YOGYAKARTA — The Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, through its Council for Tarjih and Tajdid, is set to tackle two of contemporary society’s most pressing structural challenges—vulnerable population care and national nutritional independence—during the upcoming 33rd National Congress (Munas Tarjih XXXIII). Scheduled to take place from November 5 to 7, 2026, at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, the grand assembly will formulate progressive Islamic legal frameworks, known as fiqh, explicitly designed to address the socio-religious dimensions of elderly welfare and structural food sovereignty in Indonesia.
The announcement was detailed by the Chairman of the Council for Tarjih and Tajdid of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, Ustadi Hamsah, during an episode of the Lensamu Podcast broadcast on Monday, November 2. As modern societal structures shift, the organization aims to bridge timeless Islamic jurisprudential principles with the pragmatic realities of the twenty-first century, ensuring religious guidance remains dynamic, adaptive, and deeply responsive to human needs.
Evolving Jurisprudence for a Changing Society
The institution of Tarjih has historically served as Muhammadiyah’s premier intellectual and theological engine, responsible for issuing authoritative religious clarifications and legal opinions (fatwas). In the lead-up to Munas Tarjih XXXIII, the Council has prioritized thematic expansion, moving beyond classical ritualistic theology into structural, policy-oriented, and humanitarian frameworks.
Ustadi Hamsah emphasized that contemporary jurisprudence must transcend theoretical discourse to actively resolve systemic vulnerabilities. By introducing specialized frameworks such as fiqh lansia (jurisprudence of the elderly) and fiqh kedaulatan pangan (jurisprudence of food sovereignty), Muhammadiyah seeks to institutionalize ethical mandates that govern social justice, human dignity, and ecological sustainability within the framework of Islamic teachings.
Restoring Dignity to the Aging Population through Fiqh Lansia
The formulation of a comprehensive jurisprudence concerning the elderly stems from an urgent social concern: the systemic marginalization and perception of senior citizens as economic and social burdens. In many fast-developing nations, including Indonesia, rapid demographic transitions—marked by rising life expectancies and declining fertility rates—have placed unprecedented strain on traditional family support structures.
Drawing from the foundational Islamic principle of karāmatul insāniyah (the inherent dignity of human beings), Muhammadiyah asserts that advancing age does not diminish a person’s worth.
"The elderly remain complete human beings filled with dignity. Therefore, they must be honored," Ustadi stated during the podcast.
The upcoming congress aims to establish a structured, normative guide outlining how the Muslim community ought to treat, serve, and empower senior citizens. This includes defining the theological status of the elderly, outlining institutional and familial obligations of care, and establishing ethical standards for social interaction.
Crucially, this theological formulation is not starting from a vacuum. For decades, Muhammadiyah—alongside its autonomous women’s wing, ‘Aisyiyah—has spearheaded grassroots elderly care initiatives. These include community-based senior centers and the innovative "Senior School" programs managed by ‘Aisyiyah. The codification of fiqh lansia will provide these practical efforts with a rigorous, systematic theological foundation, ensuring that community service is matched by doctrinal clarity across all organizational tiers.
Charting a Path Toward Food Sovereignty and National Resilience
Parallel to elderly welfare, Munas Tarjih XXXIII will confront the multifaceted crisis of food security and agricultural autonomy. Ustadi explained that the decision to deliberate on fiqh kedaulatan pangan arises from the intersection of scriptural imperatives found in the Quran and the harsh socioeconomic realities facing modern agricultural producers and consumers.
To contextualize this, the Council draws inspiration from the prophetic narrative of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf), who meticulously planned grain production and storage systems to safeguard society against prolonged economic hardship and famine. This historical paradigm underscores a vital theological lesson: securing future nutritional needs requires deliberate, long-term structural preparation in the present.
The deliberations will tackle contemporary agricultural bottlenecks, including unpredictable climate patterns, fluctuating production yields, complex supply chains, and equitable access to vital farming inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. Importantly, the Council draws a sharp distinction between food independence (kemandirian pangan) and food sovereignty (kedaulatan pangan).
While food independence denotes the baseline capacity of a nation to meet its own nutritional demands, food sovereignty goes much further. It encompasses the political and economic power of a society to autonomously determine, design, and manage its entire agricultural ecosystem—from seed to market.
"If we are sovereign, it means we are capable of managing everything ourselves. Matters concerning seeds, fertilizers, and all agricultural elements must be formulated domestically," Ustadi elaborated.
The Triangulated Methodological Approach: Bayani, Burhani, and Irfani
To construct a robust and intellectually credible theological framework for food sovereignty, the Council for Tarjih and Tajdid applies a tripartite epistemological methodology: bayani (textual and linguistic analysis), burhani (empirical science and rational demonstration), and irfani (spiritual intuition and ethical consciousness).
- Bayani Approach: Focuses on the extraction of legal mandates and ethical guidelines from foundational texts, including the Quran and Hadith, regarding stewardship (khalifah), ecological balance, and societal welfare.
- Burhani Approach: Integrates contemporary empirical sciences, agricultural economics, climatology, and socio-political realities to ensure the rulings are scientifically viable and responsive to modern supply chain dynamics.
- Irfani Approach: Cultivates a deep spiritual awareness and moral responsibility toward vulnerable farmers, ecological preservation, and the collective well-being of the broader community.
This integrated methodology ensures that the resulting jurisprudential framework is neither dogmatically isolated nor purely secular, but rather offers a balanced, actionable paradigm that encourages Muslims to engage proactively in resolving structural inequities.
Grassroots Implementation and Cross-Council Collaboration
Muhammadiyah’s approach to public policy is characterized by an insistence on pairing theoretical formulation with concrete, grassroots action. The realization of food sovereignty does not rest solely with the Council for Tarjih and Tajdid; rather, it requires robust institutional synergy across multiple organizational branches.
The Council for Community Empowerment (Majelis Pemberdayaan Masyarakat – MPM) has long led practical interventions in the field, most notably through the establishment of the Muhammadiyah Farmers Network (Jaringan Tani Muhammadiyah). This network actively supports agricultural development, livestock management, and horticultural production across various regions in Indonesia.
Under the framework of Munas Tarjih XXXIII, the Tarjih Council will provide the theological rationale and paradigm, while the MPM and other operational bodies will translate these principles into scalable field programs. This division of labor ensures that academic theological discourse directly informs community development and economic empowerment.
Constructive Engagement with State Policy
In addressing national issues such as food systems and elderly care, Muhammadiyah maintains a consistent position of critical collaboration with the state. Ustadi reaffirmed that the organization remains fully supportive of government policies aimed at societal advancement and public welfare.
However, this support is constructive rather than uncritical. Muhammadiyah utilizes its institutional weight—bolstered by scholarly consensus and empirical research—to offer policy recommendations, advocate for marginalized populations, and provide corrective feedback when state policies fall short of serving the public interest.
Broader Implications and Expected Outcomes
As Indonesia navigates the complexities of middle-income transition, demographic shifts, and global supply chain vulnerabilities, the deliberations at Munas Tarjih XXXIII hold significant implications for national policy and civil society discourse.
By anchoring elderly care in the inviolable dignity of the human person, Muhammadiyah challenges the utilitarian perspectives that often marginalize aging populations in modern economic planning. Simultaneously, by elevating food sovereignty to a matter of religious duty and ethical imperative, the organization provides moral momentum to agrarian reform, ecological preservation, and domestic production capacity.
The outcomes of the November congress are expected to serve as binding guidelines for millions of Muhammadiyah members, steer the operational priorities of its extensive charitable network—including hospitals, universities, and social welfare institutions—and offer valuable blueprints for national policymakers striving toward an equitable and resilient society.
