(It includes) the lessons in life to always remember the majesty of Allah SWT; to invite (others to) amar ma'ruf nahi munkar (do what is right and forbid what is wrong); refine empathy; (as well as) strengthen tolerance and moderation.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encouraged Indonesian Muslims, especially members of Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), to actively partake in protecting and preserving the diverse cultural wealth of the country.

The president made the statement while attending the Nusantara Islamic Traditions Festival in Banyuwangi District, East Java Province, on Monday, which was broadcast on the official channel of the Presidential Secretariat.

Furthermore, he urged Muslims to always use local cultures and arts as one of their da'wah media to build better civilization in a bid to continue community development and be able to adapt to various changes in future.

It is because culture and arts are not only for entertainment but also contain teachings and morals, he emphasized.

"(It includes) the lessons in life to always remember the majesty of Allah SWT; to invite (others to) amar ma'ruf nahi munkar (do what is right and forbid what is wrong); refine empathy; (as well as) strengthen tolerance and moderation,” the president remarked.

Jokowi stated that local culture and arts also teach about maintaining harmony in diversity and bolstering the social system in the community.

Hence, the president lauded the implementation of the Nusantara Islamic Tradition Festival -- which is part of the Centenary of NU that will be commemorated on February 7, 2023.

The festival showcased and reintroduced the wealth of the Indonesian Islamic tradition as well as encouraged the love for the nation's cultural diversity, he noted.

Furthermore, Jokowi expressed gratitude to the NU community in maintaining people’s tolerance and harmony as well as protecting the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"Thank you to the big family of Nahdlatul Ulama that have consistently shown tolerance, harmony, and serenity; as well as always prioritizing ukhuwah Islamiyah (brotherhood among Muslims); ukhuwah wathaniyah (brotherhood of nation); (and) ukhuwah basyariyah (mankind brotherhood)," he stated.

At the event, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD; Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas; as well as State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir.

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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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