EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Arts and culture are essential instruments for enriching human sensitivity, nurturing the soul, and cultivating refinement in social life, Haedar Nashir says.
Haedar Nashir, President of Muhammadiyah Central Board, delivered the message during the opening of the National Meeting of the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Department of Arts and Culture at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta on Friday (10/7).
“When we develop arts and culture we are actually building culture in its broader sense. More than that, we are contributing to the advancement of human civilization,” Haedar said. Through its vision of global da’wah, Muhammadiyah seeks to revitalize and correct the understanding of some of its members who still hold misconceptions about arts and culture.
According to Haedar, Muhammadiyah’s arts and culture initiatives play a strategic role in strengthening cultural da’wah and fostering an exemplary society.
“The ideal society is the very inspiration behind the founding of Muhammadiyah,” he said.
He added that da’wah must reach not only people’s actions but also their hearts and minds.
“Da’wah must carry a humanizing dimension, embody the spirit of liberation, and cultivate transcendence that draws people closer to Allah,” Haedar said.
Advancing Humanitarian Da’wah Through Culture
Haedar explained that Muhammadiyah aims to employ approaches capable of touching both the hearts and intellects of the broader public, with arts and culture serving as one of its most effective instruments.
Through its Institute for Arts and Culture, he said, Muhammadiyah seeks to develop artistic and cultural initiatives that advance humanitarian da’wah, one that liberates, empowers, and promotes human progress while ultimately contributing to the enlightenment of society and the nation’s civilization.
He emphasized that cultural expression should not be viewed merely as artistic activity, but as a strategic means of communicating Islamic values in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences and strengthen Muhammadiyah’s mission of serving humanity.
