MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Under the South African sun, at the 2023 Inter-religious Convention in Johannesburg, Muhammadiyah found itself basking in unexpected admiration. As General Secretary of Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu’ti presented their achievements in education, equality, and surprisingly, interfaith harmony, a murmur of awe rippled through the Muslim delegates from across Africa.
The source of their awe was even Muhammadiyah universities where Christian students hold the majority. This groundbreaking approach, dubbed “Kristen Muhammadiyah” (Muhammadiyah Christians, henceforth Krismuha) had struck a chord, showcasing the organization’s unwavering commitment to open doors and shared learning.
“Everyone in the convention was aghast,” Mu’ti recounted with a warm smile at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan’s 63rd anniversary lecture in Yogyakarta on December 12. “Participants even proposed replicating the model! They were utterly captivated by Muhammadiyah.”
This fascination transcends geographic borders. Prior to Johannesburg, Mu’ti’s travels led him to Ethiopia, where he shared Muhammadiyah’s model of education and tolerance with the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council. The response, he revealed, was humbling. “They couldn’t fathom achieving such a thing,” he shared, the magnitude of the compliment echoing in his voice.
Ethiopia, it seemed, presented a stark contrast. Shops owned by Muslims catered to primarily Muslim clientele, with similar patterns for Christian businesses. This segregation, albeit peaceful, stood in stark contrast to the vibrant tapestry woven in Muhammadiyah’s diverse classrooms.
“But the crux,” Mu’ti stressed, “is how the Muhammadiyah model is inspiring Muslims abroad, even when some within our own ranks underestimate its impact.” He then turned to the African students present, urging them to consider studying Islam in Indonesia. “Muhammadiyah’s values of diversity and tolerance,” he proclaimed, “can resonate powerfully across the globe.”
Mu’ti’s open sharing is not mere pride, but rather, as he explained, a practice of “tahadduts bi al-ni’mah,” the joyful exchange of blessings. “If anyone deems this ‘riya’ (showing off),” he added with a twinkle in his eye, “let it be ‘riya al-hasanah’ – the virtuous kind.”
Mu’ti’s anecdote, woven with threads of cultural exchange and religious pluralism, offers a glimpse into the transformative power of inclusivity. It showcases Muhammadiyah’s silent revolution, where education and tolerance pave the way for a future where religious harmony transcends societal lines, inspiring not just in Indonesia, but across the vast continent of Africa and beyond.
