REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Ahmad Syafii Maarif

Powerful and influential position is determinant position, not the position of helper, as it has been played by Muhammadiyah for over a century. From the verb of makuna which means powerful and influential, then the verb two is makkana be makkannâhum (We have given them a strong position and influence) may be in the form of state power which has a right to rule and ban.

In this regard, what had been done by Muhammadiyah then limited to the moral-social position, not a position of power to prevent the wrongdoing. In the realm of this wrongdoing, not only Muhammadiyah, but Indonesia itself even sometimes as helpless, because the strength of the black power.

In a position as a helper, whether Muhammadiyah sure that it will succeed in achieving the purposes set out in its statutes? More than a century of experience gave a negative answer. Actually, the nation independence and the long experience gave great opportunities for Muhammadiyah to change its status not just merely as a helper, but also as a determinant.

Indeed, there had been many efforts in that direction, but it has never been effective, because Muhammadiyah from the beginning was not designed to take care of the state. Is this such situation would be continued in the second century of history of Muhammadiyah existence? Is national insight Muhammadiyah not need to be sharpened to deal with the changing times?

This question requires deep thought to answer it, because it is not very simple. But the gentlemen and ladies do not misunderstand it, this thinking for the long term, completely free of political pragmatism side. Muhammadiyah ever helped establish a political party, even once became Orsolpol (socio-political organization), but all the experience was valuable, and even bitter. Therefore, I am among those who oppose, if there are the thought that Muhammadiyah was transforming itself into a political party. If it happens, then you could imagine the magnitude of the mission in the social realm of humanity will fall apart. Politics could be a deadly poison in their hands who were weak in faith and weak in economics

Then, how? It should be remembered that the position as helper remains as helpers, as mentioned above, is not a determinant for the nation’s journey, especially when dealing with issues of wrongdoing, Muhammadiyah was helpless.

Covered in the realm of wrongdoing are all kinds of corruption, environmental degradation, oil mafia, immigration mafia, illegal fishing, tax mafia, outsmart the state budgets (APBN) / the local budgets (APBD) / the state-owned enterprises (BUMN) / the regions-owned enterprises (BUMD), and all sorts of foul and odious acts that damaged the joints of the nation's moral and impoverish the people. To an extent that far, Muhammadiyah was just as mere spectators with the others, did not have any strength to fight it.

An Islamic movement that is determined to command what is right and what is wrong in preventing any position as a helper is impossible to be able to do much for the interests of the nation and the state.

If this logic is correct, then it needs to be re-examined in a quiet, but critical, Muhammadiyah relationship with the state. If the Muhammadiyah’s role remains limited that has been done for so long, then that will be applicable are: when this nation fell as a failed state, for example, Muhammadiyah was definitely collapsed. Status as a helper has no other choice but to follow the bad luck that helped.

Had bad luck that if really occurs (may we be spared), then all network of charitable and efforts of Muhammadiyah will fall one by one. And the shadow of an Islamic society truthfully will remain live as a shadow and then sank with Indonesia being swallowed by the cruelty of the times, because we did not have skilled to set strategy for the survival of a nation and state strategically through in-depth study.

Because not as a political party, Muhammadiyah impressed giddy when dealing with politics, but would be disappointed if the cadres were not taken into account in the affairs of the state. Such a situation was not too surprising, because as it has been said that Muhammadiyah was not designed to take care of state politics.

So do not be surprised, if the Muhammadiyah cadres lack the confidence to go into the battle arena and competition which was not uncommon to justify all the way in the midst of an increasingly massive of wrong doing.

Facing all this, it needs to find a new breakthrough which is more thoughtful to formulate Muhammadiyah relationship with the state, in order to achieve the symbiotic position (mutually beneficial) between the two.

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