EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Those who portray Muhammadiyah as a puritan movement opposed to Javanese culture and traditions may not yet fully understand the organization’s history.
Muhammadiyah President Haedar Nashir pointed to Suara Muhammadiyah (SM) magazine as an example. Until 1922, the publication used the Javanese language and script. For a religious organization at the time, that choice was unusual.
“Early editions of SM used Javanese script and language. How could an Islamic organization considered puritan values the Javanese language?” Haedar said Thursday (13/8) during the 111th anniversary celebration of Suara Muhammadiyah at Grha SM Malioboro.
According to Haedar, the magazine’s official use of Javanese language and script is strong evidence that Muhammadiyah was never inherently hostile to Javanese culture. Therefore, framing Muhammadiyah and Javanese culture as opposing forces is historically inaccurate.
At the same time, Muhammadiyah has never simply submitted to every cultural or religious doctrine. In the 1920s, for example, Suara Muhammadiyah published an article titled Islam Agamaning Nalar, or “Islam as a Religion of Reason.”
From Javanese Roots to Indonesian Nationalism
Muhammadiyah’s relationship with culture, Haedar said, also extended to the development and promotion of Indonesian nationalism. Suara Muhamadiyah began publishing editions in Malay-Indonesian in 1922—six years before the Youth Pledge of 1928.
“Since 1922, SM has used Indonesian. Remarkable, isn’t it? When the youth pledge came in 1928, SM had already pioneered the introduction of the Indonesian language,” Haedar said.
The use of Indonesian-Malay was not limited to the magazine. Muhammadiyah also used the language extensively in its official forums. Haedar argued that this helped the organization expand rapidly across the Indonesian archipelago.
For that reason, Haedar hopes Suara Muhammadiyah can eventually receive recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage from the relevant authorities.
