วะสะฏียะฮฺ ความจำเป็น และแนวทางการจัดการความขัดแย้งที่เป็นผลมาจากความเห็นต่างในสังคมไทยมุสลิมในสามจังหวัดชายแดนภาคใต้

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: 1) to study the concepts and the necessity of applying Wasatiyyah to differing opinions in Islam; 2) to study the causes and conditions of conflicts resulting from the differences in Thai-Muslim society in the three southern border provinces and 3) to study the ways to promote the application of Wasatiyyah for managing the conflicts from the disagreement in Thai Muslim society in the three southern border provinces. For such purposes, the qualitative methods were used by studying relevant documents and data and conducting in-depth interviews on the causes and conditions of conflict stemming from the disagreement in Muslim-Thai society in the three southernmost provinces. The 27 key informants from nine groups, with three members each, are represented by members of the Advisory Panel of the Shiekul Islam of Thailand, members of Islamic Committee of Thailand, members of Provincial Islamic Committee, members of Islamic Committee of masjids, executive members of Wasatiyyah institutions or centers, Muslim scholars in higher education institutions, instructors or proprietor of pondok educational institutions, administrators of private Islamic schools, intensive Islamic Studies lecturers and seminar speakers. The recruited informants were derived from a purposive method and nine participants were included for interviews. The instrument for data collection was semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data analysis procedures included counting methods, descriptive analysis, analytic induction, logical inference, defining and data comparison. The obtained data were summarised, presented in tables with accompanying explanations and categorized by issues. The results indicate that: 1) The concept and necessity of applying Wasatiyyah to managing the disagreement in Islam is the idea of driving the beliefs and thoughts of the Islamic preachers to be on a moderate Islamic approach, which is secure from extremism and slackness. It is a concept that recognizes and understands how to present Islam by focusing on evidence and accepting the use of reasoning, adhering to ideology and propriety, and considering reality with the ability to prioritize. It also concerns the flexibility in motivating and cautioning appropriately, emphasising on contents and matters, which cover various dimensions of life and attention to manners and etiquettes of respecting dissimilar views on Islamic principles. 2) The reasons for the differences of opinions about religious principles in ThaiMuslim society in the three southern border provinces arise from 3 main causes: 1) personal differences 2) evidential differences; and 3) differences in expressing opinions. Meanwhile, the conflicts resulting from such disagreements have affected Thai-Muslim society in the three southernmost provinces in two important areas, namely, the practice of religious principles and the unity of society. 3) Approaches to promoting the use of Wasatiyyah in the management of conflicts resulting from the disagreements in Thai-Muslim society in the three southern border provinces can be classified into 6 areas as follows: 1) Having sincerity and anticipating truth from different opinions, 2) Having a positive attitude towards dissenters, 3) Expressing different opinions with good manners, 4) Studying and reviewing the issues of disputes, 5) Being fair to oneself and not clinging to a particular view, and 6) Considering the proprieties and common interests.