Muhammadiyah Progressives Rise Under Prabowo’s Leadership

Muhammadiyah⁤ has a tradition of progressive thinking within its own ranks.

One example is the Young Muhammadiyah⁣ Intellectual Network (JIMM),a group of young activists within Muhammadiyah who made headlines in the 2000s with their call ⁢for intellectual renewal‌ and reform of Muhammadiyah, opposing ​conservatives in the organisation’s leadership.

This tradition ​is not new.⁢ since ‍its establishment in ‍1912,there have been progressive leaders and ‌intellectuals who have sought to challenge the religious‌ orthodoxy,embrace social justice,and compete with more ​conservative and state-aligned factions within the group.

Now, the latest debate within Muhammadiyah over its decision to accept a mining concession from the Prabowo Subianto government has led to the ascent of new progressive⁤ elements within the organisation.

Unlike JIMM activists, these‌ new progressives⁣ advocate social and environmental justice⁤ and are‍ heavily critical of muhammadiyah’s venture into mining.

The ‘green’ environmentalists

One prominent progressive group within muhammadiyah, ‘Muhammadiyah Green⁢ Cadres’ (KHM, Kader Hijau Muhammadiyah), ‌advocates an Islamic vision of environmental justice.

Its Manifesto mentions the rising number of agrarian ‍conflicts and environmental destr

Muhammadiyah Leaders Debate Coal Mining Concession

A debate is unfolding​ within the Indonesian Islamic institution Muhammadiyah ⁢regarding the ethics of accepting a coal mining concession from the government. The discussion centers on whether fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) should prioritize societal benefit ​(maslahat) ⁢or broader ethical and environmental considerations.

Ulil Abshar-Abdalla, a prominent Indonesian Islamic intellectual, has argued for accepting the concession if it benefits society. However, Niki Alma Febriana Fauzi, a lecturer at⁤ Ahmad Dahlan University and member⁢ of muhammadiyah’s Majelis Tarjih (peak‍ religious body), challenges this view. Fauzi asserts that ⁢ fiqh is grounded in ‍a wider ethical framework that includes protecting nature,not just humanity and religion.

“Fiqh is not simply a matter of what is good or bad for societies (maslahat and mafsadat),” Fauzi⁢ contends, drawing on Muhammadiyah’s⁣ approach to ‌ fiqh as developed by the Majelis Tarjih.

Fauzi ⁣points to scientific evidence demonstrating the⁢ negative environmental​ impacts of coal mining. ‌ She advocates for a just energy transition away ​from fossil fuels, aligning with ​similar ​calls from other young Muhammadiyah intellectuals like Hening.

Muhammadiyah Chairman Haedar Nashir has also‌ weighed in, writing in Suara Muhammadiyah ⁤ on September 26, ​2023, that opponents ​of ⁣the mining concession‍ pre-judge mining as inherently harmful. Nashir’s statement emphasizes the importance of sustainable natural​ resource management.