ISCA meets Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid at UN

(Washington, DC) – As representative of current WCRP President, Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, ISCA was proud to host Indonesian President Abdurrahman Abdul Wahid’s lecture at the UN Regal Plaza Hotel in New York City on June 13, 2000.

His Excellency addressed an intimate group of religious leaders and governing board members of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) on the importance of cooperation among religious communities in building the common good. President Abdul Wahid previously served as WCRP President for four years.

In his heartfelt speech, President Abdul Wahid emphasized the spiritual dimension of Islamic doctrines, including the practices of self-purification, following a spiritual guide, and the belief that the cornerstone of religion is love of humanity. He explained, “As long as we believe that religion is full of love for people and humanity, we can be assured to work together.”

“I commend President Abdul Wahid’s stance in his support for moderation. We salute Indonesia as the largest Islamic population in the world and whose majority are adherents to the doctrines of Islamic spirituality. We hope President Abdul Wahid will lead the way to implementing religious peace throughout the world.” – ISCA Chairman Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

With remarkable humbleness, President Wahid continued, “If religious leaders of the world want to work towards the common good, we must remember to serve mankind, not to be served by mankind.”

President Abdul Wahid currently serves as Indonesia’s head of state, however he previously spent many years with the world’s largest Islamic body, the Majlis Ulema of Indonesia.  He is not only a politician, but also an Islamic scholar and theologian. In discussing the correlation between different religions he said, “We see not only that we can work together in social activities, but that we even share many similar beliefs.” President Abdul Wahid also acknowledged the similarity of the Catholic and Islamic beliefs in the concept of saints.

President Abdul Wahid’s address was received by his audience with overwhelming praise for his moderate, peaceful, and tolerant stance on religious commonality and cooperation.  The other panelists who responded to his comments included H.E. Archbishop Renato Martino, H.E. Ambassador Lamani of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. 

In a subsequent meeting with ISCA, President Abdul Wahid stated that he personally followed the Islamic spiritual discipline of Sufism and had a long line of ancestry who followed the teachings of the Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiyya, a Sufi order unique to Indonesia. He also looked forward to meeting with ISCA Chairman, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani later this fall in Indonesia to discuss their mutual policy of emphasizing religious spirituality in conflict resolution.