Jihad As Mabadi’ Khaira Ummah and The Contra-Discourse of Radicalism in Indonesia

This article focuses on the process of interpreting the meaning of jihad in moderate Islamic organizations as a counter-discourse of radicalism in Indonesia. In the discourse on the meaning of jihad in Indonesia, many Muslim groups further accentuate the interpretation of the meaning of jihad as war or other acts of violence. As a result, there have been many acts of violence taking place such as attacks and bombings against non-Muslims in the name of jihad. The misinterpretation of the meaning of jihad must be countered by giving rise to other meanings of jihad as counter-discourses. One of them is proposed by a moderate Islamic organization in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which interprets the meaning of jihad more contextually and in accordance with the values of Islamic teachings as a religion which upholds the value of rahmatan lil-alamin. The research method used was the analysis of Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics which emphasized the distinction of the interpretation process. The research finds that the interpretation of the meaning of jihad among NU is jihad as "Mabadi' Khaira Ummah" (prioritizing people's welfare). The implication of interpretation of the meaning of jihad as "Mabadi' Khaira Ummah" is strengthening NU's position as a moderate Islamic organization, and also as a counter-discourse on the interpretation of the meaning of jihad as war and terrorism that is often interpreted by radical muslim groups in Indonesia