Muhammadiyah, Humanity and Indonesianness

This nation must be supported by a tradition of service to citizens in a collective way and mutual assistance in the midst of the hardships of life as a manifestation of empathy, mercy and compassion among human bein

DOKUMENTASI

Sukidi

Far from the commotion of postponing the general election that moves at the crossroads of the constitution, the signboards of "Dakwah Muhammadiyah Tampo Center" (Muhammadiyah Tampo Preaching Center) and "Pimpinan Aisyiyah Branch Tampo" (Tampo Branch of the Aisyiyah Leadership) in East Java were even sawed off, then torn down. No voice was heard from the leader of this republic to simply condemn this disgraceful behavior. In fact, the practice of persecution that also occurred in nine other persyarikatan (confederation) locations not only despised the humanitarian Islamic preaching struggle which became the main spirit of Muhammadiyah, but also sawed down the bonds of unity, diversity and Indonesianness that the founders of this republic had worked so hard to fight for.

Muhammadiyah is indeed much older than the Indonesian state. And the existence of this republic cannot be separated from Muhammadiyah. Even, this republic was founded by those who, among others, came from Muhammadiyah. "Brothers and sisters, I love Muhammadiyah more and more," Sukarno's speech at the 1962 Muhammadiyah congress in Jakarta.

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"When I was 15 years old," he continued, "I sympathized with Kiai Ahmad Dahlan so I kept following him obsessively. In 1938, I officially became a member of Muhammadiyah. In 1946, I asked not to cross my name out from Muhammadiyah. In 1962, I said, may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala give me a long life and if I die, I may be buried with the name Muhammadiyah on my shroud." More than that, "when I die someday," Sukarno made a will to the family, "ask for Hamka's willingness to be the imam of my funeral prayer" (Irfan Hamka, 2013). As one of Muhammadiyah's best scholars, Hamka rushed to Wisma Yaso to lead Sukarno's funeral prayer while remembering Sukarno's noble services in establishing two mosques for Muslims: Baiturrahim Mosque and Istiqlal Mosque.

The sawing and demolition of the Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah signboards clearly denigrate traces of the legacy and dedication given not only by Sukarno as a teacher and administrator of Muhammadiyah Bengkulu and his wife, Fatmawati, Aisyiyah administrator and red and white flag tailor, but also its founder, Kiai Dahlan, and the Muhammadiyah extended family all over the country.

The signboards that were sawed became a symbol of the identity, honor and struggle of Muhammadiyah's Islamic preaching, which had been dedicated to inclusive and universal humanity. Instead of being driven by self-interest and motives, the humanist Muhammadiyah is always oriented to others for the common good and benefits.

Humanity and compassion inspired by the noble example of Kiai Dahlan become the guide to practice Muhammadiyah. His attitude of life which was "ascetic, diligent, honest and likes to help others", according to the American anthropologist, James L Peacock (1978:34), has laid the foundational milestone of Muhammadiyah to serve inclusive humanity. "Live Muhammadiyah, don't look for life in Muhammadiyah" has become a valuable testament from Kiai Dahlan that is firmly recorded in the collective memory of all members of the confederation to devote life as a calling and at the same time Muhammadiyah's dedication to one and equal humanity, for the sake of Greater Indonesia.

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> Sustaining Unity in Diversity

> Freedom of Belief

Persecution of the honor and struggle of Muhammadiyah is blasphemy against true humanity and beloved Indonesia. The upholding of Greater Indonesia is not separated from the tradition of practicing life as a sincere vocation and dedication, which is a sign of Muhammadiyah's dedication to its beloved country, through education, hospitals and community service. So, in order to maintain the sanctity of Muhammadiyah's struggle in serving the country, never complain about what you get from the state. And don't ever beg for position and power to the government too because it only demeans honor and even tarnishes the sanctity of Muhammadiyah's struggle. The ethics of practicing Muhammadiyah properly is to animate the spirit of life as a call and sincere dedication to serve the country about what can always be carried out and dedicated to the advancement of Greater Indonesia through good deeds in the fields of education, hospitals and humanitarian services.

The tradition of equal, inclusive and universal humanitarian service for the sake of the establishment and glory of Greater Indonesia is precisely what the nation desperately needs today in the midst of polarization, suffering, egoism, greed, poverty and increasingly acute inequality. This nation must be supported by a tradition of service to citizens in a collective way and mutual assistance in the midst of the hardships of life as a concrete manifestation of empathy, mercy and compassion among human beings.

S U K I DI, Diversity Thinker

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.