Implications of Hamka’s thoughts in Tafsir al-Azhar on the standpoint of Islamic social organization in preventing authoritarianism in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesian Islamic social organizations not only serve as religious groups but also as interest groups, facing challenges when it comes to involvement in political matters. This library research analyzed the connection between thoughts and practices relating to the standpoint of Islamic social organizations toward the state. The research data were collected from Hamka’s thoughts in Tafsir al-Azhar and historical documents of Muhammadiyah and the Indonesian Ulema Council during the early period of the New Order, i.e., 1970-1980. This study examines how Hamka interpreted Quranic verses about the relationship between society and the state and how this influenced the practices of Indonesian Islamic social organizations in their interactions with the state. Finally, it is concluded that Hamka considers Syura (deliberation) as a determinant in the relationship between society and state and a distinction between state and religious authority. Hamka’s emphasis on deliberation as the foundation of the relationship between society and the state has greatly improved the quality of democracy. His inf luential position within Muhammadiyah has shaped the organization’s stance, leading it to become a self-sufficient religious and social empowerment group. Muhammadiyah has effectively acted as a civil society organization, resisting oppressive political regimes to promote democratization in Indonesia.