THE CREED TEACHINGS OF ISLAM BERKEMAJUAN: A GENEALOGICAL AND PRAXICAL PERSPECTIVE ON PURE TAWHID IN MUHAMMADIYAH

Abstract

This article examines the creed of tawhid in Muhammadiyah teachings. This research is important because studies on this topic have been very limited to date. The purpose of this study is to trace the genealogy of Muhammadiyah’s creed of tawhid and to examine how it is applied in response to complex and dynamic realities. This study employs qualitative literature review using a hermeneutic approach. It analyzes Muhammadiyah’s formal sources and its key figures based on existing documents. The research findings indicate that, substantively, Muhammadiyah’s teachings on the creed of tawhid share similarities with Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (particularly the Ash’ari school). This implies that, although known as a modern mass organization, substantively, Muhammadiyah’s teachings on the creed of tawhid are deeply traditional. Nevertheless, technically, Muhammadiyah’s eclectic nature remains evident when constructing narratives on monotheism, much like Salafi groups.  Furthermore, Muhammadiyah has successfully transformed its traditional monotheistic views into a progressive theological movement that integrates doctrinal orthodoxy with social transformation. This is reflected in Muhammadiyah leaders such as Kiai  Ahmad Dahlan, Amien Rais, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, and Hamim Ilyas.  This study concludes that traditional monotheism  has successfully  bridged and guided constructive social activism to give birth to the civilization of the  future.

Keywords : Teaching, Muhammadiyah, Tawhid, Genealogy, Praxis