Muhammadiyah Will Always be Committed to the Advancement of the Nation

As Muhammadiyah enters its 107th year, its commitment to building the nation cannot be doubted. Thousands of Muhammadiyah Ventures (AUM) are spread throughout Indonesia. This year, Muhammadiyah ventures will take the theme of “Educating the Life of the Nation”. Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Board (PP) Dr. H. Haedar Nashir, M.SI emphasized that Muhammadiyah will always take part in the progress of education in order to educate the nation’s life.
“Muhammadiyah through the efforts Kyai Ahmad Dahlan and Nyai Dahlan as well as its early generation 107 years ago have etched a place in the history of the nation, one of them by educating the people of the nation. The early generations of this movement educated the nation with a foundation of Islamic values and the Iqra ‘tradition,  the first revelation from Allah SWT to the Prophet Muhammad,” He said when delivering his speech at the 107th Muhammadiyah Anniversary, Monday (11/19) in the Sportorium Building of the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY).
Haedar also explained that in addition to formal education, character education should also be highly considered for the people of Indonesia. He explained that intelligence has a sharp meaning in the human mind and ingenuity. The efforts of Muhammadiyah in educating the people of the nation not only sharpens the mind and ingenuity, but also the culture, environment, and the systems in which humans live. Human beings cannot read by using the mind alone. It must be supported with human hearts and minds, what is known in Islam as Tafakur, Tadabur and Tasyakur.
“The tradition to educate in Islam was founded on the mission of the prophet’s journey, building the mind based on His noble character. By reading and with noble morals, Islam was able to become an advanced civilization. From there, Islam has illuminated the masses and gave color to the new civilization. From there, Kyai Dahlan adopted that tradition and continued it for the progress of this nation through Muhammadiyah, “he added.
Time has passed, but Muhammadiyah continued to take part in the progress of the people, the nation, and the universe. Muhammadiyah’s efforts to educate never stop, with thousands of schools, 20 thousand Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal Kindergarten (TK ABA), 166 Muhammadiyah Universities (PTM) and all Muhammadiyah ventures (AUM) are a part of the movement to educate the nation’s people.

“We hope that even after this 107-year journey, Muhammadiyah will continue to shine and illuminate the age and universe, bringing an intellectual voice to educate the people, nation and humanity as a whole,” he concluded.

Continue and finish the dreams of Ahmad Dahlan
On the same occasion, the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X stated that Muhammadiyah’s position has always taken the middle ground in actively providing solutions for this nation. “Muhammadiyah is always present to calm down the atmosphere by providing wise solutions through the interpretation of Islamic teachings to unite the brotherhood in the life of the nation and state,” He said.
Sri Sultan mentioned that Kyai Ahmad Dahlan always thought ahead, so that what Muhammadiyah has done can be acceptable in every era. He also invited the cadres to reflect on the values that had been carried by Ahmad Dahlan in order to always carry out the great ideals of the founder of the Muhammadiyah. These messages and values are not only demanded from the cadres but also an obligation that must be completed by all nations.
“As a reformist movement with expressions of sincerity, students must be progressive. These aphorisms seem to remind everyone in Muhammadiyah to continue and complete the reformation movement as when it was born. The message and the reformation movement proved to not only be limited to Muhammadiyah residents. It has even become a demand of the whole nation, “he concluded. (ak)