President Prabowo Cites Al-Baqarah Verse 191 Amidst Remarks on 'Slanderous' Experts

President Prabowo Subianto has pointed out that some experts frequently engage in "slander" against the government, quoting verse 191 of Surah Al-Baqarah from the Quran, which states that slander is more severe than murder. The statement was made during the climax of the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party (PAN) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Jakarta on Friday (18/9/2026). Prabowo initially touched upon PAN's religious base and asked the audience if there was a hadith stating, "Slander is more severe than murder." He confirmed that the reference was to Surah Al-Baqarah verse 191, stating, "Slander is more severe than murder." He then linked this discussion to the presence of several "experts" who, according to him, often spread slander against the government. Prabowo indicated his preference not to prolong these issues but stated that he always notes the slanders and is willing to forgive if the perpetrators realize their actions. "But we are a great nation, a strong nation. I will just note it down. If they realize, I will forgive them," the President said. Furthermore, he urged intellectuals to uphold honesty when using their knowledge and expertise. "But I warn you, if you have intelligence, if you have expertise, don't forget that a scholar must be honest! That is intellectual honesty," he stated. Prabowo then conveyed values and a vision of struggle that he believes align with the government's goals, including realizing the welfare of the people. "I want to see a day when Indonesia is respected, its people are prosperous, there is no hunger, and parents do not have to worry about their children being sick, stunted, lacking nutrition, having weak bones, muscles, or brain cells, or being unable to compete with children from other nations," Prabowo expressed. The President mentioned that the suffering experienced by the Indonesian people has made him feel compelled to continue protecting the nation's good name, assessing that circulating slanders are contrary to his vision. "I took an oath since childhood. I was ready, at 18 years old, to die for this country," Prabowo said. Prabowo explained that many challenges still need to be faced to reach the end of the struggle, one of which is the courage to defend the nation and the Indonesian people. "The value of struggle is difficult, requiring courage that we need to fight for. From here, the value of struggle is needed, namely with fortitude, resilience, and loyalty," the President emphasized in his remarks. Source: Liputan6