Al-Irshad Al-Islamiya

According to Majlis Da'wah al-Irshad (al-Irshad Department of Preaching), the name Irshad referred to the name (Arabic: جمعية الدعوة والإرشاد, romanized: Jam'iyat al-Da'wah wa al-Irshad; the Association for Propaganda and Guidance) of the founder Rashid Rida who was from Egypt.

Al-Irshad Al-Islamiya is an Indonesian national Islamic organization. In terms of membership, as stated in the Articles of Association of Al-Irshad: "Citizens of the Republic of Indonesia who are Muslims who have grown up." The central figure of the establishment of Al-Irshad is Sheikh Ahmad as-Soorkati al-Ansari, a Sudanese scholar living in Mecca who came to Indonesia at the request of the Jamiat Kheir organization to become a teacher.

The founders are as follows:[2]

• Shaykh Ahmad Surkati
• Umar Mangush
• Sa'id bin Salim Mash'abi
• Salih 'Ubayd 'Abdat
• Salim bin 'Iwad Balwa'al

In its first period of development, the Irshadi movement was under the chairmanship of Salim bin 'Iwad Balwa'al and its administrative included Sheikh Muhammad 'Ubayd 'Abbud as secretary and Sa'id bin Salim Mash'abi as treasurer. All the founders but Ahmad Surkati were rich merchants and businessmen in Jakarta.

Soon after the foundation of Irshadi movement Surkati handed over his school to this movement and became the principal of al-Irshad school. He was joined by one of the scholar of Hadramaut in Indonesia, Sheikh Muhammad 'Ubayd 'Abbud, and all his friends from abroad. In 1913 the Irshadi movement established the following schools:

1. A three-year primary school (Awwaliyah)
2. A four-year elementary school (Ibtida'iyah)
3. A two-year secondary school (tajhiziyah)
4. A four-year school of teachers (mu'allimin)

Among the native Muslims supporting the effort were Haji Ahmad Dahlan and Haji Zamzam. Ahmad Dahlan was the member of Jamiat Kheir who then founded Muhammadiyah in 1912 and Haji Zamzam later built PERSIS (Organization) in 1923. This trio organizations basically have the similar spirits and efforts.[2]

In the early days of the schools, most taught subjects were mostly related to Islamic sciences and Arabic language. The first Irshadi school of Jakarta had eleven teachers from abroad and only one Indonesian teacher (who teaches Indonesian language).

In 1917 two branches were open outside Jakarta, one in Surabaya and another one in Tegal. The branch in Surabaya was run by Abu al-Fadl al-Ansari (Surkati's brother). This school hired two Egyptia teachers, Muhammad Murshidi and 'Abd al-Qadir al-Muhanna. In 1922 'Abd al-Qadir al-Muhanna was replaced by 'Umar b. Salim Hubays. The branch school of al-Irshad in Tegal was opened and run by a student of Surkati, 'Abd Allah b. Salim al-Attas together with Shaykh Muhammad Nuh al-Ansari and another graduate of al-Irshad Jakarta, 'Ali Harharah. Shaykh AbÜ al-Fagl was also one of its teachers.[2]

The Al-Irshad movement is based on the following five principles:

1. To hold the doctrine of God's Unity by purifying devotions and prayers from their contamination by polytheistic elements
2. To realize equality among Muslims and to seek the legal judgements found in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and to follow the way of salaf in solution to all disputed religious matters
3. To combat the so-called taqlid a'ma (blind acceptance) which conflicts with both aql (reason) and naql (the Qur'an and Hadith)
4. To spread Islamic sciences and Arab culture as approved by God
5. To attempt to create mutual understanding between Indonesian Muslims and the Arabs

Some of the efforts of the organization are to establish of schools, orphanages, nursing homes and hospitals.