Snouck Hurgronje even had to change his name to declare himself a Muslim (1885). He then changed his name to Abdul Ghaffar. With this trick, he was accepted as a student of a Muslim scholar in Mecca.
Snouck skillfully disguised himself as a Muslim, ensuring his identity remained undetected. He was cunning, indeed, so much so that some Muslims in the archipelago were fooled and labeled him a cleric. This ruse was carried out with the audacity to divide the Muslim community.
Snouck's success was well-deserved, as he was awarded the title "Mufti of the Dutch East Indies," despite his rather narrow-minded statements and views on Islam. He said:
"Indeed, this religion (Islam), although suitable for accustoming barbarians to order, cannot reconcile with modern civilization, except by one radical change."
So, even orientalists are capable of camouflage in their efforts to alienate Muslims from their religion. Moreover, those who don't disguise themselves as orientalists, but who clearly come from within the Muslim community, are more likely to be trusted. In reality, they are the ones destroying the purity of Islam from within.
For example, someone claims to be able to speak the language of ants or worms. Many believe their claims. Unfortunately, no one has addressed the beliefs and thoughts expressed by the individual in question.
In fact, it seems to be accepted as a truth, believed with conviction by its members. Although some scholars and intellectuals have spoken out about it, it's not accepted. Instead, it's dismissed as a game and an unimportant phrase worth listening to.
The emergence of new methods of preaching, promoted by individuals who want to be called "ulama" (Islamic scholars), continues to surface in Indonesian society. And remarkably, they always take shelter under the umbrella of mass organizations considered to have significant influence in the archipelago.
The government, which has the authority to prosecute all forms of kurafat and various religious beliefs that contradict the first principle, "Belief in the One and Only God," has been unable to offer solutions to sensitive issues. Tragically, this indicates a massive and structured neglect.
We don't want to be fooled again by Snouck's new style of disguise. Because, if we are again deceived by such deception, it will be the same as once again disguising the clear truth of Islam. And it may even be that we extinguish the light of truth that has illuminated the Muslim community and ummah.
But believe me, they will all self-destruct. Islam will be protected from anything that could corrupt and destroy it.
Islam will remain pure, past, present, and future. Muslims must fight their enemies with all the intellectual power they possess.
And Allah knows best
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