MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Secretary General of the Muhammadiyah, Abdul Mu’ti, mentioned Muhammadiyah’s 5M strategy to strengthen its existence and build networks.
Mu’ti, a professor of Islamic Education, explained that the first M stands for manhaj, which refers to Muhammadiyah’s religious ideology, as Muhammadiyah does not adhere to any madhhab (schools of thought).
The second M stands for manpower, signifying the importance Muhammadiyah places on having a strong base of human resources. The third M represents management, which Muhammadiyah refers to as “good government.”
“This concept emphasizes professional and transparent administration, similar to how a state would be governed. Muhammadiyah has established a comprehensive set of guidelines and regulations, including bylaws, financial budgets, and procedures for managing its institutions and autonomous organizations,”’ said Mu’ti in a podcast of Bimas Islam TV on Wednesday (June 26).
In addition to good governance, Muhammadiyah also prioritizes clean government, which translates to maintaining transparency in all financial and organizational matters. This commitment to transparency is ensured through regular audits, which guarantee that all funds and resources entrusted to Muhammadiyah are used responsibly and ethically.
“This emphasis on clean government is part of our commitment to ensuring that we are accountable for all the mandates entrusted to us,” Mu’ti added.
The fourth M stands for meritocracy, a system built on the principle that leadership positions within Muhammadiyah are awarded based on merit and individual capabilities, rather than family ties or social status.
“In Muhammadiyah, we don’t have a system of preferential treatment based on family background. Everyone has an equal opportunity to take on leadership roles. Positions are awarded based on a meritocratic process, where individual skills and achievements are the primary determining factors.”
This meritocratic approach also necessitates the inclusion of women in leadership positions throughout Muhammadiya’s structure. Women are actively encouraged to participate in decision-making processes and hold leadership roles within the Muhammadiyah institutions (AUMs).
The last M strategy represents mutualistic partnership, which emphasizes collaboration with other organizations based on reciprocity and mutual benefit. This approach allows Muhammadiyah to form partnerships with a wide range of institutions, including those outside the Islamic faith.
A prime example of this strategy in action is the Muhammadiyah Climate Center, established to address the pressing issue of climate change. The Center fosters collaboration with various interfaith organizations from around the world, bringing together a diverse range of perspectives to tackle this global challenge.
“By prioritizing mutualistic partnerships, we avoid creating lopsided donor-recipient relationships. We don’t want to be in a position where our partners dictate our course of action. Instead, we believe in building partnerships based on mutual respect and shared goals. In these partnerships, we contribute our expertise and resources while also benefiting from the knowledge and experience of our collaborators.”
Abdul Mu’ti emphasized that the 5M strategy has been instrumental in Muhammadiyah’s success. It has allowed this movement to thrive for over a century, establish a strong presence in 30 countries across five continents, and gain international recognition as a respected Islamic organization.
