Presidential Advisory Council Member Muhammad Luthfi Ali Yahya (Habib Luthfi), accompanied by Hasbullah Ahmad, Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Council, delivered a national lecture at the East Java Police Headquarters on Wednesday (04/09/2024). The event, organized under the theme of “East Java in Sholawat and Prayers Together,” was attended by East Java Police Chief Inspector General Imam Sugianto, Acting Governor of East Java Adhy Karyono, Leader of the Ora Aji Islamic Boarding School Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman (Gus Miftah), members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), senior officers of the East Java Police, and religious leaders from East Java.
In his sermon, Habib Luthfi illustrated that loving one’s homeland is akin to paying zakat, which is obligatory for those who are capable. The essence of zakat is an honor and a trust bestowed by Allah SWT upon those who are able to give it. The better the economic condition of a zakat giver, the larger the zakat they give. Conversely, if their economic condition is affected, the zakat amount decreases. This concept applies to the homeland as well. The homeland is a trust from Allah SWT, and loving it is part of faith (hubbul wathan minal iman). The more we love and care for our homeland, the more blessings Allah SWT will bestow upon the nation. However, if our nationalism fades, the nation can easily be divided, and blessings will disappear.
In closing, Habib Luthfi reminded all present never to forget history. The Prophet’s closest companions (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) all died from assassination. Sayyidina Umar RA was killed by a 13-year-old boy, similar to Sultan Trenggono (King of Demak, 1521-1546), who was also killed by a 13-year-old boy. Among them, Sayyidina Ali’s assassin was even “more formidable,” as he was a memorizer of the Qur’an, regularly fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, performed tahajjud (night prayers), and followed the Prophet’s Sunnah. This serves as a warning to us not to allow this republic to be destroyed by our own actions as a religious nation. History will always repeat itself, and we must be vigilant against all phenomena that could potentially divide the nation.
