The Muhammadiyah Movement in Aceh in the Dutch Colonial Period

Abstract

Muhammadiyah, which is a Muslim modernist organization in Indonesia was set up in Yogyakarta, the old capital of the Mataram kingdom, in 1912 by K. H. Ahmad Dahlan. The aim of this organization is to uphold and to uplift the Religion of Islam so as to create the true Islamic society. In addition to that, its activities include socio-educational movements, e. g., to build hospitals, clinics, and Muhammadiyah schools. Dahlan submitted the petition regarding the activities of Muhammadiyah to the Dutch colonial government. At first these activities were permitted only within the special region of Yogyakarta, and in 1921 the Dutch govenor-general gave the permission any where in the Dutch East Indies to Muhammadiyah.Aceh, the northern area of Sumatra Island, was called “Serambi Mekkah (the Verandah of Mecca).” Muhammadiyah established two branches in Kutaraja and Sigli towards the end of 1920s. The former was capital of Aceh Islamic Kingdom, and the latter was a coastal city of the Malacca Strait. People in Minangkabau (West Sumatra) played an very important role in establishing these two branches in Aceh. Soetan Mansoer, one of Muhammadiyah leaders in Minangkabau, was sent to make the Muhammadiyah branch in these areas by the central board of Muhammadiyah in 1927. He succeeded in building up the Muhammadiyah branches in Kutaraja and Sigli. These branches were formally recognized by the central board in 1928.In 1927 Teuku Muhammad Hasan became the first president of Muhammadiyah Kutaraja Branch. His father was a ruler of Glumpang Payung (Pidie Prefecture). When Hasan graduated from the Teacher's College (Kweekschool) in Bukittingi, he got a job in the Dutch local government in Kutaraja. As a president he struggled with some difficult problems to start on the right lines of Muhammadiyah movement in Kutaraja. One of his important activities for Muhammadiyah was to found Muhammadiyah H. I. S. (Dutch speaking native elementary school) in Kutaraja. This school was established in 1928 by the Muhammadiyah members in Kutaraja, and it started with 99 pupils who were from Aceh, Minangkabau, and Java. Muhammad Hasan took up his post as Muhammadiyah Consul (Muhammadiyah president of the Aceh region) (1930-35).It was very hard to settle the Muhammadiyah branch in Sigli, because many problems occured between the members of Muhammadiyah there. In Particular, the conservative Muslim leaders in Sigli did not like the women members of Muhammadiyah who made up Aisjijah, women's organation of Muhammadiyah. The Aisjijah members in Sigli were called ‘Haji of 120 ketip (small money)’ which meant stingy Muslim women. They were also called the women who believed the new religion. But they were not defeated by these stubborn religious leaders in Sigli. Aisjijah members of Sigli succeeded in establishing Mushalla (women's prayer house) in 1928. It was a great success of Aisjijah movement in Sumatra.The Muhammadiyah Branch in Sigli founded Muhammadiyah H. I. S. in 1930. This was a seven year elementary school which taught worldly subjects as well as religious ones. The curriculum of the first class was as follows: Islamic religion, Dutch, Indonesian language, mathematics, penmanship, drawings, music, and so on. The pupils of this school increased day by day, and it drew the attention of the public.Although it is said that the Muhammadiyah movement in Aceh did not play an important role in the history of Muhammadiyah, the bad conditions surrounding the establishment of the Muhammadiyah branches in Aceh should be considerd. It is very important to understand the actual conditions of the Muhammadiyah movement in Aceh.In July the 43st national congress of Muhammadiyah will be held in Aceh.