Thoughts & Writings of Persyarikatan Ulama

THE WRITINGS OF PERSYARIKATAN ULAMA

Image 1: Kiai Haji (KH) Abdul Halim

   KH. Abdul Halim who is the founder of this association, is considered quite productive as some of his writings that were published among the members of the Persyarikatan Ulama (PU). Among his works are:

1. Risalah Petunjuk bagi Sekalian Manusia (still exist)

2. Ekonomi dan Koperasi dalam Islam (still exist)

3. Ketetapan Pengajaran di Sekolah Ibtidaiyah Persyarikatan Oelama (still exist)

4. Da’watu al’Amal

5. Tarikh Islam

6. Neraca Hidup

7. Risalah

8. Ijtima’iyah wa Ilajuha.

9. Kitab Tafsir Tabarak

10. Kitab 262 Hadist Indonesia

11. Babu al Rizqi, and more others.

     PU also publishes magazines including: Soeara Persyarikatan Oelama, Soera Islam, As Syuro, Pengetahoean Islam. 

 Image 2: Magazine of Soeara Persyarikatan Oelama (PO)

      They also published printed works in Sundanese language which is Miftahus Saadah. 

     In addition, around 1930-1941 AD, the association news related media was also published like Al-Mu’allim, Pemoeda, Petoendjoek Djalan Kebenaran (Hak). Most likely, the media was published in the Sundanese language due to the increasing activities of religion in Cigugur which is not far from Majalengka.

THE THOUGHTS OF PERSYARIKATAN ULAMA

      From the writings of the association, it can be seen the tendencies from their founder, KH. Abdul Halim’s ideas, which is comes from his interpretation of the concept of al-Salam: live safely in this world & obtain prosperity in the hereafter.

     KH. Abdul Halim saw that the well-being of life in the hereafter is closely related to the safeness of life in the world. In order to obtain a prosperous life in the hereafter, human beings must first be safe in the world by following the religion. 

     Further throughout his thoughts, he concluded his thought on the concept of life. Those concepts are:

A) The concept of al-Salam

    KH. Abdul Halim compiled his theory of improvement measures covering eight areas which called as Islah al-Tsamaniyah or Eight Improvement. Those eight area of improvements are:

     1) Improvement of Beliefs (Islah al-Aqidah)

2) Improvement of Worship (Islah al-Ibadah)

3) Improvement of Educational (Islah al-Tarbiyah)

4) Improvement of the Family (Islah al-A’ilah)

5) Improvements of Customs (Islah al-Adah)

6) Improvement of Community (Islah al-Mujtama’)

7) Improvement of Economic (Islah al-Iqtisad)

8) Improvement of the Ummah Relationship (Islah al-Ummah)

B) The concept of Santri Asromo.

    KH. Abdul Halim deems that it is necessary to provide skills to students so that they will later live independently without having to depend on others or hoping to become government employees.
     His idea was realized by establishing a school / pesantren named Santi Asromo in April 1942, which was located in Pasirayu Village, Sukahaji District, Majalengka. Santi Asromo, a pioneer of modern boarding schools which at that time had not yet been thought of.
   This establishment of pesantren is result of the PU Congress which was motivated by KH. Abdul Halim dissatisfaction of the pesantren education system at that time.
      In addition, the establishment of this pesantren was also driven by the fact that there are many local people who find it difficult to get a proper education in schools. Pesantren Santi Asromo is an example of the reformation of the pesantren curriculum, because since its establishment, it has abandoned the traditional education system that not only specializes in providing religious studies, but students are also given general syllabus & provided with skills education such as farming, carpentry, crafts and others. Students are also required to stay in a dorm for 5 to 10 years, which turns out attract a lot of public interest. The wealthy people flowed to give financial support.

Image 3: Students of Santi Asromo in 1952.

Image 4: The students of Santi Asromo learn on farming in 1953.

3. The concept of Santri Lucu.

     KH Abdul Halim came out with this concept which is an education system that able to shape the personality of students and provide opportunities for them to reach a position with trained skills related to three important jobs: agriculture, carpentry, and business. These jobs could increase human efforts and improve their life style in the world.

     The educational goal of Santi Asromo is to be Santi Lucu, who has skills, knowledge, can work in various fields of life independently, and is able to help others in need. He strictly mentioned stated, that the Santi Lucu were students who were skilled that holding pens and hoes.

4. The concept of Intisab.

     This is another important concept of Abdul Halim in political terms which was created as a counter-doctrine aimed at the Japanese Occupation government as the Muslims in that time were forced to do seikerai (respecting Emperor Tenno Heika by bowing towards Tokyo). For this purpose, Abdul Halim and a number of leaders from PU came out with this concept that based from the Quran and the Islamic scholar works as a creed to be hold on and also a part of condition for people who will enter the association. He believed that the creed could preserve humans from disbelief, hypocrisy, and polytheism. The creed formulated by Abdul Halim and the leaders of PU are written as follows :

Translation:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Allah is our purpose. Sincerity is our basis. Improvement is our path. Love is our symbol. We promise to God to be honest, sincere, firm, and seeking His pleasure by giving charity to the people with full trust into Allah.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious & the Most Merciful.

In the name of Allah, there is no might and no power, except in the power of Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.

Allah the Almighty.”

     The creed was read for the first time officially in public on the celebration of the Nuzul Al-Qur'an by PU in 1942. Since that time, the creed has continued to be read both at official meetings and educational activities at the PU schools and institution. The creed also continued to be read after Persyarikatan Ulama renamed its association to the Perikatan Ummat Islam.