As reported on the official website of the Master of Public Administration Program, the Master of Public Administration Program at UMY, in collaboration with the UMY Postgraduate Program and the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Board of Publications and Information, held an End-of-Year Reflection Webinar on the theme “Islamic Moderation and Indonesianness” on Wednesday (December 30th) via Zoom Meeting and live YouTube streaming.
The event began with a welcome address from Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto, M.P., IPM (Rector of UMY), followed by a keynote speech from the Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Board, Prof. Dr. Haedar Nashir, M.Si.
Haedar stated that in the life of the nation, Indonesian society has been moderate from the beginning. When the nation called Indonesia had not yet been born, ethnic groups had already interacted in an adaptive manner. Changes in the religion embraced by the people of these tribes also occurred in a peaceful process. All of this continued until the nation’s leaders met and agreed to live together under the Indonesian nation.
“Inter-ethnic relations have also been moderate. How is it possible that a small ethnic group called Malay has its language adopted as the national language? Not the Javanese language as the largest sub-ethnic group. This shows an extraordinary process of moderation, and this is what eventually formed Indonesia,” said Haedar Nashir.
This webinar also invited Prof. Dr. H. Dadang Kahmad, M.Si (Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Board), Prof. Dr. Ahmad Najib Burhani, M.A (LIPI), M. Najib Azca, Ph.D (Sociologist, Universitas Gadjah Mada), and Prof. Dr. Phil. Al Makin, S.Ag., M.A (Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta) as speakers. The session was moderated directly by Dr. Zuly Qodir, M.Ag (Head of the Doctoral Program in Islamic Politics, UMY).
Dadang said that Islamic moderation or Wasathiyyah had been practiced by the Prophet Muhammad when he was in Medina. At that time, Muslims and people from various religions and tribes successfully made an agreement to live together under the Charter of Medina.
Islamic moderation is also part of the realization of Islam as a religion of mercy. “The universal ethics of Islam rahmatan lil ‘alamin include an attitude of bringing happiness to others, freeing others from suffering, being happy in the happiness of others, and treating everyone with the same love,” said Dadang Kahmad.
Attended by more than 500 participants via Zoom Meeting and more than 200 people watching the live YouTube Channel of Doktor PI UMY, the event was very active with various critical questions raised in the Zoom chat column.
