MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BALIKPAPAN – President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir mentioned that Soekarno was a member of Muhammadiyah.
“We would like to thank Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri for attending the opening of the 18 Pemuda Muhamamdiyah Congress (Muktamar). Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri is not someone else but she is the Muhammadiyah family,” said Haedar on Wednesday (22/2).
Haedar encouraged all Muhammadiyah young generation to bear in mind the roles of national heroes and Muhammadiyah figures, including Soekarno.
Besides Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, Kasman Singodimedjo, and Muhammadiyah figures, who were national heroes, Soekarno was an authentic member because K.H. Ahmad Dahlan immediately taught him. Together with Fatmawati, Soekarno’s family was the Muhammadiyah family.
“Soekarno said he became a spiritual and intellectual student of Ahmad Dahlan since they met in Tjokroaminoto’s house in Surabaya when Soekarno was 18. Ahmad Dahlan taught Soekarno religious understanding until Soekarno proclaimed he would like to became a member of Muhammadiyah because the movement and he shared the same thought on progressive Islam (Islam Berkemajuan),” said Haeadr.
Being exiled in Bengkulu from 1938 to 1942, Soekarno was officially assigned as the leader of the Muhammadiyah Council for Education and Teaching.
“When closing the Half-Century Congress of Muhammadiyah in 1962, Soekarno said ‘the longer it took, the more I love Muhammadiyah’. He also regretted that Muhammadiyah didn’t deduct member fees during his being president,” said Haedar.
Besides, Fatmawati, Soekarno’s wife and Hasan Din’s daughter who was a member of Muhammadiyah of Bengkulu, was a member of Nasyiatul ‘Aisyiyah.
“When the capital city of Indonesia moved to Yogyakarta on 4 January 1946, Soekarno invited figures of Nasyiatul ‘Aisyiyah as Bayyinah, Badilah Zuber, and others to the Gedung Agung (the Great Building) of Yogyakarta. He said to them to involve Fatmawati in Nasyiatul ‘Aisyiyah again,” said Haedar.
“History mentioned that Fatwati was singing ‘Nasyiahku’ while sewing the red and white flag for the proclamation of independence in 1945,” said Haedar.
Haedar said that history should always be kept in our mind to enliven the spirit and cultivate nationality.
“The history inspires and tells us that Kiai Dahlan dan Nyai Dahlan were a statesman and stateswoman with thoughts of nationalism and Muhammadiyah’s Islamic religiosity,” said Haedar.