MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURAKARTA – In his speech at Aisyiyah’s 107th Anniversary Celebration in Surakarta, President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir emphasized the importance of implementing the three characteristics of a progressive Muslim woman as outlined by Siti Munjiyah, an Aisyiyah cadre, at the First Indonesian Women’s Congress in Yogyakarta in 1928. These characteristics are high intellect, abundant knowledge, and virtuous deeds.
Haedar stressed that ‘Aisyiyah cadres at all levels of leadership should embody these characteristics. He warned against the tendency to focus solely on either thought or action, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.
Haedar then revisited Siti Munjiyah’s powerful call to action. Siti Munjiyah urged Indonesian women to break free from the constraints of the past, challenge traditional limitations, and reject the notion that women are inferior to men. Haedar highlighted this as a core value that continues to guide Aisyiyah’s mission.
Haedar explained that Siti Munjiyah’s call to action emerged from a time when Indonesian women faced two opposing societal pressures. The first was the conservative viewpoint, rooted in both religion and culture, which relegated women to domestic roles.
The second extreme was the influence of Western liberal emancipation ideas that gained popularity in the early 20th century. This ideology advocated for complete freedom for women, often without considering the cultural and religious context. Modernization was seen as synonymous with Western values, leading some women’s movements to completely disregard their cultural and religious heritage.
Haedar observed that Aisyiyah emerged as a unique force that stood between these two opposing viewpoints. Remarkably, Aisyiyah was able to establish itself on a foundation of genuine Islamic principles, while avoiding the limitations of conservatism. They embraced the positive aspects of modernity, such as advancements in education and technology, without adopting the permissiveness associated with Western liberalism.
“In terms of their values and belief systems, Aisyiyah women have adopted a ‘wasathiyah’ (middle-ground) position,” Haedar said in his speech. “However, this is a forward-thinking wasathiyah, or a progressive wasathiyah, that thrives on the exchange of ideas between different perspectives,” he clarified.
Aisyiyah’s perspective on gender equality is firmly rooted in their deep understanding of Islamic teachings derived from the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. Haedar urged Aisyiyah cadres to always remember and uphold these characteristics of a progressive Muslim woman as they carry forward the legacy of Aisyiyah’s movement.
Finally, Haedar advised future Aisyiyah leaders to cultivate themselves as both intellectuals and activists. They must achieve a balance between developing strong theoretical knowledge and practical skills to ensure that Aisyiyah’s movement remains effective in addressing the challenges faced by Muslim women in Indonesia.
