MUHAMMADIYAH AND SOCIETY/HUMANITARIAN SERVICES

A PAPER SUBMITTED AS FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF MID-TERM TEST THE PHILOSOPHY OF MUHAMMADIYAH By WIHYAN AWLINA HENI DEWAYANI ANNAS SURDYANTO

ENGLISH POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM THE UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH PROF. DR. HAMKA JAKARTA 2012

MUHAMMADIYAH AND SOCIETY/ HUMANITARIAN SERVICES A. THE NORMATIVE/THEORY Muhammadiyah was established in Dhulhijjah 1330 or November 18, 1912 by K.H. Ahmad Dahlan. Muhammadiyah as a reformist organization to realize the Quran verse Ali Imran, 104; it means that we are the best people UMMAH being chosen by Allah who have duty to order people: 1. 2. 3. to enjoy goodness to command the truth to prohibit the wrong doing In 1868, Islam being affected by Syeh Siti Jenars doctrine who put the king as a representative of God, at that time people believed that the king ordered is similar to a command of God. Syariah Islam shifted towards superstition and mysticism meanwhile poverty or poorness and also foolishness are intense spread out as a result commanded of political cultivation by Dutch government. Religion could not overcome the situation for being too busy with mysticism which is against our basic guidance AlQuran and As Sunah. The movements of Muhammadiyah reached all of the sectors; economy, social, education, religion, and soon. Muhammadiyah is consistent to rise social/ humanitarian welfare, so that Muhammadiyah is doing many thigs to develop social welfare.
The missionary activity of Muhammadiyah does not stand in verbal missionary activity as speech and lecturing only. It is implemented well by providing social and humanitarian services.

B. THE PHILOSOPHY It is redundant that Muhammadiyah is called as the biggest modern social organization in the world. The course of history of Muhammadiyah is never tempted to move from course as a social organization. Thus, it can be kept the sustainability of concerns and activities in social or humanitarian services. The missionary activity of Muhammadiyah does not stand in verbal missionary activity as speech and lecturing only. It is implemented well by providing social and humanitarian services. This implementation is felt directly by the societies as a beneficial activity that comes from the real social organization such as building hospital, orphanage and many others social foundations.1 Its movement which is implemented by some real actions, such as in social, has influenced millions of Indonesian to face a better life and future as well. Muhammadiyahs consistency in constructing and engineering a new society of Indonesia since its establishment perhaps provides a fertile media for most of Indonesian to contribute the countrys development. Therefore, this movement has been supported by Indonesian people since the increasing of its members from time to time.2

1 2

Muhammadiyah Pemberdayaan Umat (http://rohmanalbantani.blogspot.com/2010/01/muhammadiyahs-roles-in-designingmodern.html)

C. A PART OF QURAN AND HADITS

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1. Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? 2. For that is the one who drives away the orphan. 3. And does not encourage the feeding of the poor. 4. So woe to those who pray. 5. [But] who are heedless of their prayer. 6. Those who make show [of their deeds]. 7. And withhold [simple] assistance.

Muhammadiyah social movement is inspired by Al Quran and Al Hadits, the one is surah Al Maun that commands people to encourage and feeding of the poor and also the orphans. It was stated in Muhammadiyah website that Social-public program and activity done by Muhammadiyah suitable with the spirit of Surah Al-Maun needs to be more focused and can be directly beneficial for people,so this Islamic movement truly becomes the main strategic pillar in the grassroots.

D. THE INSPIRING REGULATION It was in agreement that the supporting factors of Muhammadiyah comes from an anxiety and concerns, the one is social factor which was caused by the poverty, foolishness and the retarded of society in Indoensia, especially in Kauman, Yogyakarta. KH. Ahmad Dahlan considered the need of leader that has wide insights and social care. In this perspective, Muhammadiyah is motivated by the reality, an awareness that stands in social responsibility that at that time was ignored by the society.3

E. HISTORICAL/PRACTICAL In the end of 19th century, Indonesia that had not been freedom yet was governed by the Netherlands. Indonesia was very rich with very much natural wealth but the Indonesian society was very poor because the natural wealth was explored by the government. The state of Indonesian society was very concerned due to the colonialism hold by Netherlands. Indonesian society was very long time live in poverty and very harm system while the colonial live with richness and power. Furthermore, Indonesian society also lived in stupidity because they did not have sufficient chance and facility to study. There were some issues that resided so long in the society. The most apparent social issues were poverty and stupidity. Poverty became a main source of all problems in Indonesian society. From the poverty, the issues vined towards the stupidity. Because the society was poor, they had no
3

Op.cit.

awareness to study. This situation was getting worse when the colonials limited the opportunity to study in school for merchants only. The situations of Indonesian society made KH Ahmad Dahlan determined to conduct an organization. In 1912 he found the organization named Muhammadiyah which purposes as a place for social movements 4. It is in line with what he said in Sang Pencerah Movie, perkumpulan itu untuk pergerakan sosial kita.5 This statement shows that Muhammadiyah was found to be a social movement. This is the main gate of Muhammadiyah movements to the society.

KH

Ahmad

Dahlan

as

Muhammadiyah founder started applying what Islam taught to the people. He taught his

students to help beggars and orphans then inviting them to study. KH Ahmad Dahlans students looked for the beggars and orphans around Kauman. They gave food and facilitated them to study and taught them knowledge. This is the beginning of changes hold by Muhammadiyah through KH Ahmad Dahlan and his students. Nowadays, Muhammadiyah has well known as a reformist movement. It is an organization purposes to uphold and reverse Islam in

Ahmad Rizky Mardhatillah Umar, http://sosbud.kompasiana.com/2010/05/27/muhammadiyah-akar-sosial-danpembaharuan-151519.html. 5 Sang Pencerah Movie.

order to realize the real Islamic society. In Muhammadiyah view, the real Islamic society is the society who lives in the truth way of Islam based on Al Quran and Al Hadits. To reach the objective of Muhammadiyah moves directly to the society by correcting deviations that had been so long applied by the society.6

http://www.muhammadiyah.or.id/en/content-55-det-program-kerja.html