Top 8 Quotes & Sayings by Abdurrahman Wahid

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an Indonesian statesman Abdurrahman Wahid.

Last updated on November 8, 2024.

Abdurrahman Wahid, though more colloquially known as Gus Dur, was an Indonesian politician and Islamic religious leader who served as the 4th president of Indonesia, from his election in 1999 until his removal from power in 2001. A long time leader within the Nahdlatul Ulama organization, he was the founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB). He was the son of Minister of Religious Affairs Wahid Hasyim, and the grandson of Nahdatul Ulama founder Hasyim Asy'ari. He had a visual impairment caused by glaucoma. He was blind on the left eye and partially blind on his right eye. He was the first and as of 2022 the only president of Indonesia to have had physical disabilities.

Indonesian - Statesman | September 7, 1940 - December 30, 2009

Source: Wikipedia

I don't talk in ifs.

Abdurrahman Wahid

If we cling to the institution of Islam, then we tend to defend it against whatever we see as a danger to it, so because of this we see now that many people are defending states, defending territories, defending everything institutional in the belief that they defend Islam.

Abdurrahman Wahid

All too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam, which teaches one to be lenient towards others and to understand their value systems, knowing that these are tolerated by Islam as a religion.

Abdurrahman Wahid

I told the students that we can exert pressure without resorting to violence, and that we can move towards democracy without violence; that way, God will allow it.

Abdurrahman Wahid

I do not like violence.

Abdurrahman Wahid

Well, the most important thing about Islam is that we have to differentiate between two kinds of Islam. The first one is the institution of Islam... second, the culture of Islam.

Abdurrahman Wahid

I am a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

Abdurrahman Wahid

Democracy can be sustained and developed only by people who understand its essence.

Abdurrahman Wahid