for instance, what comes into your mind when some body says "prophet Muhammmad"? what is His importance in your life?do you know sunnah and hadith and practice them?is there a symbol for him?here in turkey the red rose reminds us of Him becaue it i said thathis skin smelled like a rose.so during the mawlid period, we give roses to the others..what about the teaching of religion in indonesia and etc..
There's no different between Indonesians mind and other Muslims people mind when someone says "Prophet Muhammad (SAW)", and there's no different in perception. There's no symbol for him in Indonesia.
We know sunnah and hadith and practice them (except some secularis, of couse). In every question about Islam, we always seek any answer based on Qur'an, sunnah and hadith. We never reject sunnah and hadith.
Mawlid day is a holiday in Indonesia, but we have no special tradition to celebrate mawlid. Our very special Islamic holiday is Eidul Fitri.
What about teaching of religion ?
There are three type of schools in Indonesia.
First, regular school. Muslim student in regular school take Islamic lesson but only basic knowledge. And student in other religion take their religion lesson.
Second, Madrasah (Madressa). An Islamic school where student learn Islamic knowledge more than student in regular school. Madrasah student live in their home.
Third, Pesantren, from Pe-Santri-an or House of Santri (Islamic student). In pesantren, student learn everything about Islam more than Madrasah student. Pesantren student lives in dormitory.
And this is a basic information about Muslims in Indonesia.
According to Majelis Ulama Indonesia (Indonesian Ulema council), Islam in Indonesia is Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah only. However, in actualy there are very small number of shi'ite but they always hide.
Altough Indonesian Muslims are sunni, dont ask them "Do you follow Imam Syafi'i, Maliki, Hanafi or Hambali?", except some scholar and Islamic student, they cannot answer. Or even dont ask them "Are you sunni or shia?", maybe they will ask back "What is sunni? what is shia?". The right question is "Are you NU, Muhammadiyah, or Persis?".
There is 'The Big Three' of Muslims organizations in Indonesia.
The biggest is Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Typical of this organization, they have many ritual and tradition like tahleel when a Muslim passed away, and other tradition. They always described as 'Traditional Islam'. NU has many Pesantren.
This is their official website
www.nu.or.id
English version
www.nu.or.id/page.php?.lang=en
Then Muhammadiyah. They always described as 'Modernis Islam'. Their main activities is in social life. They have many schools, madrasahs, university and hospitals. They avoid some bid'ah ritual.
This is their official website (in Indonesian language)
www.muhammadiyah.or.id
And PERSatuan ISlam / Persis (Islam United). Typical of this organization is strickly prohibit ritual and tradition that regarded as Tachayul, Bid'ah and Churafat. They also have many pesantrens.
This is their official website (Indonesian language)
www.persis.or.id
Back to the question for Indonesian Muslims "Are you NU, Muhammadiyah or Persis ?".
When you find an Indonesian, just watch how he pray / shalaah.
If he placing his hand on belly and read a Du'a Qunut in shalaah subh, he follow NU.
If he placing his hand on belly and doesn't read Du'a Qunut in shalaah subh, he follow Muhammadiyah.
And if he placing his hand on chest when he shalaah, he follow Persis.
