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Asia in general had enabled the expanding   and reformist teachings of Islam although         many local Sarekat Islam members       tolerant attitude as they did not oppose
                                          influence of Islamic reform ideas. The most   the advocates of Javanism were also             who had started to be sluggish over    it frontally.
                                          important example was al-Imam (1906-    Muslims. Because the reformers brought                the previous two years and it founded   The superstitions of the Javanism
                                          1908), a magazine published in Singapore.   the stream of thoughts that conflicted            an organization with the provocative   followers believed, for example, that
                                          The magazine’s editor was renowned      with the notions of Javanism, leading                 name, “Tentara Kangjeng Nabi           people can be blessed with fortune or
                                          Minangkabau scholar and cousin of Sheikh   Javanism figures did not hesitate to               Muhammad” (Prophet Muhammad’d
                                          Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi, i.e.      attack Islam through various means.                   Army) in Surabaya, which subsequently   relieved from total disaster by making
                                          Sheikh Tahir Djalaluddin who had studied   At the time, Surakarta was the “center”            created branches in other cities. In   certain offerings at specific sacred
                                          in Mecca and then in Cairo for a long time.   of Javanism. For example, in early              Surakarta,the Kangjeng Prophet         places. Keramatan (sanctification)
                                          In Mecca, Sheikh Ahmad Khatib was a     1918, the newspaper Djawi Hisworo in                  Muhammad’s Army was declared in        itself is a belief of Javanism. They also
                                          great Muslim scholar of Minangkabau     Surakarta published an article written                Tirnonadi attended by thousands of     believed that people could  become rich
                                          origin and he was the most important    by Djojodikoro about the Kejawen notion               Sarekat Islam members, officials of    by seeking the advice of a pesugihan
                                          teacher for those who sought knowledge   of God. The manager of the newspaper,                the Dutch colonial government and the   (enrichment) shaman and by meeting
                                          coming from Indonesia and Southeast Asia   Martodharsono, was actually a prominent            Palace, as well as the regional leaders   all the requirements he recommended.
                                          at the Haram Mosque. Moreover, because   member of the Sarekat Islam. However,                of both the local Sarekat Islam and the   The Muhammadiyah met this challenge
                                          of his famous piety, he was also appointed   many Sarekat Islam activists, especially         Central Sarekat Islam. Although the    by demonstrating that fortune was not
                                          the Haram Mosque’s Great Imam of the    in the Central Sarekat Islam (CSI)                    organization was named an army, it was   the result of an enrichment fetish, but
                                          Shafi’i School. The writings in al-Imam   leadership in Surabaya, condemned                   not clearly organized, and its inception   rather that it was determined by God’s
                                          were strongly influenced by Muhammad    the editor because Djojodikoro’s                      had merely been inspired by the        will and the result of one’s obedience to
                                          Abduh and Rashid Rida and the magazine   article contained elements of “SARA”                 Sarekat Islam, to make it more spirited   Allah. In Suara Muhammadiyah (Voice
                                          could be seen as the mouthpiece al-     [abbreviated form of Suku (ethnicity),                (Widyastuti, 2005). Although many      of Muhammadiyah) no. 2, year 1, 1915,
                                          Manarin Southeast Asia in general.      Agama (religion), Ras (human race), and               people suggested that the editor and the   K.H. Ahmad Dahlan explained the merits
                                          The publication of this magazine was    Antar Golongan (social groups) transl.]               author of the article should be brought   of salat sunnah (not obligatory prayers).
                                          sponsored by the Arab community that had   and insulted the Prophet Muhammad.                 to trial, in the end this did not happen.   It said that “fortune”(Javanese: begja,
                                          aspecial relationships with its colleagues in   The article said that the Prophet             According to Kuntowijoyo (2000),       rahayu) dependedsolely on God’s will
                                          Indonesia (Shihab, 1998: 133).          Muhammad received the revelations in                  Martodharsono had showed a letter of   and performing preferable prayers was
                                          Another challenge the reform movement   an ecstatic state.                                    support from K.H. Ahmad Dahlan and     a way to obtain it. This means that one’s
                                                                                                                                                                               fortune was not the result of begging
                                          had to face, especially in Java was     After it was spread in the newspaper of               a trial was considered unnecessary,    at sacred tombs or keeping tuyuls.”
                                          Javanism, an ideology rooted in         the Central Sarekat Islam, the Oetoesan               because both parties, the editor and
                                          traditional Javanese beliefs partly     Hindia (the Indian Envoy) published in                the author of the article, were Muslims   (Kuntowijoyo, 2000: xv)
                                          mixed with Islam and Kebatinan (local   Surabaya, Muslims reacted very harshly                so it could not be considered insulting   Another challenge of reformism was
                                          Javanese mysticism). Most Javanism      to the article. Apparently, the Sarekat               other religions. This indicates that in   traditionalism, which was irreconcilable
                                          notions were contrary the both orthodox   Islam exploited this event to inspire               facing Javanism, reformers showed a    with the teachings of reformed Islam.



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