MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PALEMBANG – Muhammadiyah believes that the revival of Islamic civilization can be achieved through an authentic understanding of islam grounded in the Muhammadiyah Tarjih Manhaj, a methodological framework for Islamic reasoning and interpretation.
Kiai Saad Ibrahim, a Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Central Board (PP Muhammadiyah), delivered that message on Wednesday evening (04/02) during the National Tarjih Cadre Training for the Western Region and the Grand Islamic Sermon commemorating Muhammadiyah 113th anniversary, held at the South Sumatra Muhammadiyah Regional Office.
According to Kiai Saad, Muhammadiyah views Islam as a comprehensive religion that governs human life from birth until death. However, he emphasized that such a holistic understanding of Islam still requires committed agents to convey its values clearly and responsibly to humanity at large.
For that reason, the Tarjih cadre training aims to prepare participants to become agents who can disseminate Islamic values while addressing contemporary challenges faced by Muslims and humanity more broadly.
“Islamic understanding within Muhammadiyah is complete and authentic,” Kiai Saad said. “Through this training, we hope to produce Tarjih scholars who truly understand these principles and are able to advance society.”
He further expressed hope that the Manhaj would enable Muslims to become progressive and competitive among other civilizations. Historically, he noted, Islamic civilization once stood at the forefront of global advancement.
Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future
More broadly, Kiai Saad argued that progress rooted in Islamic values benefits not only Muslims but also humanity and the natural world as a whole.
“We once experienced the Golden Age of Muslim History,” he said.
Traces of that civilizational success, he added, remain visible today, particularly in the scientific and intellectual development of the West. Yet, he cautioned, Western modernity often separated knowledge from theological and ethical values.
As a result, he said, progress devoid of divine principles has led to moral fragility, unchecked human dominance, and the misuse of other knowledge to oppress other nations.
For Muhammadiyah the Manhaj Tarjih offers a pathway to restore balance. It aims to unite scientific advancement with ethical and spiritual responsibility.
