Muhammadiyah as the oldest Islamic movement organization in Indonesia that still exists and is reformist has experienced a long journey in the history of the Indonesian nation, from before independence until now. At 111 years old today, Muhammadiyah has shown its maturity in managing the organization, facing national dynamics and taking part in its international role.
Who would have thought that it would be in the hands of Muhammad Darwis or more often known as KH. Ahmad Dahlan, Al-Maun’s letter became the compass of the Muhammadiyah movement which never ceases to be the cardinal direction and guidance for the life of the nation and state. Hundreds of schools from kindergartens to universities have been built by the Muhammadiyah movement, not only in Java, but also from the western to eastern tip of Indonesia, even in Asia, namely Malaysia and Australia. Muhammadiyah makes a major contribution in carrying out the duties of the Indonesian constitution, namely to make the nation’s life intelligent.
In the health aspect, Muhammadiyah is also not left behind, hundreds of hospitals and clinics have been built to provide real movement on health issues. In 1923, Muhammadiyah established PKO (Help for People’s Misery) as an embryo for the birth of the Muhammadiyah hospital.
Initially, the initiative of KH. Sudja’ regarding the construction of a PKO to provide health services for the poor around Yogyakarta at that time became a laughing stock, but because of the magnanimity of KH. Ahmad Dahlan provided space for Sudja’ to actualize these plans, such as building hospitals, orphanages and poor homes as an embodiment of KH’s teachings. Ahmad Dahlan regarding Al-Ma’un’s theology.
Then in humanitarian and social missions, Muhammadiyah has made many major contributions to the Indonesian state today, even in this aspect Muhammadiyah has made it a constructed focus in the Muhammadiyah Trisula movement of the second century, namely the Amil Zakat Infaq and Shadaqah Muhammadiyah (Lazismu) Institutions, the Community Empowerment Council (MPM), and Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC).
If we examine this movement further, we will find that Muhammadiyah plays a huge role in realizing real action on humanitarian issues for Indonesia and the world. Let’s briefly examine the real movements, contributions of Muhammadiyah to Indonesia and the world.
Amil Zakat Infaq and Sadaqah Muhammadiyah Institutions
Lazismu always tries to play a big role in alleviating the problem of poverty in Indonesia, this is demonstrated by actively carrying out philanthropic movements in various regions in collecting and distributing zakat, infaq and sadaqah. In 2019 to mid-2020, Lazismu nationally released data on the amount of zakat payment collection of up to Rp. 239 billion more, which was then distributed to the community.
Then, if we look today at the lazismu.org website, we will find the accumulation of zakat fitrah, fidyah payments, zakat on income, and company zakat which continues to be collected to be distributed later.
Apart from that, Lazismu also plays a role in the success of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) planned by the government by taking five roles out of 17 goals, namely education, economy, health, da’wah and humanity. This encouraged Lazismu to create concrete programs to realize these points, including creating Smart Schools, EdutabMu, and Timbang.
Smart Schools or Cheerful, Peaceful and Disaster Preparedness Schools are schools that integrate school preparation with the risk of disasters and violence. This school aims to provide risk mitigation teaching through culture and policy, in this case Lazismu also collaborates with MDMC.
Then, EdutabMu is a technology-based educational program to accelerate the quality of education during the pandemic. This program aims to alleviate the problem of gaps in access to technology in various regions.
Lastly, namely the Balanced Nutrition Capability Level (Timbang), this program collaborates with Nasyiatul Aisyiah in providing understanding to the community about the importance of preventing stunting by preparing action plans at the village to central level. In its journey, Lazismu, through these three programs, was awarded the best winner of Indonesia’s SDGS Action Awards 2022.
Then in the global aspect, Lazismu is actively involved in carrying out its humanitarian missions in several countries such as Palestine, England, India, Australia, Singapore, etc. In this case, Lazismu collaborates with MDMC through Muhammadiyah AID in helping disaster victims, holding qurban programs in conflict countries such as the Rohingya and Africa, participating in international conferences to build awareness of zakat, and currently what is happening is collecting and providing donations for our brothers and sisters.
Palestine aza in the form of clean water, medicines, hygiene kits, etc.
Community Empowerment Council Normatively, the formation of this assembly has been clarified by its name, namely the Community Empowerment Assembly (MPM). So this assembly has a special task in accelerating community empowerment in various regions in providing education and training according to needs by taking an ecological approach to human development.
In this case, there are at least four places that MPM is working on, namely providing awareness to the community regarding their rights and obligations as citizens, developing basic needs and also the income of marginalized/poor communities, becoming a policy advocate for marginalized groups, and finally develop a crisis center that builds a recovery center at the regional level to respond quickly to problems occurring in society.
Specifically, for example in the Lampung area, within a period of 10 years, from 2010 – 2020 MPM has carried out a program to plant 1000 sea pine trees, providing technical guidance regarding animal husbandry, plantations, fisheries and agriculture. In Sorong Regency, Papua, MPM initiated the formation of regional expansion so that the Kokoda tribe had a formal administrative area, in this case MPM carried out its role as an advocate by providing assistance to the Regency government.
Apart from that, MPM also held public discussions regarding agriculture in order to face El-Nino conditions. As well as preparing a Community Empowerment Cadre School (SEKAM) for Muhammadiyah cadres, with the aim of producing actors who can provide assistance to the community.
Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center
If we talk about MDMC, it is none other than that this institution operates as a disaster resilience, emergency response and post-disaster rehabilitation institution. This institution is said to be very active in responding to various disasters in Indonesia, ranging from floods, landslides, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters. Of course, in this case, MDMC members are equipped with SAR, health, public kitchen, socialization, logistics distribution, emergency bridge construction, emergency shelter, and psychosocial skills.
Domestically, MDMC has intervened in various natural disaster issues, on the other hand, MDMC also took part in making movements during the pandemic in Indonesia in particular, by creating One Muhammadiyah One Response (OMOR) together with Lazismu to be at the forefront in providing services for COVID sufferers. -19. Apart from being the front guard in disasters, MDMC also provides free mobile medical treatment in several areas.
MDMC’s role is not limited to the Indonesian archipelago, it even goes global. In the international arena, forming a network in the name of Muhammadiyah Aid, not only addresses disaster issues, but more than that, Muhammadiyah Aid operates in the space of social conflict and war. For example, in the conflict in Myanmar and Bangladesh in helping the Rohingya people, in the Philippines when there was a conflict between the government and MORO, then the conflict in Southern Thailand and Palestine. Muhammadiyah tries to be present in humanitarian missions by helping with logistics of basic materials and bridging dialogue between opposing camps, etc.
Some of these examples try to illustrate that Muhammadiyah as the oldest Islamic organization in Indonesia has demonstrated its existence to continue to move significantly for the progress of Indonesia and enlighten the world, spreading the message of progressive Islamic da’wah with concrete acceleration in carrying out changes and developments for the glory of the people.
*The author is someone who is quite active in writing in online media. Currently he is pursuing postgraduate education at the Department of Politics and Government at Gadjah Mada University (DPP UGM), is a researcher at the Leader of Indonesia UMJ, and is General Chair of the Cirendeu Branch of the Muhammadiyah Student Association.
By: Asyraf Al Faruqi Tuhulele
