Misreading radicalism in Muhammadiyah

Imam Cahyono, Jakarta

The article titled Muhammadiyah's new chairman and the future of its liberalism by Ahmad Najib Burhani (The Jakarta Post, July 12) was quite interesting. His article explained Muhammadiyah's future challenge is the rise of radical Islam within the organization. The election of Din Syamsuddin at the 45th congress was seen as the victory of the radical front. Besides Din Syamsuddin, the hard-liners are Yunahar Ilyas and Dahlan Rais who took the fifth and seventh places among the 13 elected executives.

Ahmad's article said that although Ali Imron, Amrozi, Ja'far Umar Thalib and Abu Bakar Ba'ashir were hard-liners in Muhammadiyah they had no place in the movement. So they left the organization and established new movements or joined radical movements such as Hizbut Tahrir, Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI) and Lasykar Jihad.

His article is superficial because that is not supported by a strong argument.

First, it is too early to judge whether the future of Muhammadiyah under Din Syamsuddin's leadership will move to the right-wing. It is important to note that even though hard-liners such as Yunahar Ilyas and Dahlan Rais took the fifth and seventh places, but most of the 13 members on the executive board, such as Malik Fadjar, Rosyad Soleh and Haedar Nashir are moderate Muslims.

Besides, the use of the term "radical" in reference to Muhammadiyah is inaccurate. Using that term could make people think Muhammadiyah poses a threat, as though it is home to radical and militant Islam.

Truly, what has happened in Muhammadiyah is a battle of discourse and influence. On one side is the conservative front leaded by Majelis Tabligh and on the other side, the moderate front leaded by the Network of Young Intellectuals of Muhammadiyah (JIMM). It happened because they have different perspectives. Majlis Tabligh speak according to the letter of sacred writings, particularly the Koran and Hadith.

However, the activities of Majlis Tabligh so far are focused on dakwah (Islamic proselytizing). They tend to use an orthodox method but they are not radical, nor are they destructive. They do not use the Koran to proclaim holy war or to justify violence or mass murder.

The other front is JIMM, an association of young men based on progressive ideas, which promotes a critical, interpretative method of reading the Koran and Hadith in an historical context. For JIMM, the texts and traditions on which any faith's practice are based are open to multiple interpretations. JIMM also endorses a peaceful and tolerant Islam.

Second, connecting Ali Imron, Amrozi, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir and Jafar Umar Thalib with Muhammadiyah could be misleading. It is true that Ali Imron, Amrozi, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir and Jafar Umar Thalib are Wahabi followers. They come from a modernist Muslim background and consequently, they have modernist views as does Muhammadiyah. Nevertheless they have never been a part of Muhammadiyah.

Ba'asyir has never been listed as a Muhammadiyah member. Similarly, Ja'far Umar Thalib never joined Muhammadiyah.

Amrozi and Ali Imron were born into a Muhammadiyah environment. Their parents are Muhammadiyah followers. But Amrozi and Ali Imron at no time joined Muhammadiyah. They have close ties with Pondok Ngruki because they studied there.

The characteristics of the Ngruki Network are completely different from Muhammadiyah's. The fundamental character of Muhammadiyah since it was founded in 1912 is as a religious and social movement. Its main concerns and targets have been community development as it strives to empower the poor.

As it was founded by K.H. Ahmad Dahlan, Muhammadiyah is a social-religious movement base on amar ma'ruf nahi munkar(ask other people to do good deeds) to develop the community by building education institutions and providing social services. Muhammadiyah has been promoting Islam as a religion of tolerance. It has never taught its members to make a bomb or support the idea of an Islamic state or any other act of violence. Therefore, the use of the term radical is misguided.

As a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Ahmad should be more logical and use valid methodology in his arguments.

His article paints a picture of "intellectual carelessness", which could be a fatal mistake. As a result, LIPI could lose its credibility and integrity in the eyes of the public.

The writer is a researcher at the al Maun Institute and an activist of the Network of Young Intellectuals of Muhammadiyah (JIMM). He can be reached at icahyo17@yahoo.com.