New sects "screwing up" Islam teachings

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The existence of new Islamic "misguided" sects would be tolerated by Indonesian Muslims, but only if "they do not attribute their names or teachings with Islam or any other religions", said Muslim leaders in Indonesia on Saturday.

Director of the Institute for Research and Study on Islam (LPPI) Amin Djamaludin said of one new Islamic sect in Indonesia, "Al Qiyadah al Islamiyah is using, distorting and screwing up the teachings of Islam, and that's the problem".

"It is a misguided (Islamic) sect," he said at a discussion about the emergence of new sects in Indonesia here Saturday.

"It would be different if they (Al Qiyadah leaders and followers) declared themselves belonging to a religion other than Islam or any other existing religions."

National Awakening Party executive Muslim Abdurachman said "misguided" sects had long existed in the country and had frequently caused social unrest.

"Rapid changes in social systems have led people to (become confused) in finding out which norms are better for them to adapt with the world," Muslim said.

"And mainstream Islamic organizations like Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah can no longer provide people with (the truth) they need, so many have looked for other (sects to provide) the answer."

LPPI's Amin said misguided sects usually offered potential followers the promise they would be able to fulfill their desires quickly.

But Muslim said the establishment of such sects was usually based on a search for truth, "the norms of which were adapted from religions recognized by the state".

"We have to respect such faiths as their existence is regulated in the Constitution," Muslim said.

"As long as their teachings and actions are not against the law, such as persuading their followers to commit mass suicide or disrupt public order."

Al Qiyadah al Islamiyah was founded by Abdussalam, also known as Ahmad Moshaddeq, in 2000, in Gunung Sari, Bogor.

He declared himself as a new prophet, replacing Prophet Muhammad, on July 23 this year.

In addition, Ahmad also changed several core creeds of Islam, such as the acknowledgment of Prophet Muhammad as the final prophet and the obligation to pray five times daily.

As many as 41,000 people across nine major cities in Indonesia are believed to be members of the sect. Ahmad surrendered himself to Jakarta Police headquarters on Monday.

This case has increased awareness of other sects claiming Islamic foundations.

Al Quran Suci sect in Bandung, West Java, has questioned the compilation of the Prophet Muhammad's sayings and actions.

And Al Haq sect in Pekanbaru, Riau, allows its followers to pray once instead of five times daily.

The Indonesian Ulemas Council's secretary general, Ichwansyam, said there was "a factory producing such misleading faiths".

"I'm afraid that there might be an intelligence operation, either from Indonesia or other countries, which aims at disturbing the country's order by using Islam," Ichwan said.

Ichwan said he had called for an integrative effort to combat such an operation.