EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – The Muhammadiyah Central Board welcomed Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Salleh Tun Said Keurak, a prominent community leader from Sabah, Malaysia, during a visit to its headquarters in Jakarta. The meeting served as an opportunity to strengthen ties and exchange views on expanding cooperation between Muhammadiyah and the Muslim community in Sabah, particularly in the fields of Islamic outreach and education.
The delegation was received by Anwar Abbas and Izzul Muslimin, Chairperson and Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Central Board.
Anwar Abbas welcomed the visit as an important step in reinforcing ukhuwah Islamiyah between Muhammadiyah and Muslims in Sabah. He emphasized that relationships built on shared faith should continue to be nurtured through dialogue, education, da’wah, and initiatives that benefit society.
“Muhammadiyah warmly welcomes this visit,” Anwar said on Tuesday (21/7). “Our relationship as fellow Muslims should continue to grow through da’wah, education, and activities that promote the public good. We are open to exchanging experiences and strengthening communication with our Muslims brothers and sisters in Sabah.
Promoting Progressive and Moderate Islam
Anwar explained that Muhammadiyah remains committed to promoting a moderate and progressive understanding of Islam. While the organization respects all recognized schools of Islamic jurisprudence (madhhabs), it does not bind itself exclusively to any single one.
“Muhammadiyah respects all recognized schools of Islamic law but does not exclusively adhere to one of them,” he said. “Instead, we employ the tarjih methodology by selecting opinions that we consider the strongest evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.”
As an example, he cited the differing scholarly opinions regarding the recitation of qunut during the dawn (Fajr) prayer.
“On issues such as the Fajr qunut, Muhammadiyah follows its tarjih conclusions while continuing to respect fellow Muslims who practice differently. Jurisprudential differences should never become a reason to divide the Muslim community,” he said.
According to Anwar, Muhammadiyah and the Muslim community in Sabah have significant potential to deepen cooperation through sustained communication, the exchange of ideas, and joint initiatives in education and Islamic outreach.
Building Stronger Cross-Border Muslim Relations
Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Salleh Tun Said Keruak expressed his appreciation for the warm reception, describing the visit as both an honor and an important first step toward strengthening relations with Muhammadiyah, an organization already familiar to many Muslims in Sabah.
“Muhammadiyah has extensive experience in advancing Islamic outreach and education, which can serve as an inspiration for strengthening the Muslim community in Sabah,” Salleh said.
He added that Muhammadiyah’s ideas and movement have gradually become better known among Muslims in Sabah. However, he noted that more intensive communication is mandatory, so that the values of Progressive Islam (Islam Berkemajuan) can benefit a wider community.
Both sides expressed hope that the meeting would mark the beginning of closer cooperation between Muslim communities in Indonesia and Malaysia. Through continued collaboration in da’wah, education, and community development, they aim to build stronger partnerships that contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the Muslim ummah. (taufik)
