Ghazza Jaudat Fastmadhi1, Nazwa Svenska Aulia Fastmadhi2, Deddi Fasmadhy Satiadharmanto3
Al Mu’min Muhammadiyah Islamic Boarding School Tembarak Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia1, Al Mu’min Muhammadiyah Islamic Boarding School Tembarak Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia2, Postgraduate Islamic Studies, Kediri State Islamic Institute, Kediri City, East Java2
Abstract: This study aims to analyze the influence of Muhammad Abduh’s thoughts on Muhammadiyah’s resistance to the Nipponization policy by the Japanese government during the occupation of the Dutch East Indies and its implications in the contemporary era. In 1942, Japan took control of the Dutch East Indies under the pretext of liberating the region from Dutch colonization and leveraging the majority Muslim population to support their struggle against the Allies. Japan adopted a deep approach to Islam by promoting Islamic studies and establishing relationships with local Islamic leaders, including Muhammadiyah. This research uses a qualitative method with a literature review approach to explore the impact of Muhammadiyah’s resistance to Nipponization and the stigmatization of Islam in the contemporary era. Analyzing relevant literature, including books, journal articles, archival documents, and historical reports, shows that Muhammad Abduh’s modern, rational, and theological thinking provided an intellectual foundation for Muhammadiyah figures in confronting the Nipponization policy. Abduh emphasized the importance of education without the dichotomy between religious and general sciences, the development of educational institutions, a holistic curriculum, and a critical and rational teaching methodology. His ideas on education and socio-political reform inspired Muhammadiyah’s resistance to Japan’s attempts to control Muslims through propaganda and programs such as the People’s Power Center (Putera). The results of the study indicate that Muhammadiyah’s resistance not only maintained the cultural and religious identity of Muslims amid Japanese pressure but also shaped their strategies in facing the challenge of Islam’s stigmatization by secular groups today. Muhammad Abduh’s thoughts remain relevant in both historical and modern contexts, playing an important role in preserving Islamic identity and values amidst various external challenges.
Keywords : Muhammad Abduh, Muhammadiyah, Nipponization, Islamic Education, Japanese Occupation, Islam Stigmatization, Cultural Identity, Literature Review
Muhammadiyah’s adaptability in the face of Nipponization was rooted in its intellectual foundation, inspired by the thought of Muhammad Abduh. Abduh’s emphasis on rationality, ijtihad (independent interpretation), and the preservation of Islamic aqidah (belief) provided the organization with a framework for engaging critically with Japanese policies and their implications for Indonesian Islam.
By employing education and critical awareness as key strategies, Muhammadiyah sought to equip Indonesian Muslims with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate and respond to Nipponization effectively. This approach enabled the organization to maintain its Islamic agenda while resisting aspects of Japanese policies that threatened the core values of Indonesian Islam. For example, Muhammadiyah actively promoted the importance of rejecting practices such as Seikerei, which contradicted Islamic teachings.
In addition, Muhammadiyah demonstrated its adaptability by leveraging its position within Indonesian society to engage constructively with aspects of Nipponization that aligned with Islamic principles. By doing so, the organization not only preserved the integrity of Islamic faith but also showcased the compatibility of Islam with elements of modernity and progress.
Muhammadiyah’s successful navigation of the challenges posed by Nipponization during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia highlights the organization’s adaptability and resilience in the face of foreign pressures. By balancing adaptation and resistance, Muhammadiyah demonstrated its commitment to upholding Islamic principles while engaging constructively with contemporary challenges. Their efforts continue to inform the intellectual trajectory of Indonesian Islam and its engagement with sociopolitical issues in the modern era. The Japanese foreign policy in the Dutch East Indies, particularly through Nipponization, underscores the importance of aligning foreign strategies with local values and beliefs. Muhammadiyah’s response to these policies exemplifies how religious and cultural organizations can maintain their core principles while engaging with external forces. This period of occupation serves as a reminder of the delicate interplay between foreign
Tulisan ini di tulis oleh santri ALMATERA – Ghazza Jaudat dan Nazwa Svenska. Tulisan paper ini telah diterima pihak jurnal Al Hayat