EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SINJAI – Great civilization is often shaped by many factors, including the presence of influential figures who help drive its development and whose contributions continue to be remembered long after their time.
Haedar Nashir, Muhammadiyah President, made the remarks during a lecture at Ahmad Dahlan Islamic University of Sinjai on Friday (25/9).
He pointed to the civilization of ancient Greece. Their intellectual legacy is closely associated with figures such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.
The same is true of Islamic civilization, he said. Prominent figures have played an important role throughout history. It started from the Prophet Muhammad to the various caliphates, the four founding imams of the major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and the emergence of Muslim scholars across different fields.
“Civilizations are built not only through systems developed step by step, but also by exceptional people,” Haedar said.
Choosing Excellence
A nation, he said, faces a choice when building a civilization: to strive for excellence or take the opposite path. That choice, he said, ultimately depends on its own determination. It is in accordance with the Quranic verse, Innallāha lā yughayyiru mā bi-qawmin hattā yughayyirū mā bi-anfusihim.
“Change is something we build ourselves,” Haedar said.
Islam, he added, also emphasizes the importance of striving for excellence, although such progress cannot be achieved overnight. He again pointed to the Prophet Muhammad. He faced immense challenges and even put his life at risk in carrying out his mission.
“Many great figures became great not because of instant success,” Haedar said.
He urged students to take the discussion of civilization as a message of optimism, emphasizing that success depends on one’s intentions and how one takes the first step. He delivered the message to students studying at various Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah Universities, encouraging them to strive for excellence wherever they are.
“Wherever you begin your university studies, you can become a prominent figure,” he said.
Five Foundation of Excellence
Haedar outlined five qualities that students should develop to become exceptional: building good character, expanding their knowledge, cultivating habits of reading and writing, and learning foreign languages.
Developing a character grounded in honesty, trustworthiness and respect for parents, he said, is essential to building a civilization.Haedar contrasted these values with persistent social problems, including indiscipline such as traffic violations and a lack of responsibility, as well as widespread corruption among public officials.
“Whatever you become, your generation must be a generation with character. Character is priceless,” Haedar said.
In a global context, he added, excellence also requires expanding knowledge and strengthening language skills. International languages such as English, he said, are an important measure of excellence and should be developed through regular reading, writing and foreign-language practice.
“So, my dear children, master those five things I have mentioned. God willing, you will become exceptional people who can compete on the global stage,” Haedar concluded. (Alam)
