This is the biography of Prof. Dr. Ahmad Safi'i Maarif (Chairman 1998-2005), Chairman of the muhammadiyah Center.

Prof. Dr.. Ahmad Safi'i Maarif (Chairman 1998-2005)

Buya Safii, as Prof. familiar greeting. 

DR. Ahmad Safii Maarif. Pluralist character that is not a little contribute ideas and Islamic thought in the shade of a large umbrella plurality Indonesian nation was born in the Holy Sumpur, West Sumatra, May 31, 1935. Childhood Buya Syafii very close to the Islamic tradition has become a magnet that always took her initial struggle with Islamic knowledge and trying to understand it as deeply as possible. Thus the twisted life, it can be said also thanks to the guidance of the deceased mother, makrifah. Sharpness interest Buya Safii increasingly steeped in Islam and more sharply honed by education who lived then, and in the end her life in a condensed form in Islamic culture. After finishing the People Elementary School in the village of his birth, Buya Safii set foot on the floor Mu'allimin Lintau Madrasah schools, West Sumatra. Until then menyebrangkan legs far across the sea to go back to school to Madrasah Mu'allimin Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta, and graduated in 1956. Armed with the knowledge of religion in Mu'allimin, Buya Safii receiving any gracefully devotion tasks that must be entrusted to the East Lombok for one year as a teacher at the school Muhammadiyah. After a period of service, the Buya Safii went back to college studies, despite her endeavor to college is not easy. But the determination and enthusiasm to gain knowledge has enabled him to bypass all obstacles. Imagine, in a state orphanage Buya Safii still able to stretch his business efforts with sustained only brother to be able to sit as a student at the Faculty of Law, University of Surakarta Tjokroaminoto. I was stranded on the beach at the mercy of the waves, he recalls his journey illustrates in an interview with the magazine Bud. Just one year of college, PRRI / Permesta erupt and cause disruption of Sumatra-Java relationship. Thus, tuition assistance from his brother lost, so Buya Safii decided not to go to college. Period was quite bitter, which Buya Safii must make a living as a teacher in the District Baturetno village, District Solo, Central Java. Nothing wrong with a lot of people praise the scientific spirit, motivation to learn Buya Safii not stop just by the bitter sap membelintang difficulties of life in front of him. While working, hi hi ... siti husband and father of three sons and daughters: la, lu, li, (sorry have not found what the name of his wife and children) Buya Safii back to continue studying in the Department of History, because it is no longer possible return to the Faculty of Law. Bachelor's degree from the University Tjokroaminoto successfully achieved in 1964, while the Teachers' Training College Bachelor degree obtained from Yogyakarta four years later. Expertise in the field of history is tested after obtaining a Master's degree from Ohio State University, USA Serikat.Pilihan who accidentally brought it turned out I found the wisdom of humanity, mild comments in an interview with COMPASS. Obtained his doctoral degree in 1993 from the University of Chicago Studies in Near Eastern Languages ​​and Civilizations with a dissertation: Islam as the Basis of State: A Study of the Islamic Political Ideas as Reflected in the Constituent Assembly Debates in Indonesia. Youngest child among four siblings, engaged intensively studied any of the Quran with the guidance of a reformer of Islamic thought, Fazrul Rahman. There anyway, Buya Safii often involved intensive discussions with Nurcholish Madjid and Amien Rais, who is serving a doctoral education. Buya Safii recognizes that science and knowledge of history has been so alluring interest because history speaks of the vertices of the totality of humanity. No wonder if in a painted expression that impression: It's been 25 years, attention to the history, philosophy and religion exceeds my attention to other branches of science. But I am fully aware,
 that the more I was getting into the three regions no edges. Not infrequently I feel as a stranger in the region, the area that seemed to be without limit. Of that process too, a sense humanisnya grow and deepen its attention on the problems of humanity. Strong relegius life ingrained in his soul and then splashed in the interpretation and solicitation wonderful grounding in the development of Islam Hablumminnas true: to love one another and love one another in the face of the earth. And calling for Islam is not merely a ritual embraced the faith, but also to be able to develop the practice and behavior of Islamic life in accordance with Islam fully embrace its essential appeal: rahmatan lil'alamin. "Terasalah outgrown the self-dealing with the breadth and depth to be navigable ocean cruising." Understated sentence was ejected on Inauguration speech mukaddimah the Teachers' Training College in Yogyakarta. "Humility is a reflection of the faith," he continued. So no berelebihan, if so many people are fascinated and Buya Safii takzin the figure as a scientist who always puts the power of religion in any struggle with science. He historians and philosophers, but in the community as the nation lehadirannya better known as a religionist. Have you not given knowledge, except a little, he said quoting a verse from the Quran. This is the advice to dampen the ambitions and human curiosity to not overstep his limits itself outside the region. In that sense, the more powerful he was confident that arise in every science there are signs of God's existence. We must believe in the reality beyond human reach, so stressed. The universe and all its contents could not explain himself, silent about the origin and existence events. Only the revelation that then helps the human brain and perception in order to understand all the phenomena. Only through faith, man can answer questions about the purpose of human existence and the meaning of death. Philosophy, especially the history, not able to do so. Reading the book is done daily busyness Safii Buya, in addition to carrying out its activities as chairman of Muhammadiyah, the Supreme Advisory Council and a member of the teaching staff at the Teachers' Training College Yogyakarta. No wonder Buya Safii also fluent expression Citing valuable from the scientific community, and is also rich with poetic expressions quite deep meaningful. Even Buya Safii involvement as chairman of Muhammadiyah is a necessity of history itself. When urging reforms being rolled in Indonesia, and Amien Rais as one locomotive suppressor then menakhodai Muhammadiyah should engage in political activity to escort wheels practical reform, then as a substitute skipper Buya Safii realized that at that moment is like the ark of Muhammadiyah parent must remain directed to the main bow so as not dragged by the pull of the current political struggles practical and short-term interests. "Let us not linger in the uncertainty of the future climate, because it means we allow this nation wallowing in the history of the decay process. It was embarrassing and exhausting! " After re-elected as chairman of Muhammadiyah in the 44th Congress (2000) which took place in Jakarta, Buya Safii then drove the Muhammadiyah mendinamisasi role in order to optimally move businesses tajdid and enlightenment ideals to be achieved. Do not let the reform movement as the philosophical basis of Muhammadiyah eroded and just be an empty slogan in the actualization movement. One of the efforts is to push the pace of intellectual awakening among the Muhammadiyah Youth Force, for it was realized that science and Islam is the core of the spirit of the Muhammadiyah movement. Where the ownership of knowledge and intellectual power is the gateway capability to understand and practice Islam kaffah, and AMM as historical actors Muhammadiyah movement to be a key future bright and buramnya Muhammadiyah face in the world struggle. In a Nutshell note, Buya Safii reinforce his voice as the father of the nation: I genuinely love this nation and in all. For me, defending the nation are in order to defend Islam. Buya Safii effort and struggle does not stop when put on the leadership Muhyammadiyah gernerasi underneath. Buya then set Maarif Institud as a vehicle for continued effort in order to initiate and achieve intellectual awakening among the Muslims muida generation. Now, at the bottom of the screen Maarif Institud, Buya Safii also becoming menancapkokohkan his footsteps as the leader who consistently fought pluralist values ​​kemajukan dakam keislamam frame, ness and humanity.