From the past until now Kauman is Kauman. A village located just west of the north square of the Yogyakarta Palace.
If we look at the long history behind it, Kauman is closely related to the history of the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, namely Muhammadiyah. Kauman is an important place for Muhammadiyah. It was in this village that Muhammadiyah was founded, grew, and developed to remote corners of the country. Kauman witnessed the early struggle of Muhammadiyah, which at that time was opposed by many.
Actually there is no coronation, nickname, or special mention of Kauman Village as Muhammadiyah Village. The birth, work, and magnitude of Muhammadiyah started from this village, so that Kauman is closely related to Muhammadiyah. Muhammadiyah has given the best service from an economic and social perspective to the people of Kauman, and even the people of Yogyakarta in general.
In addition, the thing that strengthens Kauman being referred to as Kampung Muhammadiyah is that most of the General Chairmen of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive were born in Kauman, such as KHA Dahlan, Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, KH Fachruddin, KH Ahmad Badawi, KH Yunus Anis, KH Ibrahim, and KH Hisham. In the early decades of Muhammadiyah, apart from making Kauman a place of learning with an Islamic-modernist pattern, KHA Dahlan also made Kauman a place for forging the best Muhammadiyah cadres who were prepared to carry out the relay of Muhammadiyah leadership. This is proven by the ranks of Muhammadiyah leaders from Kauman.
For tourists visiting Yogyakarta, don’t miss going to Kauman. Here, tourists will be presented with the Kauman Gedhe Mosque building which still looks sturdy and beautiful. The uniqueness of this Gedhe Mosque is that it is still consistent with the Qibla direction determined by KHA Dahlan. Of course, it was not an easy thing at that time to change the direction of the Qibla, especially when the Gedhe Mosque changed. Technology was not as advanced as today, but with the intelligence and courage of KHA Dahlan, finally the direction of the mosque’s Qibla was right, facing the Qibla instead of facing the west. Tourists can also tour around the Gedhe Kauman Mosque where tourists can still see old-fashioned houses and the feel of the past.
In addition, tourists can look back and see or even ask the surrounding community about the history of the founding of Muhammadiyah and how the struggle of KHA Dahlan appeared as the figure of the Enlightenment. There is a building that witnesses KHA Dahlan’s struggle in preaching in the Kauman neighborhood, namely Langgar Kidoel Hadji Ahmad Dahlan.
Langgar Kidoel is right in front of KHA Dahlan’s house. In Langgar, KHA Dahlan performs many daily activities, especially direct interaction or teaching with his students. Langgar Kidoel was founded in the 1800s after KHA Dahlan married. The breach was torn down because at that time there were still many people in Kauman who could not accept his teachings and it was rebuilt thanks to the support of his brothers who really wanted KHA Dahlan to stay in Kauman and continue to broadcast Islam.
KHA Dahlan’s South Korean violation was actually activated by his own students. Then, when his wife Nyai Ahmad Dahlan (Siti Walidah) started teaching, the Langgar was used as a place for girls to study. Initially, the langgar was established in order to pray for women and their children. This Kauman village has approximately 10 langgars. Langgar in Kauman did not announce the call to prayer because basically the call to prayer in Kauman was centered on the Great Mosque of the Yogyakarta Palace.
In Kauman there is also the Mausoleum of Kauman, which is located inside the Gedhe Kauman Mosque complex. Precisely behind the mosque on the west side. In the Kauman Tomb, many Muhammadiyah figures are buried. One of the Muhammadiyah figures buried in the tomb was Nyai Siti Walidah or better known as Nyai Ahmad Dahlan. She is the first and only female hero in the field of religion. His service to the nation and religion is very great. From her struggle, Aisyiyah was born, one of the first women’s organizations in Indonesia. Even though at that time women’s organizations were still considered taboo.