Muhammadiyah as one of the greatest organizations in Indonesia is often criticized due to the small number of Muslim scholars. Vice Chairperson of DIKTI and Litbang of PP Muhammadiyah, Dr. H. Chairil Anwar responded the argument.

Delivering a remark in welcoming dinner of Al-Qur’an Festival at hall of masjid K.H. Ahmad Dahlan of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) on Thursday (9/8), Chairil stated that the festival joined by Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah-affiliated higher education showed that Muhammadiyah always possesses cadres of Muslim scholars.

“DIKTI and Litbang of Muhammadiyah appreciate this festival. Muhammadiyah is often considered lack of Muslim scholars. The Muslim scholars refer to people who master Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah. This festival tells us that Muhammadiyah has the cadres. I wish that there will be similar events to create more Muhammadiyah cadres,” he declared.

He argued that this festival also coins cadres understanding Islamic studies and Al-Qur’an deeper. “I thank to all Muhammadiyah-affiliate university for sending the students to join competitions of this festival. I hope that Al-Qur’an always becomes a part of the participants’ soul and they can be Muslim scholars of Muhammadiyah,” Chairil expected.

Besides, Vice Chairperson of Board of Trustees of UMY as well as Secretary General of Muhammadiyah contended that the festival should be conducted regularly so that people will be more familiar with Al-Qur’an. “If similar events do not exist, it is worried that, in the future, children will be unfamiliar and far from Al-Qur’an,” Agung asserted.

The festival is one of the ways of UMY to bring Muhammadiyah academicians get close to Al-Qur’an since attitudes of Muhammadiyah should be in line with Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah. “I wish that this event can regularly be organized. This is one of the ways to interweave good relationship among Muhammadiyah-affiliated universities, and to bring Muhammadiyah people get close to Al-Qur’an,” he hoped.