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rominent Muslim organization Muhammadiyah has been told to stay alert to attempts by “Islamic purification” and transnational movements to infiltrate its ranks.

Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra said in Jakarta on Thursday that the second-largest Muslim organization in the country should be more concerned about infiltrations by such groups rather than potential political intervention during its national congress, which will kick off in Yogyakarta over the weekend.

“There is this inclination toward the legalization of sharia [Islamic law] and transnational Islamic movements among some Muhammadiyah members that need to be blocked,” Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

“Moderate Islam should be the future of Islam in Indonesia, and it is the duty of Muhammadiyah and NU [Nahdlatul Ulama — Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization] to ensure that,” he added.

Azyumardi said he had been observing a growing tendency among a minority group of Muhammadiyah members toward what he called salafism, or attempts to “purify” Islam by returning to early interpretations of Islamic teachings.

He said he had seen that some members were growing impatient with Muhammadiyah’s “slow” conventional methods of spreading Islamic teachings through the establishments of schools and hospitals.

“They’ve begun to see that they need to use their ‘hands’, or in this case, power and authority.”

The build up to the upcoming 46th congress of Muhammadiyah, founded in 1912, has raised concern that political figures may try to win seats on its executives board.

However, Azyumardi said, political meddling would hardly, if at all, affect the congress, given that Muhammadiyah’s members were largely egalitarian by nature compared to members of traditional Islamic organizations such as NU.

The only possible significant intervention, he said, might come from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had been reportedly irritated with Muhammadiyah incumbent chairman Din Syamsuddin for his frequent criticisms of government policies.

However, Azyumardi added, it was believed Yudhoyono and Din had since reconciled.

He said he had drawn this conclusion from Yudhoyono’s willingness to officiate the congress on Saturday via video conference. The President is currently on a haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

It was unlikely, he continued, that congress participants would be influenced by several political figures who had reportedly joined the race to secure the 13 seats on Muhammadiyah’s central executive board.

Only members of the 13-strong executive board are eligible to run for chairman of the organization.

The alleged aspirants include Nation’s Sun Party (PMB) chairman Imam Addaruqutni, United Development Party (PPP) member M. Syukri Fadholi and Gerindra Party’s Muchdi PR — who is a Muhammadiyah member and a former deputy head of the State Intelligence Agency. Muchdi became a controversial figure when he was alleged to have been involved in the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib in 2004.

“I’m ready to lead if I’m given the responsibility,” Muchdi was quoted as saying by tempointeraktif.com regarding his nomination.

Political observer Fachry Ali said political motivations were unlikely driving the party figures to run for chairman of the organization because they would be required to leave their parties if they made it to the central executive board.

“They might only give it a try due to the prestige they could earn from being one of the 13 board members,” Fachry said.