MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BANTUL – Muhammad Rofiq Muzakkir, Secretary of the Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, stated that Progressive Islam (Islam Berkemajuan) within Muhammadiyah differs fundamentally from the West’s notions of progress, which are deeply rooted in materialism.
Though the terminology may appear similar, Muhammadiyah’s interpretation of Progressive Islam is distinct. This concept originates from Islamic tradition while still being connected to global context
In the document Risalah Islam Berkemajuan (RIB), Rofiq Muzakkir outlines three key meanings of Progressive Islam:
- Advancement as Material Excellence – Measuring progress solely through material standards.
- Advancement as Universal Blessing – Inclusive and non-exclusive to Islam, echoing the message of Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 107.
- Advancement as Reform, Modernity, and Enlightenment – These aspects, he explains, differ from Western progress, which is primarily materialistic.
“In Western discourse, progress is often equated with worldly achievements in science, technology, and economics, thereby neglecting the spiritual dimension,” said Rofiq.
Rofiq also drew a parallel with Charles Taylor’s views in A Secular Age, noting how modern secular framing leads humans to view life through an immanent frame that excludes transcendence.
He further critiqued that Western progress carries an inherent racist tendency—positioning itself as the pinnacle of civilization and viewing others as backward, even labelling them as uncivilized. This outlook frames history linearly, assuming that the future is always superior to the past, which is often portrayed as immature, barbaric, or savage.
In contrast, Muhammadiyah’s concept of progress is distinctive and holistic—embracing both the material (lahiriah) and the spiritual (rohaniah), grounded in Qur’anic values. One key reference is Surah Al-Qashash, verse 77, where Allah commands humans to seek happiness in the Hereafter without neglecting worldly life.
From this verse, Rofiq derived the principle of ihsan—doing more than the bare minimum in fulfilling obligations to attain the best quality in life. This serves as the foundational idea of Muhammadiyah’s concept of true progress, integrating excellence beyond material gain.
