Mas Mansoer | |
|---|---|
 Portrait, date unknown | |
| 4th Chairman ofMuhammadiyah | |
| In office 25 June 1937 – 25 April 1942 | |
| Preceded by | Hisjam bin Hoesni |
| Succeeded by | Ki Bagoes Hadikoesoemo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1896-06-25)25 June 1896 Surabaya,Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 25 April 1946(1946-04-25) (aged 49) Surabaya, Indonesia |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Al-Azhar University |
Mas Mansoer (EYD:Mas Mansur; 25 June 1896 – 25 April 1946) was an Indonesian religious leader who served as the 4th chairman ofMuhammadiyah from 1937 to 1942. He was declared anational hero by PresidentSukarno in 1964.
Mas Mansoer was born on 25 June 1896 in Kampung Sawahan, north ofSurabaya.[1] His father was Kyai Hajji Mas Ahmad Marzuki, a descendant of theSumenep royal family and a friend of Kyai HajjiAhmad Dahlan.[2] His mother was a woman from Surabaya who was of mixedBuginese andMinang descent.[3]
At the age of 12, Mansoer went toMecca to studyIslam. He then enrolled atAl-Azhar University inEgypt. During his studies, he read several Western literary works about freedom, humanism, and democracy. He also observed how Egyptian people fought against British colonists to obtain their independence, which influenced his later views.[4]
After graduating from Al-Azhar, Mansoer returned to Surabaya and became aUstaz at the Mufidahpesantren.[4] During this period, he felt that thecolonial government hindered the teaching of Islam. This situation made him joinMuhammadiyah and Persatuan Bangsa Indonesia (Indonesian People's Association). He preached in remote areas.[5] In 1914, Mansoer and Abdul Wahab Hasbullah (the cousin ofHasyim Asy'ari) founded an educational organization namedNahdlatul Wathan (Awakening of the Homeland).[6] They also joined the Indonesche Study Club, an organization led by Dr. Sutomo.[7] Later, he became the chairman ofthe East Java branch of Muhammadiyah . In 1937, he became the chairman of Muhammadiyah through an election at the 26th Muhammadiyah Congress.[5][8] Because of his widespread influence, the colonial government offered him a position in the Het Kantoor van Inlandsche Zaken as the head of the institution of religious affairs. However, he refused it.[5] Mansoer took the initiative in formatting the Majelis Islam A'la Indonesia on 25 September 1937.[8] The purpose of the organization was to aid clerics throughout Indonesia in networking and building relationships with each other, both physically and spiritually.[9] Under the influence of the nationalism movement, MIAI was also involved in opposing the colonial government, such as in theGabungan Politik Indonesia (GAPI; Indonesian Political Federation) led byM. H. Thamrin.[10] In 1938 he founded theIndonesian Islamic Party (PII) with Dr.Sukiman.[11]
Mansoer was under pressure during theJapanese occupation due to his activities with Muhammadiyah. Mansoer, Kyai HajjiWahid Hasyim, and Kyai Hajji Taufiqurrahman then formed an Islamic organization calledMasyumi. After the group was formed, the Japanese government banned all political organizations and formed PUTERA (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat; previouslyJawa Hokokai) to spread its propaganda. Mansoer, along withSukarno,Mohammad Hatta, andSoewardi Soerjaningrat, were appointed as leaders in 1942; collectively they were known as the Empat Serangkai (Four Series).[5][12][13] He accepted the appointment and resigned as Chairman of Muhammadiyah.[13] Mansoer resigned from PUTERA in 1944 because of illness.[5][13] During this period, Mansoer conveyed the idea of aroemah jang moerah dan sehat ("cheap and healthy house") in a meeting with other intellectuals and Japanese officers; this was hoped to solve housing problems faced bynative Indonesians. His idea was supported by Sukarno.[14] He also drew a blueprint for the project.[15]
Before the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, Mansoer became a member of thePanitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence).[16] During thenational revolution, Mansoer helped the people of Surabaya indefending the city against the British Army. Then, he was arrested by the Dutch, and told to give a speech and convince the people of Surabaya to surrender; however, he refused. As a result, Mansoer was jailed in Kalisosok Prison in Surabaya.[17][18]
Mansoer died on 25 April 1946 in the prison.[17][19] His remains were buried in Gipu, Surabaya.[11]
Concerning banking, Mansoer issued afatwa that all kinds ofbank interest areharaam (forbidden). However, doing business in banking was stillallowed.[20] On another issue, during the Nineteenth Congress of Muhammadiyah,Hajji Rasul contended that unisexmajlis were haraam, but Mansoer disagreed. After discussing it, they agreed to declare themmakruh (objectionable).[21] In the purification of Islamic teachings, Mansoer prohibitedbid‘ah,taqlid, andtakhayul (superstition) in worship. He also forbade the tradition ofgrave pilgrimages,selametan, and doing atalqin for a body.[22] He said that setbacks suffered by Muslims were caused by their weak beliefs and egoism, and that to fix these problems, Muslims should base their lives on theQuran andHadiths. In his workRisalah Tawhid dan Sjirik (Treatise of Monotheism and Polytheism) he stated that another cause of Muslims' weakness was interference in Islamic thought and practices from polytheism.[23]
He married Siti Zakijah in 1937, the couple had 6 children. She died in 1939.[24]
In 1964, Mansoer was awarded the titleNational Hero of Indonesia through Presidential Decree No.162/1964.[17]
| Preceded by | Chairman ofMuhammadiyah 1937–1942 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
