MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA - A culture of Silaturahim should should be widely spread in Indonesia because it is a great culture. Even though it is firstly a religious teaching, it has become an Indonesian culture.

The aforementioned statements were declared by General Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir in a media gathering on Thursday (30/5) at Hall of Muhammadiyah Office, Yogyakarta.

Haedar stated that Muhammadiyah and media possess an essential role in preserving the unity of Indonesia and brotherhood of interfaith, among tribes and groups.

“Silaturahim has incredible merits. It links what is disconnected. To connect it is not easy so that I believe that Muhammaidyah and media play roles in correlating it,” expressed Haedar.

According to Haedar, silaturahim aims to enhance the national spirituality in this disunity. In Islam, silaturahim is derived from two words, silah and ar-rahmi or rahim. Silah means connecting, while ar-rahmi refers to fraternity or rahim denotes a source from nashab, getting brothers again.

Mentioned in the last sermon of Prophet Muhammad, we as uman beings are brothers from Adam and we become diverse to know one another (litaarofu).

Nevertheless, the deepest silaturahim, says Prophet Muhammad, is connecting the broken ones.

“It is quite tough. For instance, the silaturahim can be broken due to inheritance, electing a different party, or having various life conflicts as a religious conflict,” conveyed Haedar.

He also advised that politics should not based o lust since they will be endless.

Politics is arduous since people are often in a crucial point when they fight for their interests. Thus, morals and conscientiousness are vital to evade from the desire, struggles for economy, politics, cultures, and religions.

“Allah reminds us on Al-Qur’an, namely manittakhaza ilahahu hawah (Al-Furqon verse 43) meaning the one who takes as his god his own desire,” asserted Haedar.

To avoid conflicts because of desire, Haedar recommended us to refrain ourselves If we do not refrain ourselves, we always try to satisfy our desire. It is as a fast that there is imsak to restrain ourselves from breaking the fast.

The values are essential to be instilled to elude mundane aspects and globalization which may bring huge pressure for us.