A planned Islamic centre near Madrid has placed Muhammadiyah’s international ambitions in the spotlight. Renewed Indonesian media reports in July 2026 said its East Java leadership had acquired a former church-and-school complex in Alcalá de Henares for approximately €3 million, or around Rp45 billion.
The initiative represents more than an overseas property project. It reflects how one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisations is adapting its century-old model of education, healthcare and community service for an increasingly international audience.
A Spanish Vision Takes Shape
The proposal emerged after Muhammadiyah representatives visited Turkey and Spain in October 2022. It was subsequently presented during Muhammadiyah’s 48th Muktamar in Surakarta that November.
The property was described in early reports as a former school complex containing a dormitory and an inactive church. Indonesian Ambassador to Spain Muhammad Najib explained that the school had closed after losing its students, while the shrinking congregation led its managers to seek a more suitable location.
Former East Java Muhammadiyah chairman Saad Ibrahim said the visit inspired the organisation to take practical action rather than merely remember Andalusia’s Islamic past. “When we were in Spain, it was sad that we no longer found the grandeur of Islam. Then, we decided to take action,” he said.
The proposed development would combine a mosque with educational, cultural and community facilities for Spanish Muslims and the Indonesian diaspora. Its location in Alcalá de Henares—an internationally known university city and UNESCO World Heritage Site—could also support academic partnerships and intercultural dialogue.
However, the project should not be confused with the city’s active Magisterial Cathedral of Saints Justus and Pastor, as several recent reports have incorrectly claimed. Public confirmation of the property’s precise identity, legal transfer and development timetable would provide greater clarity as the initiative progresses.
A Service Movement Goes Global
Founded by Ahmad Dahlan in Yogyakarta in 1912, Muhammadiyah developed through what Indonesians call amal usaha: institutions created to translate Islamic values into education, healthcare, social welfare and community empowerment.
Organisational figures published in 2024 listed 173 Muhammadiyah–‘Aisyiyah universities, 123 hospitals and 5,354 schools across Indonesia, alongside thousands of clinics, orphanages, mosques and other social institutions. This extensive domestic infrastructure gives the organisation a practical foundation for international expansion.
By late 2025, Muhammadiyah reported 31 Special Branches, or PCIMs, operating internationally. These branches connect Indonesian students and professionals abroad while developing partnerships with local universities, religious institutions and civil-society organisations.
Its network is complemented by locally registered sister organisations in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Mauritius. Unlike PCIMs, these organisations operate under the laws and leadership structures of their respective countries while maintaining an ideological connection with Muhammadiyah.
Education and Community Service Cross Borders
Muhammadiyah’s internationalisation is increasingly visible through permanent institutions. Muhammadiyah Australia College in Melbourne provides education based on Australian standards, while Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia represents one of the organisation’s most ambitious overseas academic investments.
In Vietnam, Salamad Mosque opened in Long Xuyen, An Giang Province, in December 2025. Serving the local Cham Muslim community, the mosque also became a platform for educational, cultural and halal-industry cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam.
In July 2026, Muhammadiyah’s United Kingdom and Ireland branch became the first Indonesian organisation admitted to the Muslim Council of Britain, an umbrella body representing more than 500 mosques, charities, educational institutions and professional organisations. The membership expanded Muhammadiyah’s access to British Muslim networks and opportunities for social and educational collaboration.
Progressive Islam as Public Diplomacy
Behind these institutions is Muhammadiyah’s concept of Islam Berkemajuan, or Progressive Islam. The approach combines religious principles with education, science, social justice and constructive engagement with contemporary society.
Muhammadiyah Chairman Haedar Nashir described it as an interpretation that “actively contributes to the construction of a thriving and equitable society,” connecting Islamic tradition with modern challenges.
An Islamic centre in Spain could give that vision a prominent European platform. Its success, however, would depend on transparent administration, respect for Spanish regulations and genuine engagement with local communities.
From schools in Australia and Malaysia to a mosque in Vietnam and networks across Europe, Muhammadiyah is carrying an Indonesian tradition of organised social service beyond national borders. The Alcalá initiative could become another important chapter—provided its historical story is told accurately and its community purpose remains at the centre.
