Professor from South Korea: Muhammadiyah Remains Moderate

PPIM.UINJKT.AC.ID – Professor of Anthropology from Kangwon National University Korea Selatan, Hyung-Jun Kim, said that Muhammadiyah was a moderate Muslim organization, and it remained so until now.

He made the statement on Friday (17/7) in a virtual seminar series of #ModerasiBeragama (Religious Moderation) themed “Indonesianists Talking about Religious Moderation: from Indonesia to the world”, that was organized by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta through Convey Indonesia program.

Kim had studied about Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization established in 1912, for long time. It had also become the main focus of his research. Although there were many people considering that Muhammadiyah was puritan and conservative, Kim noted that the main ideology adopted by the organization was very conducive and open to the development of religious moderation.

He defined conducive as having egalitarian principles. Therefore, he was sure that the basic principle of moderation had been deeply rooted in Muhammadiyah. He was also of the opinion that the equality upheld by the organization proved that it was open to diversity.

“Muhammadiyah adopts egalitarian [equality] ideology. All members are equal, regardless to their positions in the organization,” Kim said

Kim also saw Muhammadiyah as a democratic organization, with all decisions related to the organization being made through an accommodative discussion forum. To select a new chairman, for example, the organization held a general election, free from any domination of certain figures or parties.

“Muhammadiyah holds discussion forums in a very appropriate way. It respects and listens to all opinions from its members,” he said.

Besides Kim, the discussion that was moderated by Convey Indonesia Team Leader Jamhari Makruf also presented other Indonesianists as speakers, including Tim Lindsey from the University of Melbourne, Takeshi Kohno from the Toyo Eiwa University, and Eva Fachrunnisa from the Australian National University.

Writer: Aptiani Nur Jannah
Editor: M. Nida Fadlan