The Story Of Buya Hamka Rejects Honorary Rank Major General Tituler

JAKARTA - Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (Hamka) is a well-known Indonesian cleric. His contribution to the nation and state is second to none. Buya Hamka is actively involved in fighting against Dutch colonialism. His tongue and pen became a 'gun' his flag to move bumiputra to seize Indonesian independence.

Everyone admired him. Abdul Haris (AH) Nasution, one of them. The Indonesian Minister of Defense wanted to give him the rank of Major General Tituler. However, Hamka refused.

Buya Hamka grew and grew up during the Dutch colonial period. This fact made him often see the racism and inhumane treatment of the invaders to his nation. Inadequacy also made Hamka's guts against the Dutch even more burning.

He considers the one-on-one way to liberate the bumiputras is through education. The Holy Land of Makkah was chosen as his home', both looking for knowledge. In Makkah, Hamka does not only study religious knowledge, but also other sciences. He learned all kinds of knowledge.

He considers Indonesia's independence to be a form of revival of Islam in the archipelago. Therefore, Hamka's return to his homeland was used to spread knowledge and ideas of change. The goal is none other than to instill the nation's struggle for independence.

His struggle was continued with Hamka's involvement in Muhammadiyah. The Islamic organization became Hamka's vehicle to spread its ideas for a wider change. He also often traveled around the archipelago to give lectures and speeches to challenge Dutch colonialism. Hamka's attitude did not change, even Hamka's guts did not fade until the revolutionary era.

Hamka got into the struggle too. A strong lesson about the politics he got in Medan made him swear to limit revolutionary efforts on the tongue and the pen. But he was soon involved in the action. In Minangkabau, Hamka is a member of the family of the founder of Muhammadiyah. Even after being removed to Medan. In May 1946 he became the leader of the organization in West Sumatra and continued to serve until December 1949.

At one point he also joined the regional leadership council of Masyumi, a newly rising Islamic political party representing Muhammadiyah and rivals, a traditional Islamist organization based in Java, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and held several important positions in the Revolutionary Cabinet. He often traveled, touring Muhammadiyah branches in Minangkabau to build the organization, gather support for the republic through a burning speech, religious lecture, and sell books he brought in baskets, "said James R. Rush in the book Adi cerita Hamka(2018).

Hamka's contribution to the country and the nation is quite large. AH Nasution agreed. Hamka's son, Irfan Hamka, revealed that his father was invited by AH Nasution to his office in 1960. The Commander of ABRI who is also the Minister of Defense saw the figure of Buya Hamka so special in the eyes of the Indonesian people.

Hamka, according to him, is a figure who actively gathers the power of the people of West Sumatra and Riau during the Dutch colonialism and the era of Indonesia's independence revolution. Hamka was able to move them to fight to escape the shackles of Dutch colonialism.

As an appreciation for Hamka's great services, AH Nasution wants to award him the honorary rank of Major General. The title is tentative, his name. An honorary title was obtained without carrying out the duties of the position as one on his title.

The offer of honor at that time was very profitable. The owner of the rank can get the same facilities as the Major General of the career. Hamka also asked for time to think about it. He asked for the opinion of many parties, including his wife.

Buya Hamka got the answer according to his heart's wishes. Hamka and his family chose to refuse the title. The man who is familiarly called Bung Haji came to AH Nasution to give his answer directly.

He also gave reasons to AH Nasution. His refusal was none other than because Hamka wanted to focus on the path of da'wah and writing. Moreover, he felt he was unable to work optimally if he had to accept the title of Major General because of his busy schedule of developing Islam.

"I have been considered ulama by the community and my hobby is only writing, of course, these things will more or less hinder my duties as a Major General even though it is Tituler," said Hamka as written by his son, Irfan Hamka in his father's book: Buya Hamka's Story (2013).