Jatma Aswaja Committed to Maintaining Interfaith Harmony and Preserving Diversity

Secretary General of Jamiyyah Ahlith Thariqah Al Mu'tabaroh Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah (Jatma Aswaja), Helmy Faishal Zaini, stated the commitment to maintaining diversity and maintaining harmony between communities. Jatma Aswaja was formed as a home for practitioners of the mu'tabarah thariqah.

"Established on 17 Ramadhan 1446 H, Jatma Aswaja is present as a large home for practitioners of the mu'tabarah thariqah based on Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah. This organization is led by teacher and national figure Maulana Habib Luthfi bin Yahya as General Chairperson and Rois Aam and DR Ir. H. A. Helmy Faishal Zaini as Secretary General of Jatma Aswaja," said Helmy in his statement, received by detikJateng, Saturday (19/4/2025).

He explained that Jatma Aswaja believes that spirituality is not an exclusive luxury of the spiritual elite, but a basic need of modern society that is trapped in existential fatigue. So according to Helmy, the mission of Jatma Aswaja is not just to maintain tradition, but also to popularize transcendentalism in everyday life.

"Jatma Aswaja is built on two main pillars, the first is building transcendentalism, the second is empowering the economy of the people," he explained.

In building transcendentalism, Helmy explained, about making thariqah as a way to strengthen the relationship between servants and Allah. According to him, in a world full of distractions, humans need a quiet space, and thariqah provides that space systematically.

"Zikir, suluk, and manners to the mursyid are not foreign practices from social life, but are instead the foundation of public piety. Jatma Aswaja invites Indonesian Muslims to return to the tradition of congregational zikir, thariqah studies, and strengthening the sanad of knowledge and spirituality," he said.

Meanwhile, in empowering the economy of the people, he explained that the spirit of thariqah is not anti-world. On the contrary, it encourages people to prosper the earth. Helmy also quoted QS. Al-Qashash: 77 so as not to be anti-world.

"Therefore, Jatma Aswaja is committed to carrying out integral da'wah, namely purifying the soul and making the economy independent. Through cooperative networks, empowering MSMEs, to philanthropic movements based on Islamic boarding schools and zawiyah, Jatma Aswaja wants to ensure that thariqah practitioners are not only spiritually strong, but also economically and socially resilient," explained Helmy.

Furthermore, Helmy emphasized that Jatma Aswaja rejects extremism. He also quoted QS. Al-Baqarah: 143 to uphold the principles of tawasuth (moderate), tawazun (balanced), tasamuh (tolerant), and i'tidal (fair) which have been inseparable values ​​from thariqah practices since long ago.

"The Mursyid Thariqoh taught that religion should not lose touch with reality. Because the essence of religion is to teach generosity, namely an attitude of generosity, the strong helping the weak, the rich helping the poor. This is important for the current global and domestic context, which is relevant to the condition of the nation," he said.

Maintaining harmony between religions and diversity according to Helmy is taught by the mursyid thariqah. In Indonesia itself, since the time of the Wali Songo, they have also taught the beauty of Islam that is gentle and embracing.

"The mursyid thariqah, since the time of the Wali Songo until today, have been the guardians of the beauty of Islam through a gentle, polite, and embracing approach. Jatma Aswaja is committed to continuing that legacy, namely maintaining harmony between religions, caring for diversity within the framework of ukhuwah insaniyah, and reaffirming akhlakul karimah as the spirit of civilization," explained Helmy.

"Through Jatma Aswaja, we hope that a new generation of thariqah practitioners will be born who are not only fluent in wirid and dhikr, but also wise in leading the people, fair in transactions, and strong in protecting the nation from polarization and division," he concluded.