MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SLEMAN – The current state of religious and national life is caught between two major Islamic thought movements: conservative and liberal, both claiming to represent the true essence of Islam.
These ideological divides have expanded, not only into conservatism but also neo-conservatism, as well as liberalism, which has evolved into neo-liberalism and neo-modernism, often leaning towards secularism and liberalism.
President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir highlighted that, amidst this clash of ideologies, Muhammadiyah members have a clear guide, namely A Treatise of Progressive Islam (Risalah Islam Berkemajuan). This guide provides members of the Muhammadiyah organization with a balanced Islamic perspective known as wasathiyah, a moderate approach to Islam.
The Treatise is more than just a guideline. It is a comprehensive framework that all Muhammadiyah leaders, cadres, members, and sympathizers are urged to read, understand, and implement in their daily lives.
Besides, Haedar encouraged all Muhammadiyah people to recite the Qur’an. However, he stressed that the command to “read” should be interpreted broadly, extending beyond the literal text to include its tafsir (interpretation), hadith, and the works of Islamic scholars.
For leaders, Haedar pointed out that engaging with a wide range of readings is essential. A broader reading base equips them with the knowledge to understand and appreciate the richness of Manhaj Tarjih, Muhammadiyah method of interpretation, through diverse perspectives. This, in turn, helps them apply Islamic teachings in a more thoughtful and comprehensive manner.
Haedar’s message emphasized the importance of Muhammadiyah leaders, cadres, and members not getting too caught up in discussions on digital and social media platforms. While these platforms can help Muhammadiyah grow and make its members smarter and more active, they also come with risks.
“The digital world and its systems can actually help Muhammadiyah expand and help its members become more knowledgeable and dynamic,” said Haedar.
Nevertheless, the rapid growth of the digital world can also lead to stagnation if Muhammadiyah members become too focused on social media. This often happens when people post content driven by personal desires, or get caught up in situational and fleeting issues that are popular online.
Nevertheless, the rapid growth of the digital world can also cause Muhammadiyah members to become stuck if they spend too much time on social media. This happens when people post content driven by personal desires or get caught up in temporarily trending topics.
“We often fail to move on from these issues. The issues may have already passed, yet we keep bringing them up again. That is a sign of conservatism,” said Haedar.
Haedar reminded that Muhammadiyah has much more important work to do. Instead of just focusing on social media, its members should prioritize creating new ideas, solving ongoing problems, and advancing the organization’s mission.
Addressing national issues, Haedar noted that while Muhammadiyah remains aware of the ongoing discourse, not every issue is relevant to the organization’s mission. He stressed that Muhammadiyah should remain focused on its core responsibilities.
