MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, MALAYSIA – President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir delivered a public lecture at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) on Monday, May 5, calling for stronger unity between Malaysia and Indonesia and encouraging shared efforts to build a progressive Islamic civilization.
Haedar highlighted the close relations between the two countries, not only through language and culture but also geography and shared values.
“We are one people, connected by language and geography. We share a tropical climate and a common history. While each country has its own identity, our roots remain closely linked,” he said.
Haedar emphasized the need for Indonesia and Malaysia to not only stay united but also work together toward progress.
“It’s not enough to just be united. We should also move forward together,” said Haedar.
With Islam being the majority religion in both nations, Haedar stated that Islamic values can be a strong foundation for national and social development.
“Islam is deeply embedded in our daily lives. The Qur’an and Sunnah contain powerful messages that promote growth and advancement,” he said.
Haedar acknowledged that the Islamic world once led a golden age of civilization, which later declined, especially after Western colonization. However, he remains optimistic that Islam can rise again based on its teachings.
“The command to read, Iqra’, is extraordinary. It’s a call for knowledge and change, unlike what we find in Greek or Roman traditions,” he explained.
Haedar, a professor of sociology, said the essence of the Qur’an and Hadith is to push Muslims to grow, develop, and contribute to civilization. He encouraged reflection on Islamic history to inspire future progress.
“Anyone who doubts the greatness of Islamic civilization probably hasn’t read the Qur’an and Hadith, or maybe they’ve been too impressed by other nations,” he said.
He added that Islam brought advanced ideas from the start even though those ideas were initially rejected by tribal societies in the Arab world. Scholars like Robert N. Bellah and G. Levy della Vida have noted how Islamic teachings helped build a more open and inclusive society compared to those of ancient Greece and Rome.
Haedar also pointed out that while Western history often downplays the influence of Islamic civilization, many Western achievements were built on Islamic knowledge and contributions.
Haedar highlighted the key principles that shaped Islamic civilization: belief in God, faith, knowledge, action, ijtihad (independent reasoning), and tajdid (renewal). These values remain central and should continue to guide Muslims in building a better future.
