Former Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Habib Chirzin emphasized Muhammadiyah’s crucial roles in fostering community empowerment and acting as a mechanism for social control.
Speaking at the ‘Ngaji Berkat‘ discussion forum held on Friday evening, May 31, at Gedoeng Moehammadijah in Yogyakarta City, Habib, who is actively involved in global human security forums, highlighted the fact that current human security issues and concepts being addressed by the United Nations originated from genuine ideas of humanitarian activists from Asia, including Indonesia. Habib Chirzin himself, along with other activists, represented Indonesia at the time.
Aware of this fact, Habib expressed his hope that Asian countries, including non-governmental organizations like Muhammadiyah, would take a serious and continuous interest in advocating for human security. He emphasized that this should not be seen as a divisive approach but rather a shared responsibility that requires collective action.
Habib Chirzin then delved into the topic of community empowerment activities carried out by the Muhammadiyah Council for Community Empowerment, particularly in the context of recent development trends. He pointed out the evolving nature of this concept. In the past, the term “community development” was more commonly used. Today, “empowerment” is the preferred term.
Habib Chirzin elaborated on the key distinction between these terms. Community development focuses on improving the lives of people within a community, but it may not necessarily address the issue of building their power and agency. Empowerment, on the other hand, not only equips people with skills and resources but also fosters social change.
“This is why the roles of social institutions, often referred to as ‘movements,’ are constantly changing and evolving,” Habib Chirzin explained. “Their focus has shifted from simply providing assistance for improving people’s well-being to helping them change their circumstances and strengthen their bargaining position vis-à-vis the state, oligarchs, and capitalists.”
Given the immense power of the state, Habib Chirzin underscored the critical need for social control, a role that Muhammadiyah is uniquely qualified to fulfill. He therefore stressed the importance of Muhammadiyah’s continued existence. He argued that while not everyone should be involved in politics, Muhammadiyah should strive to remain a free and independent civil society organization.
“Muhammadiyah should be independent from both capitalists and those in power,” Habib Chirzin asserted. “Its purpose is not about power struggles, vying for political control, or making profits. It is about achieving the common good, ‘maslahah al ammah‘ in Arabic, or ‘bonum commune‘ in Latin – the well-being of all.”
Finally, Habib Chirzin, who also serves as the board of advisory to the Muhammadiyah Department of Islamic Boarding School, expressed his hope that Muhammadiyah will continue to play a vital role. He emphasized that Muhammadiyah’s presence is crucial in upholding civility, and the Muhammadiyah Council for Community Empowerment plays a central role in fulfilling this responsibility.
