VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Islam and nationality are often contradicted by groups of people. Vice President, Jusuf Kalla urged the public not to distinguish between Islam and the spirit of nationality, not to mention contrasting both of them. This was affirmed by VP Jusuf Kalla during a speech at Universitas Muslim Indonesia-UMI in Makassar, South Sulawesi last Saturday (June 23, 2018). He views that making distance, let alone contrasting both of them is clearly not beneficial for both as Muslims and as Indonesian citizens.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla who received the title of Honorary Doctor stated that the principle of Islam plays a major role in the establishment of the spirit of Indonesian nationality. Based on the history and dynamics of Muslims in this country, Islam has become the unifying factor of tribes with various customs and traditions.

In his speech entitled "Actualization of Islamic Principles and Strengthening the Spirit of Nationality", Vice President Jusuf Kalla pointed out that the historical evidence of how the process of spreading Islam has contributed in unifying Indonesia as the archipelagic country. He also said that Islam encourages the solidarity of fellow Muslims, or the Islamic Brotherhood, among various ethnics and groups. Then, this deed is developed into solidarity among fellow citizens in the country or this is called ‘Ukhuwah Wathaniyah’ when the Dutch colonized Indonesia. In addition, VP Jusuf Kalla affirmed that Islam is a teaching that occupies the highest and noble place in the life of every Muslim. Therefore, it must continue to place Islam in its height and glory, and not reduce it to empirical-sociological reality and phenomena, such as nationality.  

Meanwhile, the spirit of nationality is a human product. Vice President Jusuf Kalla remarked that the spirit of nationality is formed due to various factors, such as history, development and dynamics of social, cultural and religious matters of Indonesian people in the long history. He perceived that all these factors are combined to play a major role in the formation of the spirit of nationality. In particular, the spirit of nationality over Islamic principles also plays a significant role in shaping the spirit of Indonesian nationality. VP Jusuf Kalla asserted that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila is the actualization of religious nationality in its five principles.