KH Husein Muhammad, A Warrior for Equality

Abdullah Fikri Ashri

· 5 minutes read

Husein Muhammad, 65, was once accused of trying to destroy religion from within because his views are different from the mainstream, especially the position of women. However, he did not give up. For him, according to the principles of monotheism, all humans are equal before the Creator regardless of religion, ethnicity and gender.

On Tuesday, Husein was awarded an honorary doctorate in gender interpretation from Walisongo State Islamic University in Semarang, Central Java. Around 500 people listened to his speech titled “Gender According to the Maqashidi Interpretation”.

Not only were there santri (students) from Cirebon, West Java, in attendance, but Amina Wadud, a female activist from the United States, also came.

“Thus far, my ideas have been marginalized because they are deemed deviant,” said Husein who is also known as Buya.

We talked about his views on Wednesday at the Fahmina Institute of Islamic Studies (ISIF) in Cirebon City, which he founded with a number of friends a decade ago. Every now and then, we looked at the walls of the institute’s parking lot, which has “Hatred makes life dark, love makes it glow” and “Religious people are antiviolent” written on it.

Buya often airs his views about the importance of equality between men and women, saying that women are not subordinate to men because they have the same potential as them, from intellectual to spiritual aspects. His views are considered eccentric by a number of people who see women as being less than men.

In fact, according to Buya, the principle of monotheism -- there is no God but Allah -- actually preached equality between people. “The testimony requires us to view all humans as equals. Only God owns absolute authority. So, humans as God\'s creations must be free from discrimination and oppression,” he said.

Therefore, Buya also speaks about pluralism and human rights. At the ISIF, for example, students are taught general subjects and are tested on human rights and gender issues. He has also formed Forum Sabtuan, an interfaith network in Cirebon.

Office sealed

Buya’s thinking is not always welcomed. Some groups demean others despite being of the same faith as if truth only belongs to them. And this is how he became a victim.

In the 2000s, hardliners in Cirebon tried to close down the ISIF. Buya, who studied in Egypt from 1980 to 1983, has also been summoned and tried by a number of scholars in East Java because of his views.

His struggles are not easy. Because gender discrimination is based on patriarchal views it has been supported by structural and cultural forces for centuries. “Namely countries that take their laws and religion from the texts in the holy book,” Buya said.

The father of five children and the grandfather of two said: “There is a process. Do not let our ignorance make us hostile to others. That is the importance of dialogue.”

Buya’s big heart has made him see things differently. He said he used to be conservative in his reading, thinking only about what was written regardless of context or fact.

He grew up in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school), which was established by his grandfather, KH Syatori, before Indonesian independence. After attending high school in Cirebon, Buya attended Pesantren Lirboyo in Kediri and studied at the Institute of Al-Quran Studies in Jakarta.

In the early 1990s, Buya began to familiarize himself with gender issues after attending a meeting with female activists, which was facilitated by Masdar F Mas\'udi. He also had discussions with activists like Lies Marcoes, Wardah Hafidz and Amina Wadud. He then went on to speak at international forums on human rights and gender equality.

“Long before that, I was actually disturbed by the fact that women are always the victims of violence. Why do fellow Muslims have wars? I then read the kitab kuning (Muslim reference book), focusing on equality, which is rarely discussed at pesantren,” he said.

According to him, humans naturally want to be treated fairly. It can be realized if there is equality. No one wants to be discriminated against. It was these thoughts that made him fight for equality. Together with Siti Aminah, he wrote a book titled Menangkal Siaran Kebencian Perspektif Islam (Tackling Hatred Under an Islamic Perspective), which was published by the Fahmina Institute in 2017.

Buya has introduced his views to around 400 pesantren students and hundreds more on university campuses. He has been a commissioner for the National Commission on Violence against Women twice and is an active proponent of the bill on the elimination of sexual violence.

He has written more than 20 books on the importance of equality. In Cirebon, he founded the Mawar Balqis Women Crisis Center, which helps the victims of sexual violence. Buya also took part in the formation of Rahima, a foundation that fights for women’s rights.

Why does he do all this? “If we do not start it now, then the issue on gender equality will possibly only be settled in the 2400s. In fact, discrimination has existed before Christ,” said Buya who was named as one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.

Ahmad Muttaqin, 36, a student of Buya’s who is now teaching at Pesantren Dar al-Tauhid and the ISIF, said Buya taught equality by example.

The grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, said Husein provided inspiration for the daras and talif traditions, learning and writing about the Islamic academic world. “He does not only talk about texts, discourse and science, he has also become a social activist on issues related to gender and human rights. Hopefully, this will be an example for other kiai and santri,” he said.

KH Husein Muhammad

Born: Cirebon, May 9, 1953

Wife: Lilik Nihayah

Children: Hilyah Aulia, Layali Hilwah, Fayaz Mumtaz, Najla Hammadah and Fazla Muhammad

Education:

- SD-SMP at Pesantren Dar al-Tauhid, Arjawinangun, Cirebon

- SMA Aliyah at Pesantren Lirboyo, Kediri

- Institute of Al Quran Studies, Ciputat

(1973-1980)

- Arab Studies at Al-Azhar, Cairo, Mesir (1980-1983)

- Honorary doctorate from Walisongo State Islamic University in Semarang

Job:

- Principal of Pesantren Dar al-Tauhid Arjawinangun, Cirebon and chairman of the Fahmina Institute

- Recipient of Heroes to End Modern

-Day Slavery award from the United States government (2006)

E-mail: husein553@yahoo.com

Editor:

kompascetak