From Tajdid to Social Innovation: The Epistemological Transformation of Muhammadiyah’s Reformist Thought in the 21st Century

Abstract

This article examines the epistemological transformation of Muhammadiyah’s reformist thought in the twenty-first century, focusing on the shift from a classical tajdid orientation toward a broader paradigm of social innovation. The study aims to analyze how Muhammadiyah reinterprets religious renewal in response to contemporary social challenges and how this transformation is expressed in institutional and public practices. It employs a qualitative method with an interpretive case study design, chosen because the research seeks to understand meanings, intellectual shifts, and organizational practices rather than measure statistical patterns. The research was conducted primarily in Yogyakarta, with supporting data from Jakarta, since both locations represent major intellectual and organizational centers of Muhammadiyah. Data were collected from twelve purposively selected informants whose roles in leadership, education, health, social service, and intellectual discourse made them relevant to the research focus. The findings show that Muhammadiyah’s reformism has expanded from doctrinal purification and institutional modernization toward socially responsive, collaborative, and innovation-oriented action while remaining grounded in Islamic normativity. The study recommends further sectoral and comparative research on how this epistemological transformation operates across education, welfare, environmental activism, and transnational Muhammadiyah networks.