MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – The Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Anwar Abbas emphasized the importance of integrating arts, science, and religion into education. The three dimensions are essential and indivisible.
“Arts make life beautiful, science makes life easier, and religion makes life meaningful,” said Anwar Abbas in the graduation ceremony of Universitas Saintek Muhammadiyah on Friday, January 3.
Anwar Abbas praised Universitas Saintek Muhammadiyah for embodying these principles. He explained that arts encourage creativity and cultural expression, science drives progress and innovation, and religion provides a moral compass and direction.
Citing Professor Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Anwar Abbar urged Muhammadiyah members, including the Muhammadiyah-’Aisyiyah universities, to focus on six key areas of life: science and technology, economy, solidarity, religion, arts, and politics. He described these as benchmarks for a nation’s progress and a guide for building a better society.
Discussing the rise and fall of civilizations, Anwar Abbas referred to the Quranic verse from Surah Ali Imran, which highlights how power and influence shift over time. He noted historical examples, such as the fall of the Byzantine and Persian empires during the time of Prophet Muhammad, which paved the way for the growth of Islamic civilization.
“Based on this perspective, it’s clear that the dominance of Europe and America will eventually decline. Then, which nation will rise to take their place?” asked Anwar.
He mentioned that Indonesia has the potential to lead in the future, but warned that this opportunity should be actively pursued.
“We cannot just sit back and watch. We need to take part and contribute to the development of global civilization,” he emphasized.
