Muslimat NU: A Brief History

 

Muslimat NU: A Brief History

As a large organization with tens of millions of members, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has many institutions, branches and autonomous bodies. If the institution and branch are directly under the management of PBNU, the autonomous body is an organization affiliated to NU but has its own management structure. Among the autonomous bodies affiliated to NU are IPNU (NU Student Association), IPPNU (NU Girls Student Association), Ansor (youth organization), Fatayat (youth organization), and Muslimat (NU women's organization). If Fatayat consists of young children, Muslimat consists of mothers.

Currently, Muslimat NU is celebrating its 70th birthday and at the same time holding a memorial at Malang's Gajayana Stadium which was attended by 50 thousand people. At the age of 70, Muslimat NU has done many things for NU and also Indonesia, starting from their various roles in the world of education, health, politics and social. There are thousands of PAUD and TK run by Muslim women, hundreds of health clinics, and countless social activities. When its parent, NU, experienced stagnation at the branch or branch level, Muslimat with various simple activities often revived the dynamics of NU at the local level.

The history of the birth of Muslimat cannot be separated from NU. Founded on January 31, 1926, NU was initially only filled with men or kiai. The condition of women's education which is on average is lower and the patriarchal structure is still strong, it seems that the few women who are active in the socio-religious organizations appear to be. Organizationally, women's participation in the management is also not regulated, otherwise it is not allowed.

However, towards the end of the 1930s, the involvement of women in NU began to appear. At the 13th Congress in Menes, Banten, 1938, women appeared to be present and given the opportunity to speak. Mrs. R Djuaesih and Mrs. Siti Sarah are the two female representatives who voiced their views and opinions at the Menes Congress.

This happened again at the 14th congress in Magelang one year later, 1939. In that congress, Mrs. R Djuaesih even became one of the leaders of the congregation. The active involvement of NU women continued to the Surabaya Congress the following year. Supported by KH Dahlan Pasuruan and Aziz Dijar through their various approaches to PBNU administrators, the existence of women in NU is increasingly accepted. This time, women have had a forum called Nahdloetul Oelama Muslimat (NOM) which is under PBNU.

After three massive years, Muslimat's development has been hampered by the non-conducive national political situation. The arrival of Japan and the Dutch military aggression had forced NU to deny many of its internal agendas and focus on the national struggle. It was in the mid-1940s that the call for the NU Jihad Resolution came out, which then sparked a major resistance against the allies in Surabaya, 10 November 1945.

After the proclamation of independence, to be precise in March 1946, NU again held a congress, taking place in Purwokerto. It was at the 16th Congress of Purwokerto that NOM was finally accepted as having its own management or becoming an autonomous body. The hard work of Mrs. Djuaesih et al who was assisted by Kiai Dahlan made KH Hasyim Asy'ari and KH Wahab Chasbullah willing to sign the separation of NOM from PBNU. So since then, March 29, 1946 has been designated as the birthday of Muslimat NU, with its first chairman Mrs. Chadijah Dahlan, the wife of KH Dahlan, who is already well known because she is also a member of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP).

Now Muslimat NU is 70 years old, an age that is quite old by human standards. At the age of 70, Muslimat has proven his devotion to this country. President Jokowi in his remarks at Malang's Gajayana Stadium expressed his pride in the existence and progress of this NU women's organization. According to him, Muslimat has played an important role in changing the nation.

At the 70th Harlah event, Muslimat carried an anti-drug declaration, considering that many generations have been infected by this dangerous addictive substance. Finally, from the family the first education is obtained, and from the family the last doorstop can be expected. In this context, Muslim women whose members are women have an important role in carrying out this difficult but difficult task. To you Muslims, we entrust the fate of the children of this country.