REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TANGERANG -- Mosque leaders in the city of Tangerang, Banten, would be involved by the government in the efforts to prevent the spread of radicalism, the city major said.

Major Sachrudin said mosque leaders are expected to give not only religious teaching such as fiqh (Islamic Law) and aqeedah (faith in Islam) but they should also give the faithful information about actual issues in the people. "Clerics and mosque leader play a central role in assisting the government in guiding the people and giving them understanding of life , how to live rightly in a big community in line with Islam," the major said here on Monday.

The major made the statement following the recent attack on police in the street in Cikokol by a young man believed to have been inspired by the radicalism of the IS. Sachrudin said mosque leaders and clerics have important role in guiding the people as the people tend to look to them for religious guidance.

Also read: IS sticker, stabs Tangerang police officers" href="http://www.republika.co.id/berita/en/jakarta-region-others/16/10/20/ofcnya414-a-policeman-brother-patches-is-sticker-stabs-tangerang-police-officers">A policeman brother patches IS sticker, stabs Tangerang police officers

Mosque leaders and clerics, therefore, need to maintain the quality of their teaching for the interest of the faithful and the people in general. "In addition to serving as a house of worship, mosques could also function as a guidance center for the people to turn out skilled faithful both in religion and sciences, Sachrudin said.

High quality clerics are expected to produce skilled faithful more useful for the people in general, he said.

A number of Indonesians have been known to join radical IS fighters in Middle East  and the government is worried that they would return back to the country spreading radicalism.

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