Djaroemahot Nasoetion: A Muslim involved in Mission in Batak Land

"What is the law for Muslims to support zending (read: evangelistic missions)?" asked Rabbi Yaakov Baruck while looking at me when we are having breakfast in one morning.

I was schocked but still kept silent for a moment; for on the one side, I had never asked such question before. "Yes, what is the law?" I muttered to myself while nodding. I personally just knew that there were Muslims who went that far.

However, let us go back to the title above, what comes to your mind when you hear the word "mission"? I'm specifically addressing this question to Muslims that I am sure whose answers are most likely predictable.

Muslims will tend interpreting the word "mission" as an act of Christianization or an attempt to convert non-Christians to be Christians. If we would like to explore further, is there any possibility to find another meaning which is broader and more universal? This question should be an effort to dismantle the prejudice that has long been crusted in the minds of many Muslims regarding "mission", especially to Muslims in Indonesia,

Talking about missions, I recently made a pilgrimage to the Angkola land and found a figure who was named as a Unifying Figure of Religious Harmony in the Batak land in the 19th century.

Uniquely, this figure has not only met with zendeling from abroad but he was also involved to support zending activities, both morally and materially.

His grave is located in the place where he worked a lot during his lifetime. After trying to search his name on the supposedly omniscient search engine—“Ustadz” Google, I found not a single post or article about him.

Practically, I only managed to find two videos on YouTube. The rest is nothing. There were no other clues about this figure who was almost swallowed by time.

Who was he, what did he do that made him so revered in Batak land?

A Glimpse of Djaroemahot Nasoetion

His name is Djaroemahot Nasoetion. I discovered this figure during a visit to Parausorat, Sipirok, Padang Sidempuan, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra. I made the visit during the Jews, Christians, and Muslims (JCM) Conference on August 7-15, 2022. JCM is a dialogue Conference of Jews, Christians and Muslims that take place once a year and has now been around for 49 years.

Quoting the explanation of the General Secretary of the Christian Protestant Angkola Church (GKPA) Rev. Reinhart Siregar—the figure of Djaroemahot Nasoetion cannot be separated from the figure of zending I.L. Nommensen in Batak land at the end of December 1862. At that time, Nommensen became a teacher in Parausorat, and was well received by the people of Parausorat because of his expertise in treating skin diseases at that time.

History recorded that Nommensen's presence in evangelization, which began from Parausorat to North Tapanuli and other areas, could not be separated from the support of the Parausorat community at that time. One of them was Djaroemahot Nasoetion. His figure was later referred as a unifier of interreligious harmony in Batak land, especially in Parausorat.

In addition, Djaroemahot had seven children, six sons and one daughter. Three of his sons embraced Islam, two of whom became prominent Islamic cleric in Angkola, namely H. Ali Nasoetion and Koelifah Djamariloen Nasoetion. The other three sons embraced Christianity, namely Sintua Johannes Nasoetion, Tandoek Nasoetion who became the first Demang (Village Leader) in Balige, and Father Petroes Nasoetion becoming one of the first pastors in Batak land who was ordained on July 19, 1885.

"Djaroemahot Nasoetion's 'Mission'

From the profile above, what is the true "mission" of Djaroemahot Nasoetion? He was indeed among the missionaries who came from outside of Batak land. The mission of the zendelings at that time was probably to preach the gospel by spreading their beliefs and looking for followers.

However, it was something different shown by Djaroemahot Nasoetion. Djaroemahot's mission was actually able to explain the true meaning of the gospel or the Good news. Mission was not for the sake of finding followers or to Christianize others only.

Djaroemahot's mission was manifested in his role and support in evangelization, even before Nommensen's arrival. Djaroemahot not only allowed his three children to become Christians. Furthermore, according to Rev. Reinhart Siregar, in 1857-five years before Nommensen arrived, Djaroemahot had already donated land to Rev. Van Asselt for the establishment of a school and church.

Djaroemahot had taken such a progressive step at that time. Djaroemahot's action was also a critic to "mission" activities in a narrow sense which is to quickly compete increasing the number of followers that would sometimes reduce the meaning of the mission itself, so that it then becomes dry and even meaningless.

Mission: Spreading the News of Peace

As long as I have accompanied the theological dialogue between Muslim and Christian students in the Student Interfaith Peace Camp (SIPC) held by the Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community (YIPC) for the past nine years, the question of "mission" has always appeared on the surface during the session on overcoming prejudice.

Of course, this question is asked by Muslim friends to Christian friends. I myself think it's natural that they ask such question since they must have suppressed this question in their lives where theological conversations is assumed taboo.

At the end of the JCM 2022 series, I was given an opportunity to attend Sunday morning worship at GKPA Jl. Sudirman, Padangsidimpuan. In the Sunday morning sermon, I remembered the statement of the pastor who was serving at that time about what mission is.

"Mission is news of brotherhood, news of peace, not news of hostility or hatred," that was the core message of the pastor's sermon. This strongly gave impression that in fact this kind of mission is also the "mission" carried by the Prophet Muhammad SAW in the Arabian land after Jesus or Isa Al-Masih.

The "mission" brought by Prophet Muhammad SAW is no different, namely the mission of peace, because the word "Islam" itself means "peace". Anyone who claims to be a follower of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, is actually a peacemaker.

Quoting the words of the Prophet Muhammad SAW-"Islam is to keep other people safe from their tongues and actions". However, today's reality whether in the real world or digital space, there are not a few scattered news of hatred and hostility that can be witnessed with the naked eye.

Witnessing this makes me wonder what mission they are carrying out. Who is their prophet? And who is their God?

Wallahu 'alam (only God knows).

By Ahmad Shalahuddin M (Facilitator of Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community (YIPC) Indonesia and participant of JCM UEM 2022)

Note: This article was published in United Evangelical Mission (UEM) Newsletter, August 2022 edition