MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURABAYA – KH. Ahmad Dahlan and KH. Hasyim Asy’ari never met in Mecca even though they studied there. However, they succeeded in becoming the generation turning the tradition of studying at a mosque into a powerful movement.
The General Treasurer of Muhammadiyah Hilman Latief mentioned that Indonesian Muslims’ learning tradition was successfully transformed into a movement within Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.
The relationship built by NU and Muhammadiyah did not stop at the founders but subsequent generations also continued it. For example, K.H. Mas Mansoer, K.H. Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, and Sheikh Baqir bin Muhammad Nur al Jukjawi, who was a cousin of Kiai Ahmad Dahlan were friends.
“Their friendship was productive. Mas Mansur and Wahab Hasbullah founded Tasywirul Afkar, where they discussed before they affiliated with Muhammadiyah and NU,” said Hilman on Saturday (18/2) at the NU One Century National Symposium organized by PAN in Surabaya.
In his research, Hilman found that the friendships of Muhammadiyah and NU figures had been intertwined before they joined the two organizations.
Hilam, the Director General of Hajj and Umrah of the Ministry of Religion, said that the friendships also continued until the establishment of the A’la Indonesia Islamic Council (MIAI). The Muhammadiyah and NU figures became the key figures in the MIAI.
“In conclusion, the friendship began from their sharing the same area of interest and concern with national issues, and founded the MIAI. After the Japanese colonial dissolved the MIAI, they established Masyumi, which became the turning point of Islamic movements in Indonesia to get stronger.
Hilman also would like to know the future of NU and Muhammadiyah’s intellectual tradition in its second century and the social movement model developed by organizations.
