinius said
āWahhabismā (i.e. Salafism) is sort of a red herring, as I see it, for different problems with specific variants of Islamism in Indonesia. PKS and a lot of other Islamists come from a different tradition, that of the Muslim Brotherhood. PKS comes from this ideological/theological lineage, not that of Abd-al-Wahhab.
PKS and a lot of other Islamists are indeed affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood but they are not directly involved with the emergence of the conservative, exclusivist madrasas of a new type. These institutions generally grew out of Indonesiaās increasingly closer connections during the last 20 years with transnational Islamic politics. One such example is the Salafi madrasas, Islamic teaching centres associated with those who explicitly identify themselves as Salafis, literally meaning the followers of the pious forefathers, al-salaf al-salih. They believe that to follow the salaf al-salih means to submit to the absolute literal word of the Qurāan and the sunna, and that this submission will determine whether one can be called Muslim or not.
Wahhabism constitutes one particular trend in the Salafiyya (purification) movement. Its theological foundations were derived from a number of classical Salafi scholars, including Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
The contemporary Salafi movement in Indonesia is squarely within the puritanical Salafi-Wahhabi tradition. Its adherents prefer to call themselves Salafi primarily because of the pejorative connotations of the term Wahhabi. Their allegiance to the Wahhabi tradition, however, is clear from the frequent references they make to the classics of Wahhabism.
Congruent with the emergence and spread of various Salafi foundations in the mid-80ies, Salafi madrasas have appeared in various Indonesian provinces, with names associated with the slogans or doctrines popular among the Salafis, which revolve around the call for the revival of the Sunna. They believe that Muslim society must first be Islamised through a gradual evolutionary process that includes tarbiya (education) and tasfiyya (purification) before the implementation of the sharia can be realised. -
Yeah, not really going anywhere, are they. But PKS is different, I think. They are committed to playing within the rules of the game. As I think I mentioned earlier, for all the anti-American bluster, Hidayat Nur Wahid and the other cadres have been cultivating ties with US officials and Washington opinion-makers for years. Thus they are unlikely to provoke great fear in the West like the more doctrinaire MB groups in the Middle East.
Yes no question that PKS is still playing within the rules of game but they are playing for the lose because the current democracy game is contradict with many guidance on the Islamic teaching itself and more over, PKS seemed to me try to blend the water with the oil that the process will never work.
Comment on “‘Ilusi Negara Islam’”.
Copyright Indonesia Matters 2006-2023
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact
We should know who’s behind this book.