Summary of Book Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah: Islam Wasathiyah, Tasamuh, Cinta Damai

Summary of “Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah: Islam Wasathiyah, Tasamuh, Cinta Damai” (A. Fatih Syuhud, 2024 revised edition, 637 pages)

The book is a comprehensive defense and explanation of Ahlussunnah wal Jama‘ah (ASWJ) as the authentic, moderate, and peaceful mainstream of Islam, especially as practiced by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and traditional Indonesian Muslim communities.Core MessageAhlussunnah wal Jama‘ah is the true embodiment of wasathiyah (moderation/balance), tawazun (equilibrium), tasamuh (tolerance), and i’tidal (justice) in belief, worship, social interaction, and politics. It stands between two dangerous extremes:

• Left extreme: secularism, liberalism, pluralism that dilutes Islamic teachings
• Right extreme: radicalism, takfiri ideology, Wahhabism/Salafism that declares other Muslims kafir

Structure & Key Sections

1. Theological Foundation (Aqidah)
   • Detailed explanation of the 50 articles of faith according to Imam al-Tahawi and the Ash‘ari/Maturidi schools
   • Refutation of anthropomorphism (tajseem), fatalistic Jabriyyah, and excessive rationalism of the Mu’tazilah
2. Fiqh and the Four Madhhabs
   • Why following one of the four Sunni schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) is obligatory for ordinary Muslims
   • Strong defense of taqlid (following qualified scholars) against modern “Qur’an-only” and Salafi rejection of madhhabs
3. Tasawuf (Sufism) the Sunni Way
   • Purification of the heart (tazkiyat an-nafs) according to Imam Ghazali and Junaid al-Baghdadi
   • Rejection of both ghuluw (extremist Sufism) and total denial of tasawuf by modern puritan movements
4. Wasathiyah in Social and Political Life
   • Islam as religion of rahmah (mercy) and cinta damai (love of peace)
   • Compatibility of Islam with democracy, Pancasila, and the nation-state (NKRI)
   • Strong criticism of khilafah ideology and transnational jihadist movements
5. Contemporary Issues
   • Gender relations and women’s rights within Islamic boundaries
   • Interfaith relations and religious pluralism in Indonesia
   • Responses to LGBT issues, secularism, and religious radicalism
   • The danger of takfiri ideology and how it contradicts the Sunnah

Key Takeaways (the author’s main points)

• True Sunni Islam has always been moderate, tolerant, and adaptive without compromising core principles.
• The biggest threats to Muslims today come from within: radical puritanism (Wahhabi/Salafi-jihadism) and extreme secular liberalism.
• Following qualified ulama and the four madhhabs is the safest way (minhaj as-salaf as-shalih) for the masses.
• Indonesian Islam (Nusantara) led by NU and Muhammadiyah is the best contemporary model of Ahlussunnah wal Jama‘ah.

The book is written in accessible Indonesian, heavily referenced with Qur’an, Hadith, and classical scholars, and includes the official endorsement (taqriz) from KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf (Katib Aam PBNU and current General Chairman of NU).In short: It is the most complete modern Indonesian-language manifesto for traditional, moderate, NU-style Sunni Islam in the 21st century.