MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir highlighted the key differences between the theology of Al-Ma’un and Marxist theory, particularly in their approach to supporting marginalized communities.
“Al-Ma’un advocates for both the poor (mustad’afin) and the wealthy. Why? Because the wealthy have a role in empowering the poor. The Quranic message in this surah is directed at those who have wealth, reminding them of their responsibility to care for the less fortunate,” explained Haedar at the Ramadan preaching at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) on Sunday, March 9.
Haedar emphasized that Al-Ma’un criticized those who claim to be religious but fail to care for orphans and the needy. This differs from Marxism and Neo-Marxism, which position the poor in direct opposition to the wealthy. Islam supports both the poor and the rich.
Haedar also referenced dr. Soetomo, who interpreted Al-Ma’un as a theology of compassion while establishing Muhammadiyah hospital (PKU) in Surabaya in 1924.
Haedar also referenced dr. Soetomo, who in 1924, while establishing Muhammadiyah’s PKU Hospital in Surabaya, interpreted Al-Ma’un as a theology of compassion. dr. Soetomo construed that the wealthy are responsible for helping those in need. He contrasted this with the Darwinian concept of “struggle for life,” which suggests only the strongest thrive.
“Thus, Muhammadiyah preachers should adopt a mindset of empowerment, not conflict, when discussing poverty and social justice. Our focus should be on uplifting, liberating, and supporting the poor without turning against the wealthy,” emphasized Haedar.
Haedar also noted the increasing number of tahfidz (Qur’an memorization) institutions but stressed that they should stay connected to Muhammadiyah broader intellectual framework, which includes Qur’anic interpretation and Islamic sciences.
“This effort is valuable, but it should not stop at memorization alone,” said Haedar.
