The fact that the current number of Islam followers throughout the world reached one-fifth of the total 6 billions population, was not equal to the role the moslems played in the development of worlds civilization. This could be the picture of moslems’  personal quality that was still far behind compared to the moslems in the past that could donate greatly to worlds science and civilization. Because of that, every moslem should try to improve personal quality.

That was one of the messages delivered by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK), Jimly Asshiddiqie, when giving tausiyah (speech) at the closing of Festival Maulid Nusantara III, Thursday (20/3) morning, at the Jakarta Islamic Centre (JIC), Tugu, North Jakarta.                  

At the festival held to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW, Jimly also reminded that Indonesian molems not to be profounded by the natural richness possessed.

“Moslem countries nowadays are located in areas with rich natural resources. However, citing Joseph E. Stiglitz (2001 Nobel-award winner in economy-red) opinion about the relation between natural resources and human resources, if a country is rich with natural resources but poor in its human resources, then the natural resources will not give benefits. On contrary, it will cause trouble. That is the curse of resources. Nah, it it our challenge,” explained Jimly further.

Because of that, continued Jimly, the improvement of human resource quality in Islamic world became highly important. Furhtermore, according to Jimly, Indonesia was the only great moslems that had not gave significant contribution towards the development of Islam civilization. Yet, Indonesia was a country with the highest moslem number of population in the world. 

Quoting the statement from former President of the USA, Jimmy Carter, Jimly said that from the population of the followers, Indonesia was one of three countries in the world that became the center of big religions in the world.

“According to Jimmy Carter, at the moment there are three countries that become the center for religious development. India is the country with the highest Hindu followers population. The USA is the country with the highest number of Christian followers in the world. While Indonesia is the country with the highest population of moslems in the world,” he said. Jimly also said that with the highest population of moslems in the world, Indonesia had the potential to be the model of Islamic followers throughout the world.

“Many experts predicted that in the 22nd Century there will be a time when the center of economic development moves to the Asia-Pacific. If so, Malayan moslems will be the profile of the Asia-Pacific moslems. Therefore, Indonesian moslems should keep on improving their personal quality. If Indonesia succeed, then insya Allah (if God’s willing-ed.) it will be the example of the moslems in the world,” he said.

In his tausiyah, Jimly who presently holds the position of Head of Advisory Board of Indonesian Moslem Scholars Union, gave his message to all moslems that one of the keys to improve moslems human resources was by loving the sciences. “Because with sciences, the natural resources we own will not be a curse to us, but Allah’s blessings to our lives,” he said.

Festival Maulid Nusantara is Islamic culture presentation from various areas throughout Indonesia. In the Festival that has been held since 2006, various cultures in commemorationg the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW throughout Indonesia are shown. In the festival opened in March 14, 2008, besides showing maulid procession, it also held exhibitions and bazzar, moslem child expression, also civilization goodwill meeting with religious oration from representation of ASEAN Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Besides the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, the event with the theme “Building Ummat Leadership Towards Islamic Civilization” was also attended by former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Sutiyoso, Present Vice Governor of DKI Jakarta, H. Prijanto, and cultural figure Mochtar Jazir ASP. (Kencana Suluh Hikmah/ Yogi Djatnika)