Jakarta- The General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Central Executive (PP Muhammadiyah), Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin, MA officially opened school management training of "Forum Silaturahim Organisasi dan Lembaga Islam" or "Friendship Forum of Islamic Organization and Institution" (SOLI), Working Group for Educational Revitalization, at UHAMKA campus in Pasar Rebo on December 16, 2011.
The event lasting on Dec 16 - 19 was attended by 29 representatives from Islamic organization and institution. Ustadz Syuhada, the General Chairman of Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia (DDII), Prof Dr. Baedhowi, Dikdasmen (Elementray and Primary Education) Council of Muhammadiyah Central Executive, and some chairmen of other Islamic organizations and institutions were also present.
According to Din Syamsuddin, the event conducted by SOLI is the cooperation among Islamic organizations and institutions in Indonesia. All cooperating forms are done by working group. Inside SOLI, there are 6 working groups (pokja). They are pokja educational revitalization coordinated by Muhammadiyah, pokja special dakwah coordinated by DDII, pokja economic empowerment for the ummah coordinated by Al Irsyad, pokja empowerment for family, child, and teenager coordinated by Badan Musyawarah Organisasi Islam Wanita Indonesia (BMOIWI), pokja advocacy for the ummah coordinated by Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), and pokja mosque empowerment coordinated by Dewan Masjid Indonesia (PP DMI).
Din Syamsuddin syas that Islamic organizations and institutions often meet in various forums, but they seldom think to cooperate in solving the ummah's problem such as poverty, ignorance, economic underdevelopment, etc. “Islamic organization and institution often meet, but they don't cooperate yet. Thus Islamic organizations and institutions start to realize that the ummah's problem is very complex and needs to be handled specifically. Finally, SOLI was formed after several meetings." said Din Syamsuddin. He adds that SOLI is not an Islamic organization. It is just cooperation forum among central executives of Islamic organization in Indonesia. The goal is to solve the ummah's problems.
SOLI was formed on December 9, 2010 at Dakwah Building of PP MUhammadiyah. According to Din, there is no chairman, secretary, and advisor structure in di SOLI. There are only working groups that work specifically to solve very complex problems of the ummah. "This is a form of cooperation among Islamic organizations and institutions in solving the real problems of the ummah. In this forum, we are sure there are some pluralism, but we have one goal to advance Islam," said Din. Din Syamsuddin also says that basically all Islamic organizations and institutions in Indonesia are involved in this frienship forum, including Nadlatul Ulama (NU),”ujarnya.
Working group for Islamic educational revitalization is the only working group that has been active. On Dec 16 - 18, the representatives of SOLI will discuss to formulate the steps in increasing the quality of Islamic education, especially in school management. Keynote speakers who will come to the event are Dr. Abdul Mu’ti, ED, Dr. Hamid Muhammad, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Muljani A. Nurhadi dan Prof. Dr. Eng. Imam Robandi.
Working Group for Special Dakwah will meet at DDIII headquarter office in Jakarta on Dec 24-25, followed by Working Group for Economic Empowerment for the Ummah that will do the training of BMT establihment coordinated by Al Irsyad in Januari 2012.
In the meantime, the General Chairman of DDII, Ustadz Syuhada Bahri, says that SOLI aims to solve very heavy Muslims' problems. However, he is convinced the cooperation the problem can be solved.
(trans by hamzah - uhamka)