MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — The advisory board of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) Rahmati Husein challenged a common misconception about the organization’s founding principles. She emphasized that Muhammadiyah core mission has always been rooted in humanitarian principles, dispelling the notion that it was established to counter Christianization efforts.
“There is no official Muhammadiyah document that supports this claim. On the contrary, Muhammadiyah was founded with a clear mission that is to serve humanity,” said Rahmawati Husein in a book discussion on “Kajian Dunia Barat dan Islam: Visi Ulang Kemanusiaan Universal” (Studies of the Western World and Islam: A Re-Vision of Universal Humanitarianism) by Sudibyo Markus. The discussion took place at the Muhammadiyah Office, Yogyakarta, on Monday (July 1).
Rahmawati Husein proposed a renewed vision for religion’s role in the world. She argued that Christianity and Islam can act as driving forces for reconciliation, leveraging their shared values to foster peace initiatives and collaborative actions that create lasting change. This concept, known as “a common word – common world and work,” emphasizes the importance of collaboration over competition. It encourages religious communities to develop mutual understanding and work together in complementary ways.
In this context, Rahawati Husein highlighted the need to explore intercultural relations to identify common strengths, rather than focusing solely on differences. By harnessing the potential of collaboration between cultures, global humanitarian challenges can be addressed more effectively. Muhammadiyah vision, she explained, is to transform diversity into a collective force for professional endeavors that elevate human dignity.
Rahmawati Husein further emphasized the significance of justice, equality, and respect for human rights as core principles in responding to various humanitarian threats. These threats include ecological emergencies, such as climate change and natural disasters, as well as escalating social and economic inequalities. Muhammadiyah, she urged, must collaborate with other faith leaders. By working together, they can ensure that the pursuit of humanitarian goals remains a shared and sustainable endeavor.
“Muhammadiyah vision is to transform diversity into a collective force that empowers professionals to work towards a common goal: elevating human dignity,” said Rahmawati Husein.
The world is becoming increasingly complex, and humanitarian challenges are becoming more multifaceted. Ecological emergencies, such as climate change and natural disasters, pose serious threats alongside persistent social and economic inequalities. These issues demand equitable and just responses. Muhammadiyah, grounded in the principles of justice and equality, has the potential to make significant contributions in addressing these pressing issues.
As an organization firmly rooted in Islamic values, Muhammadiyah should continue to strengthen collaborations with diverse stakeholders, including other faith communities. By fostering effective cooperation and synergy, Muhammadiyah can play a vital role in advancing its humanitarian mission and ultimately realizing the vision of universal humanitarianism.
