Mohammad Natsir

Mohammad Natsir (17 July 1908 – 6 February 1993) was an Islamic scholar and politician.

He was Indonesia's fifth prime minister.

After moving to Bandung from his hometown Solok, West Sumatra for senior high school, Natsir studied Islamic doctrine extensively.

Natsir was born in Solok, West Sumatra on 17 July 1908.

His parents were Mohammad Idris Sutan Saripado, a government employee, and Khadijah.

In 1916, he studied at HIS (Hollandsch-Inlandsche School) Adabiyah, Padang.

After a few months, he moved to HIS Solok, studying there by day and at the Madrasah Diniyah by night.

Three years later, he moved to HIS Padang together with his older sister.

In 1923, he continued his studies at MULO (Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs) and he joined Pandu Nationale Islamietische Pavinderij and Jong Islamieten Bond.

He also learned to play the violin.

After graduating he moved to Bandung, where he studied at an AMS (Algememe Midelbare School, or senior high school).

Natsir later said that he had chosen the school for its Western classics class.

From 1928 until 1932, he became the chairman of JIB Bandung.

He then received a teaching permit after studying for two years at a native teachers' training college.

Although he had previously studied Islam in West Sumatra, while in Bandung he took a deeper interest in the religion, including subjects such as the interpretation of the Quran, Islamic jurisprudence, and dialectics; he later studied under Ahmad Hassan, the leader of Persatuan Islam.

While still in high school, Natsir became involved in journalism.

His first articles were published in 1929, and during the 1930s he wrote for several Islamic-themed papers.

In 1929 he wrote two articles published in the Algemeen Indische Dagblad, entitled "Qur'an en Evangelie" ("The Quran and the Evangelicals") and "Muhammad als Profeet" ("Muhammad as the Prophet").

He also collaborated with other thinkers to publish the newspaper Pembela Islam (Defenders of Islam) from 1929 to 1935 and wrote extensively about his views on the religion for Pandji Islam (Banner of Islam), Pedoman Masyarakat (Guide for the People), and Al-Manār (The Torch).

He entered politics in the mid-1930s, rising through the ranks of Islamic parties.

Aside from writing, Natsir founded Pendidikan Islam (Islamic Education), a private school, in 1930; the school was shut down after the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.

Natsir began to associate with well-known scholars of Islam like Agus Salim, and in the mid-1930s he took Salim's place in discussing the relationship between Islam and the state with future-president Sukarno.

In 1938, he enrolled as a member of Partai Islam Indonesia (The Indonesian Islamic Party), and became the chairman of the Bandung branch from 1940 until 1942.

He was also employed as the Bandung Bureau Head of Education until 1945.

During the Japanese occupation, he joined Majelis Islam A'la Indonesia (changed to Majelis Syura Muslimim Indonesia later), and became one of its chairmen from 1945 until the party was banned.

Notable party members including ulama Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin and Abdullah Nur.

After the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, he became a Central Indonesian National Committee member.

On 5 September 1950, he was chosen as prime minister, a term which he served until 26 April 1951.

After his term as prime minister, he became increasingly vocal about Islam's role in Indonesia and was eventually arrested for doing so.

On 3 April 1950, he proposed a motion called Mosi Integral Natsir, that united Indonesia after an agreement that divided Indonesia into seventeen states.

Soon afterward, he became prime minister, influenced by his role as the head of Masyumi.

He served until 1951.

In the Guided Democracy era, he opposed the government and joined the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia.

As a result, he was arrested and imprisoned in Malang from 1962 until 1964.

Released in 1966 after the New Order government took power, Natsir continued to be critical of the government, eventually leading to him being banned from traveling.

He died in his home in Jakarta on 6 February 1993.

Natsir wrote extensively on Islam, totaling 45 books and hundreds of articles.

He viewed Islam as an intrinsic part of Indonesian culture and was disappointed by the Sukarno and Suharto government's handling of the religion.

He was given three honorary doctorates during his lifetime, one from Lebanon and two from Malaysia.

On 10 November 2008, Natsir was honoured as a national hero of Indonesia.