MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Few mosques in Indonesia invite women to deliver sermons during tarawih prayers in Ramadan. Among the exceptions stands the Walidah Dahlan Mosque at ‘Aisyiyah University (UNISA) Yogyakarta, which has opened its pulpit to female preachers.
Within Muhammadiyah circles, the At-Tanwir Mosque at the Central Board of Muhammadiyah Headquarters in Jakarta has also provided equal space for women to speak.
Siti Syamsiyatun, Chairperson of ‘Aisyiyah Central Board, welcomed the move on Tuesday (3/3). She said that equal access to public religious platforms has formed part of ‘Aisyiyah’s struggle since its founding in 1917.
“UNISA raises the theme of equality and gives women equal time,” she said. “Through this, women’s needs and concerns can be heard by men, and men can become partners, companions, and protectors for women.”
Partnership, Not Domination
Syamsiyatun stressed that the equality ‘Aisyiyah promotes does not seek to dominate men. Nor does it accept women’s continued subordination. Instead, she said, it envisions partnership.
Men and women, she argued, should contribute equally to advancing religious, national, and humanitarian life. Therefore, cooperation remains central to the organization’s mission.
“A woman’s role will be optimal when she works together with men,: she said. “Men, too, will find happiness when they cooperate with and support their wives and children.”
Moreover, she expressed hope that shared spaces such as mosque pulpits can strengthen the roles of both men and women. By creating equal platforms for ideas, communities can foster fairer social relations.
In that spirit, ‘Aisyiyah continues to advocate inclusive participation in religious life. The organization sees public preaching not only as a spiritual duty but also as a means to shape more just social dynamics.
