Page 377 - INDONESIA ISLAMIC CULTURE

they could serve as Japan’s allies. Since another important effort was to make December 1, 1943. If the MIAI was a for religious affairs was also installed in
the beginning of its arrival in Indonesia, Muslim leaders take up the most religious association unifying Islamic each residency. In cooperation with both
Japan tried to convey its intention to important posts in the military forces organizations and conducting religious Wahid Hasyim and Kahar Muzakkir, a
honor and respect Islam by stressing in Indonesia. Muslims were not only activities, the Masjumi was more Ministry of Religious Affairs was set up
the importance of collaboration by way given administrative education but they political aiming at strengthening the which also had branches in the regions.
of making Islam a major power. Japan received also military training. 26 unity of Islamic organizations to help Later, in 1950, Wahid Hasjim was
25
seemed even to be cautious in the way The Japanese reluctance to include Dai Nippon for the benefit of the Great appointed as the minister of religious
it addressed the problems of Islam in the MIAI because the organization was East Asia. The Muhammadiyah and the affairs in the first cabinet of the Republic
28
order not to offend Muslims. Religious founded on the initiative and due to the Nahdlatul Ulama which had never joined of United States of Indonesia. 29
scholars and clerics were expected to be awareness of Muslims in Indonesia. the MIAI, went over to the Masjumi which The second benefit of the Japanese
propagandists and to further Japanese Japanese military authorities saw the comprised of two types of memberships, presence was the founding of the
interests in Indonesia. Nevertheless, MIAI as an independent organization organizational and individual. Masjumi. As the organization that
the generally cooperative attitude of that should be monitored carefully It seems as if the Muslims perceived that embodied several Islamic organizations
the Muslims with the Japanese was despite the fact that it was a lenient they could get benefit from the Japanese and many individuals it was expected
based on attempts to make Indonesia Muslim association. In October 1943, the replacement of the Dutch. First, the to be of great assistance for the
independent and liberated from all forms Japanese military government dissolved Japanese met the Muslims’ needs in Japanese propaganda in Indonesia. It
of colonialism. the MIAI. In its judgement the MIAI the government by founding the Office was a political vehicle the Muslims in
Uniquely, in its efforts to place Islam had maintained an anti-colonial spirit for Islamic Affairs. Leading this office Indonesia saw as a means to achieve
at the forefront of political affairs in for it had refused to cooperate with the was the highest position the Japanese independence, whereas for Japan
Indonesia, the Japanese colonial Dutch. The Japanese feared that the government gave to Indonesians. Since the focus was to gain the Muslim’s
government purposely did not include organizations’embedded anti-colonial October 1, 1944 the office was headed acceptance of the Japanese occupation.
MIAI officials in its apparently supportive attitude would extand into an overal by Hoesein Djajadiningrat who was later The leadership in the Masjumi was split
program for Islamists. In November 1943, xenophobic stance, which would also, succeeded by the charismatic ‘alim evenly between NU and Muhammadiyah
the three Indonesian national figures. indirectly, be anti-Japanese. 27 from East Java, Kyai Hasjim Asj’ari who factions. Kyai Hasjim Asj’ari was the first
Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, and Ki As a substitute, Japan later enabled was simultaneously the chairman of the chairman and his son Wahid Hasyim
Bagus Hadikusumo (the Muhammadiyah the establishment of a new political Masjumi. The daily leadership of the acted as one of his vice-chairmen.
chairman) went to Japan to accept organization called the Majelis Syuro office for religious affairs was mostly The third benefit of the presence of the
meritorious awards from the Emperor. Muslimin Indonesia (Indonesian Muslims done by his son, Wahid Hasjim, because Japanese was the establishment of a
No MIAI board members were invited to Consultative Assembly, Masjumi) on Asj’ari had to spend more time in his military organization called Hizbullah
attend. In addition to activities to include pesantren in Jombang rather than in for which the Masjumi appointed Zainul
Muslims in the Japanese administration, 26. Benda.BulanSabit...,p. 172. Jakarta. Since April 1, 1944 an office Arifin, a NU delegate, as chairman.
27. B.J. Boland.Pergumulan Islam di Indonesia
25. Benda.BulanSabit...,p. 153. 1945-1970. Jakarta:Grafiti Pres, 1985, p. 13. 28. Benda.BulanSabit ...,p. 185. 29. Boland. Pergumulan..., p. 12.

368 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 369