The Implications of Hamka’s thoughts in tafsir al-Azhar on the standpoint of Islamic social organizations in preventing authoritarianism in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesian Islamic social organizations not only function as religious organizations but they serve as interest groups as well. Islamic social organizations are often faced with a dilemma of engaging in practical political matters or otherwise. This study analyzes thoughts and practices relating to the relationship between Islamic social organizations and the state. Study data were mined from Hamka’s thoughts in his seminal work Tafsir al-Azhar and historical documents of Muhammadiyah and the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia – MUI) during the early period of the New Order, i.e., 1970-1980. The research questions posed in this study refer to how did Hamka interpret Qur’anic verses containing messages regarding the relationship between society and state and what are their implications on the practices of Indonesian Islamic social organizations in their relational dynamics with the state. Study results indicate that Hamka’s thoughts in Tafsir al-Azhar consider syura (deliberation) as a determinant in the relationship between society and state, and distinction between state and religious authority. The implications that Hamka’s thoughts had on the standpoint of Muhammadiyah as an Islamic social organization was its ability to separate itself from its political party affiliation. Muhammadiyah until 1960s was a special member of the Masyumi party.  Following its separation with the Masyumi party, Muhammadiyah became an independent non-government civil institution that is critical of the state. As a civil institution, Muhammadiyah succeeded in playing its role as a civil society organization (CSO) and resisting the political regime to develop into an authoritarian and repressive state.