MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) Budi Setiawan highlighted international contributions of Vice Chairperson of Muhammadiyah (1939) Farid Ma’ruf.
Before pursuing higher education in Cairo, Egypt, Farid Ma’ruf completed his early studies at the Hollandsch Inlandsche School (HIS) and later attended Islamic Boarding School of Tremas, Al Irsyad in Pekalongan and Jakarta.
“He studied in Cairo under a completely different academic environment, engaging in intellectual discourse with students from various countries. These experiences shaped him into a knowledgeable and broad-minded intellectual,” said Budi at the Preaching on Tuesday, February 17.
Despite coming from a respected family in Yogyakarta, Farid Ma’ruf faced significant financial challenges while studying in Cairo. To support himself, he took on jobs such as dishwashing and other part-time work since financial support from home was often delayed.
“To sustain himself and his education, he sometimes worked as a dishwasher or did other jobs because remittances from his family were not always reliable. It was not easy to send money from Indonesia to Egypt back then,” explained Budi.
Aside from financial difficulties, another reason for the inconsistent support was that his father, H. M. Ma’ruf, though a well-regarded figure in Kauman, was not a wealthy man. Despite these challenges, Farid Ma’ruf remained active in developing his skills, particularly in journalism. He became a writer for Al Balagh and Seruan Al Azhar, newspapers based in Egypt, and also contributed articles to Indonesian publications such as Harian Adil and Suluh Rakyat Indonesia.
Beyond journalism, Farid Ma’ruf was dedicated to fostering nationalism among Indonesian students in Egypt. He joined the Perhimpunan Indonesia Raya (PIR), an association founded by Abdul Kahar Muzakir, another Muhammadiyah figure studying in Cairo at the time.
He also played a key role in raising awareness about Indonesia’s struggle for independence, drawing parallels with the struggles of other Muslim nations under Western colonial rule.
“He introduced Indonesia’s independence movement to King Farouk (King of Egypt from 1936–1952). That is why he, along with Agus Salim and Rasyidi, contributed to Egypt’s swift recognition of Indonesia’s independence,” said Budi.
After accomplishing his studies in Egypt, Farid Ma’ruf traveled back to Indonesia, making stops in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia. During these visits, he continued advocating for Indonesia’s independence and strengthening international solidarity.
While in Pakistan, he made a special effort to meet Muhammad Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal, to exchange ideas and gain further knowledge. His ability to communicate effectively in Arabic, French, English, and Dutch facilitated these interactions, allowing him to build strong connections with international scholars and leaders.
