Reflections on HMI’s 79th Anniversary: Serving or Spotlight?
By: Dr. Ali Aminulloh, M.Pd.I., ME.
Every February 5th, history once again knocks on our consciousness.
Not with a loud voice, but with a quiet, yet piercing question:
Is the Islamic Students Association (HMI) still faithful to its devotion to service, or is it instead drowning in the spotlight?
This paradox is increasingly apparent today.
On the one hand, HMI was born from the womb of concern and love for the nation.
On the other hand, the names of its cadres often appear in the public sphere amidst controversy, even uproar.
From idealism to headlines, from devotion to debate.
But that is precisely where HMI Day finds its relevance.
From Yogyakarta 1947: Awareness Planted, Not Displayed
HMI was founded on February 5, 1947, in Yogyakarta by Lafran Pane and a number of Islamic students. It’s not just about gathering, let alone seeking a platform.
But rather, it’s about raising the awareness of Muslim students to be present in the struggle for independence and national development.
Awareness, that’s the key word.
Awareness that knowledge must be impartial.
Awareness that faith must be transformed into good deeds.
Awareness that students are not spectators of history, but actors who bear the responsibility of the times.
Therefore, the 1st HMI Congress in 1947 established HMI Day not as an empty ceremony, but rather as a moment for reflection. A pause to ask: are we still walking that path?
Cadres, Controversy, and a Public Mirror
Over its long journey, HMI has produced thousands of cadres.
Some have become statesmen, intellectuals, religious scholars, and social activists.
Others, undeniably, have become controversial figures.
Names like Egi Sujana often appear in the public sphere with strong statements and confrontational attitudes. For some, he embodies courage. For others, he symbolizes chaos.
This is where the paradox sharpens again:
Does controversy always mean a betrayal of service?
Or does it actually test the maturity of its cadres in managing idealism?
HMI, from the beginning, has not produced uniform individuals. It has produced thinking individuals. And thoughts, if not framed by wisdom, can be light, or they can be fire.
Service as a Silent Path
The theme of the 2026 HMI Day commemoration: “HMI’s Service for Indonesia” feels like an invitation to return home. Return from the hustle and bustle of image. Return from the obsession with going viral. Return to the original meaning of gathering: to serve, not to stand out.
Service does not mean silence. Service is working without needing applause. Fighting without always being in the spotlight. This is a silent, yet deep-rooted service.
Cultivating Awareness: The Legacy of Shaykh Al-Zaytun’s Thought
In the treasure trove of HMI cadres, there is also the figure of Shaykh A. S. Panji Gumilang, better known as Shaykh Al-Zaytun. Despite the controversy surrounding his name, one important idea is worth noting: cultivating awareness, cultivating humanity as the core of civilization.
Awareness has several levels:
Philosophical awareness: the ability to think deeply, non-reactively, and not superficially. Understanding the what, why, how, and why before acting.
Ecological awareness: understanding that humans are not the sole rulers of the earth, but rather guardians of a trust.
Social awareness: siding with humanity, justice, and the dignity of others.
In this framework, service is not a slogan, but a long process of developing a complete and balanced human being (basyaran sawiyyan): intelligent, moral, and empathetic.
HMI and the Never-Ending Questions
Today, HMI stands at a crossroads.
Between history and the future. Between service and the spotlight. Between awareness and sensation.
HMI Day is not just a flag ceremony, seminar, or fundraising event.
It is a large mirror reflecting the faces of its own cadres.
Are we still cultivating awareness, or busy harvesting popularity? Are we here for Indonesia, or merely for our own egos?
These are the questions every HMI member should take home with them every February 5th.
Because in the end, history will not remember who was the loudest.
History only records who was the most devout.**
Indonesia, February 5, 2026
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