MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, TUNISIA – The Special Branch Board of Muhammadiyah (PCIM) in Tunisia held a study forum titled “From the Surau to the Nation: The Dialectic of Da’wah and the Spirit of Righteous Deeds of KH Ahmad Dahlan.”
As a national figure and the founder of Muhammadiyah, KH Ahmad Dahlan laid the foundation for a progressive Islamic movement grounded in four principal pillars. These pillars are the purification of religious belief and practice, the modernization of Islamic education, the internalization of religious values, and the strengthening of social action as a concrete manifestation of Islamic da’wah.
Chairperson of PCIM Tunisia, Naufal Sholahuddin, emphasized the enduring relevance of KH Ahmad Dahlan’s ideas. He cited the views of modern Islamic thinker Syeikh Tantawi Jauhari from his work Al-Qur’an wa al-’Ulum al-’Ashariyyah:
“Idzā ḍallatil ‘ulamā’u wal umarā’u ‘anis-sawā’is-sabīl, lā yahtadī al-‘ālim al-muta‘allim.”
According to Naufal, the statement conveys that religious scholars and those in positions of authority must not deviate from the righteous path. This could be a disturbance to the processes of education and moral guidance inevitably lose their direction.
“font-weight: 400;”>“This underscores that educators and religious leaders largely determine the moral condition of society,” Naufal said in a statement received by the editorial desk on Tuesday (03/02).
A Vision of Progressive Islam with Lasting Impact
Haris Fathurrahman, a member of PCIM Tunisia, further noted that KH Ahmad Dahlan’s struggle represented a vision of progressive Islam.
“What Ahmad Dahlan fought for was the vision of progressive Islam aligned with the real needs of ummah,” Haris said.
He, moreover, explained that this long-term effort has produced concrete outcomes through the establishment of Muhammadiyah’s charitable enterprises. The outcomes are visible ranging from hospitals and orphanages to educational foundations and universities.
For that reason, the strength of Muhammadiyah and its wide-ranging contributions to society must be a part of the ongoing relay of struggle among members of the movement,” Haris added.
Through this forum, PCIM Tunisia reaffirmed its commitment to cultivating a new generation of young Dahlans across the globe. Furthermore, the initiative also reflects efforts to form cadres who are knowledgeable, socially engaged, and grounded in Islamic character. Such characteristics are the catalyst of progressive Islamic da’wah in both national and International contexts. (Bhisma)
Translator: Bintang Adrian
