http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-muslim-faithful-flocking-to-islamic-missionary-megastars/399457
Indonesian Muslim Faithful Flocking to Islamic Missionary Megastars
Ulma Haryanto, Arientha Primanita & Zaky Pawas | October 03, 2010
Hundreds of fans pack together to get a glimpse of Habib Hasan, an Islamic missionary, in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. (JG Photo/Arientha Primanita)
Jakarta. Afghan, 9, excitedly jumps up and down, screaming "Habib Hasan is coming!" as the black car whizzes past. Sadly, it is not him. Undeterred, Afghan sits down next to his cousin Idham. Like the star-struck fans of pop megastars, Afghan and Idham are ready to wait all night just to catch a glimpse of their idol, Habib Hasan bin Ja-far Assegaf, a rising star on the Islamic missionary circuit.
"I sit near the stage so that I can be as close to him as possible. He is a great man," Afghan says. It is a balmy Saturday night, and he has joined thousands of others here on Jalan Dukuh in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, to sing the praises of the Prophet Muhammad.
No buses have been provided, and neither has food. Yet people are here from every corner of Greater Jakarta. The event is held by the Nurul Musthofa congregation every Saturday and Monday night in different locations.
Some faithful come to both gatherings, like Dina and Icha, two teenage girls decked out in veils and long dresses, clutching small books of praises. They call themselves hard-core fans of Hasan, who claims to be a descendent of the Prophet and his youngest daughter, Fatimah.
"We attend all his events, wherever they may be. He is handsome," Dina says. Her friend Icha continues: "It's our preference to join this dzikir [devotional chants] event then go on dates or hang out in malls."
Such devotion is evidence of the rising popularity of habibs, or Islamic missionaries, whose messages of tolerance and peace are gaining them celebrity-like status in the capital.
Rock Star Habibs
It's easy to see the connection between these habibs and rock stars who perform for screaming legions of fans. Through the use of stage lights, multiple television screens, cameras and a healthy dose of holy showmanship, these missionaries channel the same kind of religious fervor drummed up by evangelical Christian preachers in the United States, who attract tens of thousands of worshipers to stadium-packing prayer meetings.
And just like a rock star, Hasan hits the stage 90 minutes late and with a bang. As his car pulls closer, dozens of men carrying Nurul Musthofa flags walk ahead while fireworks explode in the night sky. Islamic songs are sung as the 33-year-old steps from the car wearing his signature sunglasses, white turban and red shawl. Before he ascends the stage and begins speaking, he points out that even though the Ahmadis are different, the followers are still "our relatives. They should not be treated that way."
He was referring to the Ahmadiyah mosque and its member's houses burned down the previous night in Bogor. Beyond the stage, seven large screens with speakers are set up to project his face and words to a crowd of thousands.
Habib Munzir
At the same time in Kalibata, South Jakarta, hundreds assemble at the At-Taubah Mosque for a tabligh akbar , or a mass call to spread the faith. Among them is 28-year-old Fahruruozi.
"I was introduced to Habib Munzir by a friend in 2003. I was aimless till then. I came to one of his assemblies and I liked what I heard," Fahruruozi says. Led by the 37-year old Munzir, the assembly praises the Prophet and Islam.
The habib , a title traditionally given to descendants of the Prophet which literally means "the beloved," begins his sermon. The theme? Religious tolerance. Munzir speaks of how the Prophet embraced Catholics and Jews.
A couple of meters away from the mosque, a road lined with stalls sells the congregation approved paraphernelia such as books, helmets, DVDs of the sermon, burqas and of course, food.
"Indeed, we have regular sellers who join us whenever we hold our assemblies, so [this] isn't only about spiritual enhancement, it also creates economic opportunities for others. We also fund activities through the sale of paraphernelia," explains Aisyah, 26, a follower of Munzir.
In an exclusive interview with the Globe, Munzir, a native of Cipanas, West Java, says that he studied with Yemeni professor Habib Umar bin Hafiz for four years. Munzir acknowledged that for a time he found the hard-line teachings of Mecca attractive, but after attending one of Umar's sermons, he was drawn to the peaceful messages the habib preached. "Before, my views of Islam were more anarchist; Islam had to be enforced via jihad, through whatever means," Munzir says.
He adds that he has thoroughly studied Shariah law and the Hadith, the words and deeds of the Prophet. From his studies, he has concluded that jihad does not simply mean going to war.
"I learned about a different kind of jihad - a struggle through means of thought and wealth. Islam should be rahmatan lil alamin , or a blessing for all creation."
A Different Kind of Jihad
Munzir explains that Christian missionaries went to the remotest parts of Papua to spread their faith, and that this was a true form of jihad. He himself traveled all over in Papua in 2008, spreading the word of Islam.
"It cost me millions of rupiah that time. I applauded Christian missionaries who took the effort, time and money. Compared to them, our da'i [preachers] are lazy, so they shouldn't blame Christians if there are more Christians in Papua compared to Muslims."
When Munzir first came to Jakarta in 1998 after the downfall of Suharto, he realized that people were not interested in listening to him preach about how to pray.
"At that time there was the monetary crisis, people were restless. So I preached about peace using soft language, art and music. This drew great attention," he said.
Limits to Tolerance
Despite their "soft preaching" methods, some of the city's habibs get riled up from time to time, particularly in regards to the ongoing gay-focused Q! Film Festival.
During a Sunday sermon by Habib Abdurrahman bin Muhammad bin Ali at the Kwitang Mosque in Central Jakarta, he urged Muslims to speak out against movies that portray homosexuality in a positive light.
"These are movies of transsexuals having sex with transsexuals and lesbians have sex with lesbians. This is against the laws of religion. You are all Muslims. You should be angry! How could they allow it?" Abdurrahman says to an audience of at least 1,000. When asked about the topic, Munzir told the Globe that censorship would not solve the problem.
"People need entertainment, that's why they resort to porn. The question is, has our government provided the people with quality entertainment? Have they given the people any better option than porn? They could not just restrict something just like that without offering a better option," he says.
And though many habibs eschew the political realm, it is hard to deny the power that is generated by their magnetism.
Munzir's teachings forbid his disciples from participating in politics.
"I was asked during presidential elections as well as gubernatorial elections to support certain candidates. I object. I will come to preach during their events by invitation because the Prophet never refused any invitation regardless of who invited him.
"A candidate once took advantage of my appearance. He had reporters covering the event and made statements that I fully supported him. I was furious so I told my assembly to not vote for this man. And he lost," Munzir says, laughing.
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