ACTUALIZING THE THEOLOGY OF AL-MA’UN IN MUHAMMADIYAH GOVERNANCE IN LAMONGAN REGENCY (A STUDY OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE CONTEXT OF ENHANCING COMMUNITY WELFARE)

Resumen

This study aims to analyze the actualization of Al-Ma’un theology in Muhammadiyah governance in Lamongan Regency and its contribution to community welfare. The study is motivated by limitations in public administration scholarship, which remains largely dominated by Western paradigms and has not fully positioned faith-based civil society organizations as primary actors in public governance. This research employs a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design within an interpretive–critical paradigm grounded in Islamic epistemology. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation studies, and subsequently analyzed using an interactive method with triangulation. The findings reveal that Al-Ma’un theology is actualized through the institutionalization of the values of hurriyah (freedom), musāwah (equality), ʿadālah (justice), ukhuwah (solidarity), and ta’āwun (mutual assistance) in deliberative processes, organizational accountability, cadre development, educational and healthcare services, social assistance, and community economic empowerment. These practices contribute to improving access to basic services, strengthening social solidarity, and enhancing community welfare. The study confirms that Al-Ma’un theology can be conceptualized as a framework of Islamic civic governance and Islamic public value, demonstrating that Islamic values can be institutionalized within participatory and socially just models of public governance.