MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of Yogyakarta received a special donation of a complete gamelan set and wayang kulit (leather puppets) from the family of the late H. Sudaryanto from Bantul Regency.
Typically, Islamic endowments or waqfs involve donations of land, buildings, or more recently, monetary contributions. However, this donation of cultural artifacts stands out as an unconventional yet valuable addition to Muhammadiyah assets.
The donation was formally accepted by Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of Yogyakarta Ikhwan Ahada, along with Deputy Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of Yogyakarta Iwan Setiawan, Chairperson of the Department of Arts and Culture of the Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of Yogyakarta Dian Korprianing Nugraha, the principal of SMA Muhammadiyah Bantul, and staff of SMA Muhammadiyah Bantul.
In a press release on Wednesday, August 7, Ikhwan Ahada expressed his gratitude for the donation.
“Waqf is not limited to land, buildings, or Muslim prayer items. Cultural artifacts like gamelan and wayang kulit can also be endowed, as they serve as valuable tools for education and learning within educational institutions,” said Ikhwan.
The Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of Yogyakarta is open to receiving more cultural donations. “
“Through our Department of Arts and Culture, we welcome donations of cultural artifacts from the public,” Ikhhwan added, emphasizing that such donations would be put to good use within the organization.
The donated gamelan and wayang kulit will be utilized by the department and will also become educational tools at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Bantul.
Besides, the family of H. Sudaryanto believed that Muhammadiyah would make the best use of this donation, particularly given its intention to use the cultural artifacts as educational aids, ensuring that the donation would continue to benefit others for generations to come.