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From Mushalla to Mosque: The Formation of South and Southeast Asian Muslim Communities in Japan
Full text linkSince the 1980s, Japan has attracted Muslim immigrants, mainly from South and Southeast Asian countries. The emergence of these Islamic communities in Japan is reflected by the presence of around one hundred mosques and musallas (rooms or buildings for the performance of five daily prayers) on the Japanese archipelagos. This paper aims to discuss South and Southeast Asian Muslim communities in Japan, and the spaces used for their rituals and social activities as they have developed into full congregations able to support mosque construction and maintenance. I investigate how the transnational aspect of migration has shaped the architectural availability of places of prayer, and the development of the ummah (Muslim community). My data was collected from observation of Indonesian and Indian mosques in the greater Tokyo region between 2015 and 2017, and interviews with their congregations
Contestation between Puritan Islam and Kejawen in the Urban Yogyakarta of Indonesia
Full text linkTensions between Puritan Islam and Kejawen Islam have never been resolved, despite various accommodation efforts. The ongoing contestation of the two traditions in Islam in Yogyakarta is because both always maintain strict cultural boundaries through symbols that represent their respective identities, be it in religious, art, cultural, economic and political practices. This study focuses on three aspects: (1) the form of representation of the contestation between Islam and Tradition (Kejawen) in the city of Yogyakarta; (2) the historical and cultural context which is the basis for the contestation between Islam and tradition; and (3) how the contestation between Islam and the Kejawen tradition is managed by each community in an effort to minimize the occurrence of social conflict between the two. Through these three aspects, this research aims to offer a new perspective in viewing the dialectical relations between Puritan Islam and Javanese (Kejawen) tradition contextually. The contestation between the Islamic tradition and the Kejawen tradition continued because of historical, political and global currents that provided space for both traditions to build their respective cultural identities
Sinetron Leads to Negotiation of Identity: Christian Identity and the Representation of Religion in Indonesian Popular Culture
Full text linkHaving Pancasila as its ideology, with its first pillar of Ketuhanan yang Maha Esa (the belief in one deity), Indonesia is neither based on a certain religion, nor giving a privilege to a certain religion. In the context of the resurgence of religion, Islam obviously becomes the only normative in everyday life, including in popular culture. This paper analyzes the way Indonesian Christians see the representation of religion in sinetron, the television soap opera tat is considered the predominant form of popular culture in Indonesia, and negotiate their identity as religious minority. The work is based on a research project conducted in Gereja Kristen Jawa (GKJ/Christian Church of Java) Gondokusuman in Yogyakarta. A random survey about sinetron titles watched by the embers of the congregation show that eight titles are popular. A more intensive questionnaire is distributed to the church council as the representation of Christians who are active in church activities. It is also intended to show the most-watched sinetron in 2017. From the survey, there are two most watched sinetron: “Tukang Ojek Pengkolan” (TOP/Motorcycle-taxi Driver on the Corner) and “Dunia Terbalik” (DT/Upside-down World). Eighteen people who watch both TOP and DT then were interviewed. Using the framework of first generation of reception study, the work finds that Christians’ reception on the representation of religion in sinetron can be categorized into three patterns: mirror of reality, watching for pleasure, and religion is necessary. Those three patterns show that Christians’ reception is in negotiation position
The Concept of Peace in Islam and Its Relevance to International Relations
Full text linkIslam is often described as a religion that emphasizes the use of violence in its da'wah method. The stereotype is formed by a number of literature and media that depicted Islam as a religion of violence. This paper aims to analyze the causes of stereotype against Islam, and provides an overview of the concept of peace in Islamic perspective, and seek the relevance of the concept of peace in Islam to the study of conflict and peace in international relations. Through some literature research, the author finds that the stereotype is caused by the gap in the discourse on war and peace in Islam, thus the discourse related to the peace in Islam needs to be buzzed. Unlike the two mainstreams in International Relation Studies (Realism and Idealism), al-Quran, as the primary source of Islamic teaching, describes that a human is basically both keen to cooperate and prone to conflict, and favoring to managing the conflict through peaceful settlement. Three terms-as-silmu, as-shulhu, and al-amanu are used to conceptualize the three levels of peace in the Quranic perspective
State and Religion in Aceh: The Competences of Religious Education Teachers (Referring to ACT 14, 2005)
Full text linkStudies on religious education teacher’s competences in Aceh could not be separated from studies on state’s intervention toward education. State hegemony occurs in the form of regulation formalization which regulates efforts for improving qualification and competence of teachers. The research showed that the presence of Act No. 14, 2005 and the Government Regulation No. 74, 2008 had been used as legal reference to encourage the improvement of Aceh religious education teachers’ qualification and competence. This is a qualitative study in which triangulation in data collection was used. The data was then collected through documentations, observations, and deep interviews. This work emphasizes that improving teachers’ competences in Islamic education system in Aceh was in accordance to and did not contradict with national education system and moreover strengthen the content of Act No. 14, 1005 and Government Regulation No. 74, 2008. Qualification and competence of religious education teachers in Aceh underwent improvement better than previous term. However, teachers experienced that socialization process and implementation of regulation has yet to receive upmost attention. The study also suggests that religious education teachers’ qualifications and competences will significantly contribute to the development of religious education quality, thus Islamic education transforms intently in national and state relations order
The Sasak People of Lombok: Indigenous Communities at The Crossroads of Globalization
Full text linkThis article focuses on changes that have taken place among Lombok’s indigenous communities, including Sasak Bayan, Sasak Sade, and Sasak Ende. This study found that in the context of thick globalization where information technology is the driving force, the indigenous communities are no longer as the objects of the global cultural market. Instead, they are given the freedom to choose and sort out values that they consider good and appropriate with their needs. In addition, they also exercise the freedom of expression. However, the problem lies in the fact that their choices and ways of expressions are quite often violating old loyalties they have agreed. The communities of Sasak Bayan, Sasak Sade and Sasak Ende provide important information on how indigenous communities respond creatively to globalization based on their needs
Spiritual Education Mission in the Mufassirin Perspective
Full text linkSpiritual crisis is a factor leading to disorientation in today’s modern humans and the decline of morality of the nation. The low level of spirituality is caused by an educational approach that only focuses on the brain and ignores spiritual values. The Qur'an has actually affirmed the mission of spiritual education which should be used as a reference for the current education system. This article employs library research method through a comparison of the way the mufassirin interpret verses about the mission of spiritual education. The results show that the mission of spiritual education carried out by the Prophet Muhammad can be seen for example in Surat Al-Anbiya' verse 107, Surat Saba' verse 28 and Surat Al-Ahzab verse 21, namely rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy to all creations). The prophet has brought evidence the truth to perfect the akhlậq, as well as to become the followers of uswah hasanah (perfect example) which must be imitated by all humans. Meanwhile, the stages of increasing spirituality in the Surat Luqman Verses 12-19, include: (1) instilling the tauhid values, (2) being filial to parents, (3) understanding the reciprocity of each deed, (4) command to worship, (5) introducing politeness in social life. Elements of spiritual education contained in Surat al-Muzzammil Verses 1-10 include qiyamul lail or night prayer, reciting the Qur’an in a tartil way, getting used to zikr, patience, jihad fi sabilillah or fighting on the path of Allah, and always praying and begging forgiveness from Allah
Jihad Penista Agama Jihad NKRI: Antonio Gramsci's Hegemony Theory Analysis of Radical Da'wah Phenomena in Online Media
Full text linkThis article explores the new trends of Islamic radicalism through missionary jihad against a blasphemer (Ahok) as part of the jihad for the NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia). The trend of radical dakwah in online media is interesting to research, regardless of the interest of the local election, or Caliphate and NKRI sharia on the other hand. The purpose of this research is to find out the trend of radical dakwah in online media by calling jihad against a blasphemer as part of the NKRI jihad and its implication. The questions in this study will be examined using the theory of domination of interests (hegemony), given the position of the radicals is to seize the hegemony of society through online viral media. In conclusion, the use of the term Jihad against a blasphemer, and political branding that radical groups still maintain the integrity of the NKRI is a hegemonic form to defeat the cultural power of the moderate, tolerant, and plural Muslims. These radicals, together with the intellectual actors behind them, realize that in order to gain legitimacy of religious power, they must collaborate with the MUI (fatwa institution), then use social media to invite all to participate to do counter discourse. After that, they collaborated with politicians to advocate the idea they propose. Finally, they use symbolic Islamic slogans to bring Muslims to the struggle that they do
Mulai Lawan Bismillah: Religiosity of the Banjar People in the Banjar Songs Composed by Anang Ardiansyah
Full text linkLocal folk songs are often only enjoyed by local people and, of course, only a few of these songs can become national songs. However, through the song called Paris Barantai composed by Anang Ardiansyah, the Banjar song can become a nationally recognized regional folk song. In addition, Anang Ardiansyah‘s other songs have a message or religious content that reflects the Islamic culture of the Banjar community. Therefore, this paper explores religious content of four songs composed by Anang Ardiansyah with the aim that the local folk songs are not only sung but reinforce the distribution of religious values and knowledge in relation to the Banjar culture. The results of this paper describe the religious practice of urang (people of) Banjar related to faith, prayer and shalawat in everyday life and the term haram menyarah (surrender is forbidden) as Banjar people's struggle doctrine depicted from the Banjar song composed by Anang Ardiansyah. Therefore, through these songs it becomes an important part of the efforts to strengthen the Banjar religious identity and religious value distribution will take place continuously
Religious Violence in the Indonesian Democratic Era
Full text linkThe Indonesian democratic era has provided hope for the growth of mutual social practices established upon diversity of ethnicity, religions, race, and inter-group relations. Yet, in the last decade, various forms of violence were often carried out on behalf of religion instead. These acts of violence were not only physical but also psychological (cultural), in the forms of discrimination, abuse, expulsion, insult, and threat. The Ahmadiyya and Shia cases, for instance, provide an outlook regarding the prevalence of violence within social practices in the community in response to differences. Why does such violence remain to occur in Indonesia? The work finds that, aside from a ‘failed understanding of religious texts’, excessive truth claim also triggers acts of religious violence in the current era of Indonesian democracy. It is of utmost importance that people’s understanding and interpretation of differences be set straight so that any response to differences can be considered as an embryo of national power that serves as an instrument employed for uniting the people of this nation instead of disuniting them. It is also strongly indicated by the work that religious violence may be avoided by changing the understanding of the meaning of differences