MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA—Abdul Mu’ti, the Secretary General of Muhammadiyah, underscored the importance of expanding religious understanding within real-life contexts amidst rapid changes. Religion has steered human morality and played a central role in guiding people.
“It is crucial to reassess many religious aspects and implement them as daily life contexts,” said Abdul Mu’ti in the national meeting of the Muhammadiyah Council for Social Welfare Development on Friday (August 11) at SM Tower.
For instance, Surah al-Balad verse 16 mentions “Aw miskinan za matrabah” that refers to “a poor person in distress.” Through a contextual approach, Abdul Mu’ti redefines poverty in this context as “homeless people”. Thus, helping them is a tangible implementation of religion’s compassionate values.
Besides, Surah al-Balad verse 15 mentions “Yatiiman zaa maqrabah, ” meaning “an orphaned relative”. Abdul Mu’ti presents a novel perspective highlighting the significance of emotional proximity in assisting the marginalized. This viewpoint, unrestricted by biological relationships, establishes a basis for society to help emotionally connected orphaned children, surpassing conventional limitations.
Rethinking religious understanding yields positive outcomes. Adapting teachings to real-life contexts acknowledges evolving social dynamics, deepens awareness of fundamental human values in religion, and lays the groundwork for addressing pressing societal challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and social injustice.
