MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Arts and culture continue to spark discussions within Muhammadiyah and its women’s wing, ‘Aisyiyah, even though the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid has clearly stated that engaging in arts and culture is mubah, or permissible in Islam.
Chairperson of the ‘Aisyiyah Department of Arts, Culture, and Sports Development Wiwied Widyastuti addressed the ongoing concerns and differing views on the subject.
“In ‘Aisyiyah, there are still many different opinions about arts and culture. These views should be acknowledged and discussed objectively. If we keep pushing these differences without understanding, they could create unnecessary divisions,” said Wiwied in the program of GSM ‘Aisyiyah of West Java on April 14.
Wiwied noted that criticism toward arts and culture often comes from those who haven’t read or fully understood Muhammadiyah official documents. She encouraged members to study the legal and religious guidelines issued by Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid, which have already addressed the issue in depth.
Muhammadiyah has never outright banned arts and culture. In fact, the organization has published a cultural approach to da’wa, especially through a key document from the Tanwir National Meeting in Bali in 2002.
“Muhammadiyah stance on culture is rooted in two main principles: returning to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and applying ijtihad (reasoned interpretation) in responding to social and cultural challenges,” said Wiwied.
Nevertheless, Wiwied stressed that engaging with arts and culture must be done responsibly. Creators and audiences alike must avoid elements that go against Islamic values, such as promoting harm (darar), destruction (fasad), disobedience (‘isyan), or anything that distances one from Allah (ba’id ‘anillah).
If those negative elements are present, the permissibility of the art or cultural practice becomes void. These values can turn something allowed into something forbidden.
