Journal of Indonesian Islam
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CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE ACEH’S SULTANAHS: Understanding Relation between Islam and Female Leadership
Get PDFThe history of Aceh Sultanate in 1641-1699 might be an exception of the Islamic history in general. While the history of Islam is generally male-dominated, Aceh which had strong Islamic credentials was once ruled by four female rulers consecutively during the period of six decades. How did Muslim women become rulers of an Islamic kingdom despite Islamic teaching “prohibiting” them from taking a leadership position? How did people react to this fact? How did the queens rule the kingdom and survive despite opposition? Despite notions of some historians that the queens’ periods were the weakening time of the sultanate, the existence of female rulers is a proof of the continuing position of women in the public sphere even in an Islamic state. The presence of influential aristocrats, the division of Aceh into three powerful sagis, and the support of `ulama>’ are main contributing factors to the rise and establishment of female rulers in Aceh. The administrative structure of the sultanate and its Islamic character suggest the development of moderate Islam that made women leadership in Aceh possible. The opposition to female rulers in Aceh which the succession of rulers was hereditary was more politically and economically-motivated than religious
CHALLENGING RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY: The Emergence of Salafi Ustadhs in Indonesia
Get PDFWith Muslims as majority population, religious authority plays important roles in Indonesia. This paper tries to show the map of religious authority in Indonesia both in history and the recent development. The paper shows that, in the past, religious authority in Indonesia were possesed by the kyai and other traditional religious leaders. However, there is an emergence of the new religious elites in Indonesia, the muballigh, the dai and the last is the salafi ustadhs. In addition, this paper also discusses the contestation between the established power of religious authority and the the newly emerged salafi ustadh. Feeling threatened by the changging trend and the influence of the salaf, there are various responses from the existing authorities. The responses vary from discussion to violence. One example is the mubahathah held between Persis and Salafi. Through the event, both parties tried to contest and challenge each other’s authority. Using religious arguments and using some religious symbols, both parties actually try to maintain their religious authority
أضواء على ماهية الشريعة الإسلامية بإندونيسيا و كيانها و تأسيسها و تجديدها و تنميتها و مستقبلها
Get PDFThis paper attempts to explain the existence and institutionalization of Islamic law in Indonesia. The first part of this writing explores the existence of Islamic law which is perceived in two big periods, the pre-independence period and the post independence period. In the following part, the author focuses the dynamics of post-independence period by showing momentum in 1970 when the state officially acknowledged religous court as a separate entity to become one of fully sovereign courts in the judiciary. The main argument of the paper is that the state policy has allowed a room for Islamic law to emerge and exist, although the religious court at that time only dealt with civil law in the area of family law for indonesian muslims. Institutionally, Islamic law has been recognized as a sub-system in the national law system. Furthermore, society’s awareness of the Islamic law is developed significantly due to the role of Muslim intellectuals and Muslim scholars who actively promote society’s awareness of the law
MYSTICISM IN BATIK INDUSTRIAL RELATION: The Study of Trust Achievement on the Survivability of Small-Medium Batik Industry at Pekalongan City
Get PDFRelationship between economy and religion had been known for long time ago as it was found in Max Weber’s books “The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism” and “The Protestant Sects and The Spirit of Capitalism”. This paper examines the extent to which mysticism practices have been conducted among the employers and employees of Batik Industries in Pekalongan City. It argues that mysticism has an important role to reinforce the social capital and make the industry survive, especially to face many problems related to productivity, motivation, trust as well as wage issues. By practicing mystics and religious traditions, like dhikiran, manakiban, hawl and muludan, people have spiritual force which has an important role both for personally and professionally in the work place, especially to maintain the relationship between employees and employers. Also they could be stronger when faced the changes and challenges of business and their industry can survive
TRADITIONAL ISLAM IN JAVANESE SOCIETY: The Roles of Kyai and Pesantren in Preserving Islamic Tradition and Negotiating Modernity
Get PDFThe debate on the notion of identity of the traditional Islam in the Javanese society is often related to pesantren and kyai. These are the sub-cultural entities that have contributed to the shaping and building the identity of the Javanese Muslims. This paper explores the following key issues: (1) In what ways the collective identity of the Javanese Muslims is constructed in such a multicultural society? (2) What are the roles of the pesantren and kyais in such a process. The paper argues that the pesantren communities perceive themselves as the defending power of traditional Islam, the fact that would imply logically that there is a sort of cultural confrontation between the traditionalists and the modernists. The paper will delve into this polarity in the context of the role of pesantren and kyai and how these sub-cultural entities negotiate both with the opposing sub-culture –the modernist that is- and with modernity
THE LOCAL POLITICS OF ORTHODOXY: The Majelis Ulama Indonesia in the Post-New Order Banten
Get PDFThe Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) has played an important role in guarding the Sunni orthodoxy in contemporary Indonesia. As it has chapters in almost parts of Indonesia in the provincial, district and municipality level, this role has been also translated into the local context. The strength of the MUI stems from “semi-officiality” and “semi-representative” nature of the organisation. This article is aimed to analyse this role in the post-New Order period, after the establishment of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) of Banten province in 2001, especially in dealing with deviant beliefs or sects and shirk (polytheist) and bid‘ah (religious innovation) practices. It is to show that orthodoxy and heterodoxy is not purely religious, but also political, as this is related to the problem of authority and power
THE STUDY OF INSTILLING PLURALITY VALUES TO THE STUDENTS OF ISLAMIC SCHOOLS IN MAKASSAR
Get PDFThis study tries to discuss the central issue of the instilling plural values to learners of each level of Islamic schools in Makassar. This study focuses on Islamic schools, since the teaching of religious subjects were also offered at public schools. In order to limiting the scope of the research, this study highlights on the extent of religious teaching and how the teaching are synchronized with of the plurality values in schools that consists of diverse ethnicity and culture in one hand, and diverse religious beliefs outside the schools, in another hand. The main problem statement is how the plurality values are instilled at Islamic schools in Makassar. The instilling process of plural values is tilled at Islamic schools in Makassar. The instilling process of plural values and culture is qualitative with socio-cultural pedagogical approach. The finding is that the instilling of the plurality values had been implemented but is not yet an adequate process, because it is still sporadic. Also, it is not yet concretely reflected in the curriculum
UNDERSTANDING RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA: Theological, Structural and Cultural Analyses
Get PDFLately Indonesia is facing a lot of tremendous experience about religious violence. Indonesian Islam which is previously assumed as peaceful religion is suddenly changing to be frightening religion. The destruction in some places such as Bali Bombing, JW Marriot Bombing, and Sampang riot in some places Islam is the trigger of religious violence. This paper discusses the repetition of religious violence in Indonesia especially after New Order era. The writer argues that religious violence in Indonesia is as natural disaster, historical process in human evolution and as close experience that presenting and relating to human history. It may be caused by political condition and the response to economic injustice. In doing so, it is kind of social acceleration toward the process of change and also being a factor of the emergence of new agenda. This is because every disaster, including religious violence, requires an adjustment and a new formulation of the functions that have been damaged
PLURALISM, FATWA, AND COURT IN INDONESIA: The Case of Yusman Roy
Get PDFThe interrelation between Islam, state and pluralism is an unfinished discussion in Indonesia. This paper examines an issue of promoting individual freedom to practice his/her belief, and at the same time not insulting the majority belief in a plural society. It takes the case of Yusman Roy on performing the salah (prayer) in a local language as the subject of analysis in order to identify the fault lines of religion and pluralism, and to consider how best to address them. The paper argues that fatwa and court should not be used as mechanisms to deal with the issue of religion and pluralism. It further argues for an “alternative dispute resolution†in dealing with the plurality of interpretation within Islamic tradition and at the same time maintaining the unity and harmony Islamic communities. It maintains that Roy should have the rights to practice what he believes, but at the same time, a negotiation on how he spreads his ideas outside his schools should take place in order to avoid provocative actions that invite violence
ISLAMIC CHARITIES AND DAKWAH MOVEMENTS IN A MUSLIM MINORITY ISLAND: The Experience of Niasan Muslims
Get PDFThis paper discusses the roles of Islamic charitable organisations in running dakwah activities on Nias Island. By Showing how Islamic charitable organizations have attempted to create welfare programmes under the dakwah scheme, it investigates whether inclusive attitudes towards beneficiaries with different religious backgrounds have characterised Islamic social activism in ‘non-Islamic’ regions. As a Muslim minority area, post-disaster Nias Island has increasingly become a place where Islamic charitable associations and dakwah movements from outside Nias have attempted to deliver aid as well as to assist the communities, notably the Muslim minority population. As the outer islands and isolated regions have become an arena of contestation for religious missionaries, Muslim preachers to a certain extent should compete with Christian missionaries and indigenous religious groups. By way of a case study, this paper also examines the way in which Islamic charitable associations, negotiate between serving the Muslim community through dakwah, and serving humanity at large through social welfare activities