Will Be Reported to the Police for Not Attending a Religious Gathering Despite Receiving Payment, Ustaz Solmed Speaks Out

Kapanlagi.com - Famous preacher Sholeh Mahmoed Nasution, or better known as Ustaz Solmed, is currently the subject of discussion among netizens due to rumors that he canceled a sermon despite being paid. It is known that Ustaz Solmed was invited to a religious gathering in Kampung Cisamak, Desa Cisewu, Kecamatan Cisewu, Kabupaten Garut, West Java on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Ustaz Solmed did not attend, causing disappointment among many residents. As a result, this matter has had far-reaching consequences, and Ustaz Solmed has even been threatened to be reported to the authorities.

Not only that, various statements have emerged from the organizers. Feeling defamed by the statements made by the organizers, Ustaz Solmed finally spoke out.

"I have been silent all this time, not because I am guilty, but because I try to understand and be patient because they are my brothers, not strangers. But after a day or two, the statements and defamation are increasing. They say they will report Solmed to make me repent," said Ustaz Solmed when met at his residence in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, on Thursday evening, September 30.

"The statement implies that he is right and I am wrong, so I decided to respond. First, I will clarify the date and we will check it later, but the Committee, when they invited me, had evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages. Mr. Suwarna (the committee) invited me to Pangalengan, Bandung," he continued.

1. Many Obstacles

Ustaz Solmed also said that apparently the study place in Garut, West Java, was not the initial place according to the invitation. Considering the quite far distance, especially since Ustaz Solmed had a shooting schedule the next morning, he asked for time to think about it, and in the end, he decided to go because he didn't want the congregation to be disappointed.

"Then at three o'clock after Pangalengan, the committee and Ustaz Suwarna came, they said let's go to Garut for the event, I spontaneously said innalillahi. It's not in Pangalengan tonight, he said, but in Garut. I said this invitation is for Pangalengan. Finally, I asked them to give me time to think, Inshaallah I will give an answer after Maghrib," he said.

Although he decided to still go, Ustaz Solmed said that he was advised to just go home because it didn't match the agreement in the invitation. But it turned out that during the journey, many things hindered, long story short, Ustaz Solmed decided to go back.

"I was advised to go back because it was out of context, but I thought maybe the congregation was already waiting and it was crowded, so we decided to go. Suddenly, in the middle of the journey, there was a road closure, maybe due to a landslide or something." There was an officer who suggested turning back. Well, I asked the officer if there was an alternative route, and the officer said there was a narrow road, only one lane. My car is big, and in the middle, there was a flow of vehicles from below, so we couldn't move for half an hour. Our question is, should we just crash into it? In the end, we turned around and I recorded a video and sent it to Mr. Tisna, who claimed to be the village head, and also sent it to Mr. Suwarna, saying that we couldn't pass through," he concluded.

(kpl/irf/lmp)