Wahid Quotes & Sayings

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

Everything's better with bacon and red wine! — Dianne Harman

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

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

I noticed Wahid's boys, all three thin with dirt-caked faces and short-cropped brown hair under their skull caps, stealing furative glances at my digital wristwatch.

...I unsnapped the wristwatch and gave it to the youngest of the three boys. He muttered a sheepish "Tashakor."
"It tells you the time in any city in the world," I told him. The boys, nodding politely passing the watch between them, taking turns trying it on. But they lost interest and, soon the watch sat abandoned on the straw mat.

...I understood now why the boys hadn't shown any interest in the watch. They hadn't been staring at the watch at all. They'd been staring at my food. — Khaled Hosseini

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 do not like violence. — Abdurrahman Wahid

To run to anything else is to resist the irresistible. To seek other than The One (al Wahid), is to become scattered, but never filled. How can we find unity, completion of heart or soul or mind in anything other than Him? — Yasmin Mogahed

I always wanted to be a children's author, and I have a really big library of children's books. All the ones from when I was little, they are just so beautiful. I read kids' books, and they calm me down. — Jenny Slate

I am a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. — Abdurrahman Wahid

I don't talk in ifs. — Abdurrahman Wahid

I miss being a student," said Abdul Wahid. "I miss the passionate discussions with my friends, and most of all the hours among the books. — Helen Simonson

The more Nos I open myself up to hearing, the closer I am getting to my super successful life. — Malti Bhojwani

I'm not very active on social media. I'm not on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, or anything like that. But I think it's wonderful that they're out there. They're fantastic. I have a lot of siblings and friends that use it, and it's great for them. It's such a connected world. — Alexander Skarsgard

I do not think you would be so quick to approve if it was your son," he said. The Major frowned as he tried to quell the immediate recognition that the young man was right. He fumbled for a reply that would be true but also helpful. "I do not mean to offend you," added Abdul Wahid.
"Not at all," said the Major. "You are not wrong - at least, in the abstract. I would be unhappy to think of my son becoming entangled in such a way and any people, including myself, may be guilty of a certain smug feeling that it would never happen in our families."
"I thought so," said Abdul Wahid with a grimace.
"Now, don't you get offended, either," said the Major. "What I'm trying to say is that I think that is how everyone feels in the abstract. But then life hands you something concrete - something concrete like little George - and abstracts have to go out the window. — Helen Simonson

Childhood, who like an April morn appears,
Sunshine and rain, hopes clouded o'er with fears. — Charles Churchill