Jakarta. Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, said on Wednesday that moderate Islam is the best version of Islam for Indonesia. 

"[We need an] Islam that's rahmatan lil alamin, that's a blessing for all concerned," Ma'ruf said at a seminar organized by the Indonesian Mosque Council in Jakarta.

He said Indonesia needs a brand of moderate Islam that is dynamic, self-aware and does not play down problems.

A moderate Islam should be neither too literal in its interpretation of the Quran nor too liberal. 

"Being too literal means you only allow on interpretation, while being too liberal means you interpret too much," he said.

Ma'ruf also said that Islamic preachers should never incite resentment or hatred in the community. 

"What ulemas like us must do is build a Muslim brotherhood, a national brotherhood and then a brotherhood of humanity," Ma'ruf said.

The seminar was attended by prominent figures from Indonesia's two biggest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, including celebrity preacher Quraish Shihab who also spoke at the event.

On Sunday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Ma'ruf had promised to fight off creeping religious intolerance in Indonesia during an event to launch the president's much-lauded new five-point vision for Indonesia.