Muhammadiyah in Indonesia



BACKGROUND      
           
Indonesia flag
     
 Indonesia or officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a unitary sovereign state and transcontinental country located mainly in Southest Asia. Situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans, it is the world's largest island country with more than seventeen thousand islands[1]. Indonesia is the world's 14th largest country in terms of land area and world's 7th largest country in terms of combined sea and land area. Indonesia flag is consist of red and white strips which is similar to Poland and Monaco flag. In Indonesia, the flag is also known as Sang Saka Merah Putih. 

INTRODUCTION
           
      Muhammadiyah (Arabic: محمدية) or the full name is Pensyarikatan Muhammadiyah is a major Islamic non-governmental organization in Indonesia. The organization was foundin 1912 by Ahmad Dahlan in the city of Yogjakarta as a reformist socio-religious movement, advocating ijtihad- individual interpretation of Al-quranand Sunnah , as opposed to taqlid- the acceptance of the traditional interpretation propounded by Ulama' 
            
        The name of Muhammadiyah has been taken from the name of our last Prophet, Muhammad (S.A.W) and followed by ya nisbiah محمدية at the back which mean characterizing. Judging from the name literally in fact all Muslims are Muhammadiyah. The  word  is  later  became  the  name  of  a  group  or  organization. 

MUHAMMADIYAH FLAG

       Every organization has their own flag and symbol to identify their identity so same goes to this group.Muhammadiyah flag consists of a sun with the twelve rays around it. At the centre of the sun, there is an Arabic words محمدية and around it there is a kalimah syahadah: asyhadu an la ila ha illa Allah on top and wa asyhadu anna muhammadar rasulAllah at thr bottom.

     
        All the symbol is white on the green background. Each symbol has its own meaning. The symbol of the sun means the focal point in the solar system and a source of strength of all living things on earth. If the sun becomes source of life, Muhammadiyah is expected to be a source of spiritual strength to Islamic values with a core of two sentences creed (kalimah syahadah). Next, the twelve white rays are symbolized the determination and strength of Muhammadiyah members in fighting for Islam, and the spirit undaunted and unyielding as the apostle of prophet Isa totaling 12 ( الحواريي ). Furthermore, the white color in the whole image of the sun symbolizes purity and sincerity and the green color is the basic color which means peace and prosperity.

HISTORY
     
       Muhammadiyah was founded in Kauman Village, Yogyakarta, on Dzulhijjah 8, 1330 in Islamic calendar or November 18, 1912 by a man named Muhammad Darwis, who is at a later time known as KHA Dahlan.He used to be a royal servant in Yogyakarta Sultanate Royal Palace in charge of being a preacher, and he also worked as a trader.  Seeing a rigid, obstinate condition of Muslims at that moment full of mystical rituals, he was touched to urge people to go back to real Islamic teachings based on Al Qur’an and Hadith (the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad). Therefore, at the breaks of his activity as a preacher and trader, he taught religious teachings at home.
     
        Initially, people declined his teaching; however, owing to his patience and resilience, his family and close friends gradually accepted it. His trading occupation truly supported his urging, so in a short time his teachings went beyond Kauman Village, reaching outside the region and even Java Island. To organize his activities, he founded Muhammadiyah organization that nowadays exists nationwide. 
      
     Ahmad Dahlan, much influenced by Egyptian reformist Muhammad ‘Abduh, considered modernization and purification of religion from syncretic practices were very vital in reforming this religion. Therefore, since its beginning Muhammadiyah has been very concerned with maintaining tawhid, and refining monotheism in society.
      
     Apart from giving lessons/knowledge to men, KHA Dahlan also taught women in a study forum called "Sidratul Muntaha". At daybreak, he taught male and female children, and he taught grown-ups at night. KHA Dahlan led Muhammadiyah from 1912 to 1922, the period still using organizational yearly meeting system. On the 11th meeting, Muhammadiyah was under KH Ibrahim’s chairmanship until 1934. In 1926, annual meeting changed to yearly congress that at a later time changed to every-3-year congress. Today, Muhammadiyah congress is held every 5 year. Muhammadiyah has generally avoided politics. Unlike Nahdatul Ulama, it never formed a political party. Since its establishment, it has devoted itself to educational and social activities.


VISION AND MISSION

The ideal vision of Muhammadiyah is; The realization of real Islamic society. Meanwhile, the ideal mission of Muhammadiyah are;
(1)   Upholding pure Tauhid (oneness of God) based on Al-Quran and As-Sunnah.
(2)   Spreading and advancing Islamic teachings based on Al-Quran and shahihah (authentic) As-  Sunnah.
(3)   Realizing Islam in personal life, family, and society.

THE OBJECTIVE OF LONG-TERM PROGRAMME (MUHAMMADIYAH VISSION 2025

The objective long term of Muhammadiyah in 2025 are;

 1.  Create Muhammadiyah development as an excellent Islamic movement compared  to other Islamic movements in carrying out the mission of da'wah and tajdid showed by the excellence of the movement systems,agents, leaderships and organizations, networks, enterpreneurship, and movement actions as the important and strategic factors for the realization of real Islamic society and showed by Muhammadiah roles in the dynamic living people, country and global world.
2. Implement Islamic teaching and aroused people's awareness of the excellence of the Islamic way of life that assures the realization of better social system in all walks of life as the form of the existence of Islam as the blessings for the universe and brings people to reach safety/ happiness in the world and the Hereafter.

3. Develop social, national and state lives which are more excellent marked by the development of religious life, morality, intellectuality, and social capacity; encourage the functions of social powerand governmental institutions assuring the realization of advanced, just, prosperous and dignified and sovereign state and national life under the blessing of Allah.

4. Just, peaceful, dignified global life systems, proportional role and responsibilities of Muslim people among other world community as the form of the existence of Islam as the blessings for the universe in the global world.



THE PRINCIPLE

            Intent and purpose of Muhammadiyah was established as a religious reform movement cannot be separated from Muhammadiyah views about the status and functions of the Qur’an and Sunnah, reason and order of social life. As we can see, Muhammadiyah efforts to enforce and uphold the religion of Islam that originated in Al qu’an, Sunnah. Hence, there are some principles that they adopt in their movement in order to make sure the Muhammadiyah Movement is in line with syariah.

            Firstly.the principle of monotheism.It is means that Muhammadiyah movement should be the realization of faith,oneness of God,worship Allah only. Beside that,the principle of mercy .Muhammadiyah movement should be the realization and execution of Islamic mercy. They must do the dakwah in a good manner and invite people to Islam wisely. Other than that, the principle of caliphate. That is to say that Muhammadiyah Movement should be the elaboration and execution of caliphate function of Muslims in life.

            In addition, the principle of benefit. Muhammadiyah movement should pay attention to public benefit. For instance, they establish schools for students, build the hospitals and many more. These are crucial for the betterment of ummah. Next, the principle of flexibility .It is mean that Muhammadiyah program should be flexible and effective by efficiently utilizing human resources. The program also must be suitable for public in order to achieve the goal of Islamic Movement.

            Last but not least,the principle of law and justice .The execution of Muhammadiyah program should consider to the creation of justice in society and national life. Thus, we can realized that all the principles is planed to attain peace and harmony in the life.


ORGANIZATION

The national headquarters was originally in Yogyakarta. However, by 1970 the committees dealing with education, economics, health and social welfare had been relocated to the national capital, Jakarta.
Muhammadiyah is supported by several autonomous organizations:
  • Aisyiyah ( Women )
  • Pemuda Muhammadiyah ( Youth )
  • Nasyiatul Aisyiyah ( Young Women )
  • Ikatan Pelajar Muhammadiyah ( Student association )
  • Ikatan Mahasiswa Muhammadiyah (College student)
  • Tapak Suci Putra Muhammadiyah (Pencak Silat)
  • Hisbul Wathan (Scouting).
The central committee structure consists of five advisors, a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary general and some deputies, a treasurer and some deputies, as well as several deputies of chairman.

 CHALLENGES/THREATS
          
Every Islamic Movements must have faced a lot of challenges throughout their work. The challenges become a part of their journey, as a barrier that they have to face in order to achieve their goals. Muhammadiyah is also not excepted from these challenges. Among the challenges faced by Muhammadiyah are: the flow of secularism-materialism attacking the world becomes a big temptation and challenge for Muhammadiyah members to be able to strongly hold to their commitment in Muhammadiyah life and to make Islam as a religion of rahmatan lil-‘alamin (mercy for the entire world).

Besides, the radical tendency in socio-political and religious movements producing conflict and violence becomes a challenge for Muhammadiyah in offering Islamic Movement that brings peace, light, and mercy for the entire world. The grip of global capitalism that affects the world development and life orientation based on profit, exploitation, material worship, and worldly pleasure in the life of the world community also becomes a challenge to Muhammadiyah when it affects the development of Muhammadiyah’s charity and services to be profit-oriented and far away from the theology/ideology of Al-Ma’un.

Lastly, ASEAN Charter and the movement of geo-political, geo-economical, and geo-social-cultural gravity center from Europe and North America to Asia, especially China, can be a threat and challenge for Muhammadiyah when they are not responded by Muhammadiyah in a concrete way. The threat is that Muhammadiyah can be an outdated organization.




ACTIVITIES AND CONTRIBUTION


            Muhammadiyah, in The Encyclopedia of Britannica is noted as Muslim reformist organization. As a Muslim reformist in nature, the main activities of Muhammadiyah are related to religion and education. It has also functioned as charitable organization.

            In the aspect of education, Muhammadiyah has established two types of formal school for early education which are the modern school and the pesantren. The schools are the same like the government schools. Some of the modern schools are even open to non-Muslim. And for the informal education, they also have traditional pesantren which the teaching and learning sessions are conducted traditionally whereby the students will sit in front of the teacher and read the religious treatise between the lines. They have approximately 5754 schools of these types all over Indonesia. For the higher education, they also build Muhammadiyah universities in many regions in Indonesia. These universities offer courses just like the other local universities. And some of the branches even have make connection with universities outside of the country.

            In the aspect of social and charity, Muhammadiyah has built several hundreds of medical clinics and hospital. They also have orphanages and also welfare home. It functions to provide shelter and residential care for the needy children and orphans. It also has been appointed by Ministry of Social and Family Development as one of the governmental body in charge of charity and social works.  In religious aspect, Muhammadiyah movement has their own mosques all around Indonesia. Their mosques also function as a place for social activities.


CONCLUSION
      At the moment, Muhammadiyah is the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia with 29 million members after the Nahdatul Ulama. Although Muhammadiyah leaders and members are often actively involved in shaping the politics in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah is not a political party. It has devoted itself to social and educational activities. Their main vision is to realize the real Islamic society and they are getting near to achieve it.


[1] (Country Studies ed.). US Library of Congress. Retrieved 3 February 2017

No comments:

Dewasa

Hidup kita berbeza-beza. Tiada yang cepat, tiada yang lambat Jalan sudah terukir Hanya kau terima atau tidak Alhamdulillah, Tahun 2022 semua...