Muhammadiyah Calls Wasathiyah Islam At Global Level Important

General Chairperson of PP Muhammadiyah Haedar Nasir at the pre-conference seminar "Internationalization of the Muhammadiyah Movement" which was attended online. (AMONG)

JAKARTA - The Central Executive of Muhammadiyah emphasized the importance and relevance of progressive Islamic Wasathiyah at the global level in accordance with the mandate of the 44th congress which was strengthened at the 47th congress in Makassar.

"What is needed now is further development in the revitalization and internationalization transformation of the Muhammadiyah movement," said PP Muhammadiyah Chair Haedar Nashir in a pre-congress seminar that was attended online from Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, May 30.

Haedar said that Muhammadiyah's internationalization program was a step of the association since its inception. The idea of advancing Islamic understanding of internationalization continues to this day.

The goal, he said, was as a form of endeavor and propaganda for advancing Islam to the world community. "The next phase is to give Muhammadiyah a more massive and systematic impact and presence in the international world," he said.

He explained that Muhammadiyah was here to transform the enlightenment movement in the world of humanity. This means that Muhammadiyah residents must have awareness as part of the world's citizens who uphold solidarity and universal responsibility.

"Regardless of differences and separation of distances that are primordial and conventional," he said.

Haedar also encouraged Muhammadiyah to produce alternative ideas. The Wasathiyah understanding of progressive Islam is very relevant in the context of what Haedar calls the paradox of progress.

That is, the world provides the widest possible space for democracy, human rights, pluralism, and multiculturalism. However, sometimes these ideas reduce the key to the nation's religion and culture.

The paradox of progress, he said, is also responsible for climate change and environmental damage. Damaged natural conditions will have an impact on the economy, politics, culture, and religion.

Haedar believes that from all these global problems, Islamic Wasathiyah understanding can be a new antidote and alternative. "Muhammadiyah with advanced Islam needs to come back to strengthen the role of revitalization and transformation at the global level," he said.