Misreading radicalism in Muhammadiyah

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.