EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Addressing contemporary religious issues that directly affect the lives of Muslims and wider society, the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Tarjih and Tajdid Council has identified five key topics for its 33rd Tarjih National Conference, scheduled to take place in Surabaya on November 5–7, 2026.
The five topics are Islamic Jurisprudence on the Elderly, Islamic Jurisprudence on Food Sovereignty, the Treatise on Islamic Creed, the Treatise on Practical Islamic Ethics, and Islamic Jurisprudence on Worship.
The agenda was outlined by Muhammadiyah Central Board Chairman Syamsul Anwar during a press conference at the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s hall in Yogyakarta on Monday (2/11).
Theology and Social Welfare in Focus
The first topic, Islamic Jurisprudence on the Elderly, aims to address the growing elderly population and its implications for family and community life.
Muhammadiyah considers it necessary to provide religious guidance to help older people and their families navigate this stage of life. This includes matters of worship and strengthening the value of birr al-wālidayn, or filial piety and devotion to one’s parents.
“How heartbreaking it is to hear about elderly people who die alone. Sometimes, their deaths are only discovered two days later, when they have already passed away in isolation, far from anyone who could have helped them,” Syamsul said, responding to the challenges faced by older people in society.
The second topic is Islamic Jurisprudence on Food Sovereignty, which examines food-related issues from an Islamic perspective. It covers access to diverse and nutritious food as well as farmers’ welfare.
“In 2024, I attended a ministerial-level conference in Brazil. The United Nations stated that at least 775 million people were going hungry. That is more than a third of the world’s population without adequate food, experiencing hunger,” he said.
This study also builds on the previous work on Islamic Jurisprudence on Agrarian Affairs. It is expected to provide guidance for Muslims, communities, and state officials in building a prosperous, just, and equitable society.
Strengthening Faith and Ethical Values
The third topic concerns the development of the Treatise on Islamic Creed. The document is expected to serve as a systematic common reference that clarifies Muhammadiyah members’ understanding of Islamic creed while addressing contemporary religious questions.
Syamsul also cited The Return of God Hypothesis by Stephen C. Meyer, a book that discusses theism, or belief in a personal God, through modern scientific arguments. The book also explores agnosticism, a position characterized by uncertainty about or the inability to know whether God exists.
“This is predicted to become a trend in the future. It may not be widespread yet, but there are already signs of it. Therefore, it is important for Muhammadiyah to address the issue of strengthening Islamic faith,” Syamsul said.
The fourth topic is the Treatise on Practical Islamic Ethics. This topic aims to provide guidance on applying ethical values in everyday life. It will address social ethics, hate speech in digital spaces, corruption, domestic violence, and environmental awareness.
“No nation can endure without good moral character,” Syamsul said.
He explained that a nation can endure when its moral values remain strong. Conversely, a nation will collapse when its moral foundations deteriorate. This principle aligns with Muhammadiyah’s vision of building an advanced Islamic society.
For this reason, strengthening ethical foundations is essential to building a truly Islamic and progressive society.
Revisiting the Rulings on Worship
The final topic is Islamic Jurisprudence on Worship. At the 33rd Tarjih National Conference, participants will revisit the legal rulings on qunut witir (supplication during the Witr prayer) and the recitation of tatswib.
Syamsul explained that these discussions form part of efforts to further develop the Himpunan Putusan Tarjih (Compilation of Tarjih Decisions) by examining issues that require further study of religious evidence and clearer explanations for the public.
“These topics are being discussed to review practical aspects of worship, including the use of tatswib, the phrase ‘as-salātu khayrun min an-nawm’ (prayer is better than sleep), in the call to the dawn prayer,” Syamsul concluded. (Bhisma)
