Tony Sitathan, Jakarta – A new Islamic fad is sweeping across Indonesia. But this time the divine message is reinforced by an amplifier and a speaker box chanting Islamic musical notes taken from the Koran, Islam's holy book, and sprinkled with modern-day pop culture that appeals even to the MTV generation in Indonesia.
Some call it the dawning of a new era in "Islamization", where pop-star Islamic preachers use the mass media as their vehicle to entertain and enthrall young audiences. And it doesn't stop there. Their pop-star appeal and poster-boy good looks seem to appeal to a wide cross section of the population, including the young and old, as well as the different genders. Women especially seem to adore this new breed of singing preacher, who appear to have a cult-like appeal similar to that first shown by audiences responding to pop groups like Abba or the Beatles.
"The music is especially appealing, and the musical beats are similar to that of a fusion of world music that has a distinct tempo to it. But it's not hypnotic nor seen as something subliminal, if that is what you are thinking about," said Eddy Sugianto, a music critic and playwright who has written several local thematic plays in Indonesia.
One of the more charismatic and better recognized Islamic preachers, Abdullah Gymnastiar, 42, has earned kudos from the media as "the poster boy of moderate Islam". He also is known as brother Gym or Aa Gym and currently runs MQCorp, a holding company that runs a network marketing franchise for consumer products ranging from cosmetics and perfume to toiletries, food and beverages, fashion accessories and clothing, including its own range of cola beverages known as MQ Cola. Last year, his business grossed Rp27 billion (US$3.2 million). Not bad for a Muslim cleric who was labeled by Time magazine as the "Britney Spears of Islam".
Even then, Aa Gym is better known as an entertainer and a stage performer who woes his audiences with informal and entertaining tales using references to the Koran and motivational anecdotes peppered with humor. His message centers on love, tolerance and making the most of this worldly life. He maintains that being a professional, a businessman or a good student is all part of worship. And in keeping with his business line, Aa Gym's songs of worship are commonly sold in record stalls – a collector's series, which includes a video compact disc and a thin biography on Aa Gym can be bought for less than Rp240,000.
When Aa Gym was invited to meet US President George W Bush during his visit to Bali last year, he preferred to take a neutral stance instead of siding with the anti-terrorism rhetoric being played up by Bush. Thus, Aa Gym declined the invitation and performed a small haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Although Aa Gym has appeared apolitical so far, there are rumors that he is being courted by several of the political parties preparing for Indonesia's general elections next month.
According to Iwan Sadikin, a public relations campaign manager for the Golkar Party in East Jakarta, charismatic public speakers like Aa Gym could be seen as an asset for the party in canvassing support from the masses in Indonesia. "A good election campaign needs good public supporters that are seen as a credible front for Golkar. Golkar has by far one of the best manifestoes in among all the other parties, and we have to deliver the message as being a people's party and having the interests of every Indonesian, and what better person to relay this message than someone like Aa Gym," he said.
Although Aa Gym has not indicated any interest in being part of the campaign trail for Golkar, Islamic preachers like Arifin Ilham, 35, are more vocal about their political leanings. Although Arifin has championed the cause of the Sharia (Islamic Law) being imposed in Indonesia and prefers calling Indonesia an Islamic state instead of a secular state, he also cautioned against Islam being used by extremists and terrorists as a front to propagate terror. He once said that the Sharia should be the absolute law of the country, "but the struggle to impose it should be through the display of faith and virtue, not terrorism", he said.
Arifin is a well-known performer of zikir – the art of leading audiences in mass prayers or divine remembrance, considered a type of meditation where sacred words from the Koran are repeated over and over again. It is similar to reciting the Hail Mary verses in Catholic tradition, only this type of prayer its charged with public sentiment and community spirit. It is believed that performing zikir helps a Muslim become more devout and leads them away from sin. Arifin has recently been approached by the Islamic party PPP (People's United Party) and scholars from ICMI or the Association of Islamic Intellectuals, a splinter group that was founded by former president B J Habibie and is currently supportive of Golkar and its grassroots policies.
Yet another religious preacher, hailing from Yogyakarta, is Wijayanto, 36. He is an anthropology professor at Gajah Mada University and has been favored as a bridge between balancing radical Islam with secular Islam. He also prefers to engage in dialogue sessions with his congregation when possible, making them more like informal classroom sessions.
Wijayanto has been highly outspoken and has been prominently featured in radio and television talk shows. His universal embrace of Islam has many followers, including former president Abdurrahman Wahid along with his Muslim grassroots organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and his political party PKB or the National Awakening Party. Aside from attracting those in political circles, Wijayanto is a savvy businessman as well, running 19 companies, including travel agencies, multimedia companies, advertising agencies, restaurants and a Muslim fashion line. His business ventures are valued slightly less than Aa Gym's at Rp12 billion.
The fact that Islam is propagating into a savvy religion and is seen to appeal to the masses is something that many consider rejuvenation. A director of the Center of Islamic and Society Studies said these young preachers offer simple and easily digestible messages that make them distinct from their seniors. More important, they make going to mosques or religious gatherings enjoyable.
It also goes to show that modern-day Islam in the right doses can be seen as an open religion that is forward-looking. Islam is also a religion that can inspire businesses and franchises to flourish, similar to the times of the Ottoman Empire, considered the golden age of Islam during the days when the Silk Road extended across Greater Asia. Perhaps the only danger lies with the political parties that are constantly flirting with the messengers of modern-day Islam. Curbing their hidden political agendas and territorial instincts instead of fanning them, would perhaps do more good than bad for these celebrity mullahs in Indonesia.