Majelis Hukama: Global warming potential to be source of the conflict in the future

MOSAIC-INDONESIA.COM, JAKARTA -- Majelis Hukama Muslimin (MHM) Indonesia held a dialogue with journalists on the importance of maintaining tolerance and nature conservation in Jakarta, Monday (11/11/2024). The dialogue was held to welcome the International Day of Tolerance and to celebrate the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Scholars and government representatives joined in enlivening this event. Among them, the Minister of Religious Affairs Prof. KH Nasaruddin Umar who gave a speech through the video recording, founder and member of MHM Prof. Dr. M Quraish Shihab, MHM Executive Committee Member Dr TGB M Zainul Majdi, and MHM Director of the Indonesian branch Muchlis M Hanafi.

As is known, MHM which is also called Muslim Council Elders is an independent cross-border institution, founded in 2014 in Abu Dhabi. The MHM aims to promote peace and peaceful life in Muslim and non-Muslim communities, spreading and strengthening the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence (harmonious and peaceful coexistence). Since 2021, MHM Indonesia branch office has been opened, which started as a virtual office and was later inaugurated in Jakarta in October 2023.

TGB M Zainul Majdi revealed that the importance of building a peaceful culture between religious people was realized through the signing of the document of human brotherhood by Grand Sheikh Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb and Pope Francis on February 4, 2019.

“It is the most powerful document between the highest figures of the Muslim world and the highest in the Catholic world that shows a commitment to tolerance, to work together, not for the benefit of their people alone, but for humanity,” said TGB, who served as governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). “Tolerance is not limited to mutual respect, but also cooperation on concrete issues related to humanity. MHM is concerned about the issue of climate change,” added the alumnus of Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Why is the MHM talking about the problem of global temperature warming? According to the TGB, it is part of the MHM's efforts to prevent the occurrence of conflicts that were notoriously opposed to peace. He explained that one of the sources of global community conflict going forward is the excesses of global warming.

“Global warming is impacting rising seawater, threatening coastal communities that are also marginalized. Global warming temperatures also threaten food supply chains and could cause previously unknown diseases. Global problems will eventually create a torrent of conflict,”he said.

TGB explained that MHM is working to address the issue of global warming because it is not only a challenge for scientists, but also religious experts to translate religious messages. He underlined a number of efforts the MHM has initiated, including presenting the Pavilion of Faith at COP28 in Abu Dhabi and COP29 in Azerbaijan. The Faith Pavilion provides a platform for religious leaders to meet with world policy makers and engage in dialogue until a common understanding on climate action is established.

“We shave in case climate change, religion, science, public opinion is headed in the same direction that this must be urgently addressed in earnest,” he stressed.

MHM Counsellor Mohamed Abdelsalam, said TGB, during a meeting of world religious leaders in Baku, conveyed a very straightforward view to world leaders that climate action is not an option. Climate issues are an absolute must for the future of the world. This kind of message is often conveyed by MHM leadership to world leaders at every meeting.

“MHM continues to communicate with policy makers on climate tolerance and action. The UN Secretary General was very appreciative. In fact, the day of the signing of the fraternity document is designated as the International Day of Brotherhood of Man,” he said.

“MHM also continues to gather religious figures, interfaith figures, including local religious figures. In this level MHM works, including in Indonesia,” he said.

MHM Program

Director of MHM Indonesia branch Muchlis M Hanafi underlined a number of local actions carried out to build community awareness that promotes the spirit of brotherhood. MHM tries to explain the good practices of tolerance in Indonesia. According to Muchlis, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity awarded to NU and Muhammadiyah in February 2024 is a form of recognition for Indonesia's good practices.

“World religious leaders see the good practice of tolerance in Indonesia, about the role of religious institutions in building a peaceful society and that is represented by NU and Muhanmadiyah,” Muchlis said.

Other efforts that MHM has made in participating in photographing good tolerance practices in Indonesia are creating a tolerance photo contest, a short film contest about harmony, and an essay contest. MHM also translates books, not just from Arabic to Indonesian, but Indonesian books translated into Arabic. “MHM also holds various activities in Indonesia. A campaign of tolerance and coexistence through the media and Friday sermons,” he added.

As part of a global effort to build awareness about environmental preservation, Muchlis said, MHM in 2023 will host a Southeast Asian Conference on Climate Change. In February 2024, MHM Indonesia branch office will also create activities involving people with disabilities. “Fraternities cover all walks of life. Therefore it is necessary to establish a dialogue for a more harmonious life,” he points out.

Quraish Shihab Message

Quran scholar Prof. Quraish Shihab explained that there are a number of people who are misunderstood in understanding tolerance because they translate it by giving in. Tolerance does not mean giving in. He explained that tolerance is like a person shaking hands.

“You reach out and then hold someone else's hand. Touching hands with each other. So the benefits of tolerance are felt on both sides. So it's not budging. We go hand in hand,” he said.

“We want to stress that differences are inevitable. If it is not different we cannot live. God wants us to be different. Then don't make differences an excuse not to cooperate,”he added.

Quraish said, MHM was founded not to put out fires but to prevent fires. One of MHM's activities is spreading tolerance. Because, without tolerance, there can be a fire. “Another MHM activity is to correct misunderstandings, as well as to build positive cooperation between humanity,” he said.

Regarding the preservation of nature, Quraish affirms that it is the responsibility of each individual. The task of scholars and religious figures in the context of environmental preservation is to participate in making people aware that nature is a type of God to preserve. “Any interference with nature is contrary to God's command,” he stressed.

Quraish said, MHM also encourages writers and khatibs to enrich people's knowledge about religious views regarding environmental preservation. It is certainly not only in the form of lectures, associating the obligation to legitimize the environment with rights that are purely religious teachings.

“But there are actions and activities to be done not in the name of religion but science that can stop global warming. For example, do not use plastic or all activities that lead to the preservation of the environment,” he said. “A lot of things can be done. That is not only the duty of the clerics, but of every individual among us,” Quraish insists.