Theses - Islamic Studies

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14576/39

Browse

Browsing Theses - Islamic Studies by Author "Bhirawa Anoraga"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Balik-Islam in Mindanao : the transformation of religious identity among the reverts in Southern Philippines
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2025-07-29) Angkay, Charlene; Bhirawa Anoraga
    This thesis examines the Balik-Islam experience in Mindanao, emphasizing that it is not just a one-time transformative event but an ongoing process of identity formation through multiple stages over time. It addresses the lack of understanding of post-conversion experiences among the Balik-Islam reverts outside BARMM and the scholarly neglect of identity development processes among Muslim reverts in Mindanao. Using a qualitative lifestudy approach, this research draws on the experiences of fifteen Muslim reverts living outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), specifically in areas such as Davao City, General Santos, and Sarangani. The study aims to explore how BalikIslam reverts construct and negotiate their religious identity in non-BARMM areas amid sociocultural and institutional challenges. I introduce the concept of "liminal religiosity" to describe the spiritual and social state of these reverts, who exist in a limbo due to historical marginalization, sociocultural ambivalence, and institutional neglect. In Mindanao, Islam functions as a form of historical memory. Balik-Islam reverts face double marginality—they are distanced from their Christian family backgrounds and excluded from ethnolinguistic communities of born Muslims, where ethnic identity often influences religious legitimacy. The subsequent discussion and analysis draw on Rambo's idea of the "consequences" of conversion and Turner's concept of liminality to illustrate how they maintain and develop their faith amid suspicion, bureaucratic invisibility, and legacies of conflict, especially after the Marawi Siege in 2017, which created new memories of distrust as part of Muslim identity reformations. Despite these challenges, Balik-Islam participants demonstrate remarkable resilience and agency. They navigate their uncertain sense of belonging related to their contested religious identity through informal social networks of fellow believers, grassroots religious learning methods, and personal spiritual practices. This research, based on in-depth interviews with the Balik-Islam individuals outside the Bangsamoro region, shows that adopting a Balik-Islam identity is more than just a return to Islamic roots; it involves moving across places of fluid faith and belonging, layered with engagement and exclusion. The study provides original empirical insights into Philippine Islamic studies and global frameworks of conversion. It highlights the need for future research on how institutions approach and support conversion to Islam in their long-term efforts for integration and participation within Muslim communities. It also explores how emerging expressions of religious belonging influence the ability of BalikIslam individuals to gain recognition within those communities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemControlled Access
    Building religious algorithmic authority through different religious community : new preacher and interfaith podcast in digitalizing Indonesia
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2024) Moch Dimas Maulana; Bhirawa Anoraga
    Existing studies on religious authority often focus on the construction of Islamic religious authority within the Muslim community. The present study seeks to provide a distinct and contrasting perspective by arguing that Islamic religious authority can be built within a network of communities of different religions, which has been made possible through what Clay Shirky calls algorithmic authority. In contrast to conventional approaches to authority, algorithmic authority is grounded on individuals based on their influence and digital footprint determined by the number of followers, likes, shares, and comments generated by their content. This qualitative study employs digital ethnography to observe Ustadz Dennis Lim, a casino-boss-turned preacher, as its case study. My observations indicate that despite being initially unknown to the public, Dennis gained immense popularity following his appearance on a YouTube podcast with a non-Muslim influencer, Sumargo. Dennis’ popularity is evidenced by Google Trends data showing a significant increase in searches for his name. Within three months since then, he has appeared on some YouTube podcasts of four non-Muslim influencer channels, producing nine podcast videos and gaining more than 20 million views. This shows Dennis’ consistent efforts to build authority through interfaith podcasts with non-Muslim influencers on YouTube. Conversely, a notable decline occurred when Dennis do not appear in a podcast with these influencers for a long period. However, there was a remarkable increase in online searches for Dennis when he recommenced creating podcasts with them, creating a Ramadan podcast series that generated over 30 videos with more than 20 million views. The findings were generated from my Zoom online interviews with Ustadz Dennis Lim, his scheduling manager, and the media team. I also interviewed some of his offline congregants to understand their perspectives on Dennis’ podcasts with non-Muslim figures. The interviews reveal that such interfaith podcasts do not always denote the pluralist orientation of Indonesian Muslim netizens, as they hope that these non-Muslim podcasters will convert to Islam. Nevertheless, these interfaith podcasts have boosted Dennis’ popularity on social media, which in return has also constructed his authority among Muslim netizens in Indonesia.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Contested views on Islamic dress in contemporary Morocco : balancing Islam, modernity, and cultural identity
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2024) Bouchouk, Oumaima; Bhirawa Anoraga
    This thesis explores the complex interplay between clothing, culture, and religion in Morocco, with an emphasis on the hijab and its evolving role and perception. Throughout history, clothing has served as a key indicator of social status, cultural identity, and personal expression, and its evolution reflects broader societal changes. This study traces the historical development of the hijab from its origins to contemporary manifestations, through analyzing its role as a symbol of identity, empowerment, and political expression. The research highlights the impact of colonialism and globalization on Moroccan dress, leading to a unique Moroccan-European hybrid fashion that mixes traditional and modern styles. The study also examines current debates and media representations surrounding the hijab in Moroccan society, while highlighting the diverse perspectives of supporters and opponents. This thesis is achieved through the use of a qualitative research approach, which includes historical analysis, case studies, and content analysis of media representations. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the hijab's role and significance in Morocco.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Islamic animation in Indonesia : navigating the tension between Da'wa and religious commodification
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Muhammad Wahyudi; Bhirawa Anoraga
    This thesis delves into the intricate interplay between da'wa and religious commodification within the realm of Indonesia's Islamic Animation. Coinciding with the rise of new media technologies, Muslims have diversified their da'wa approaches by leveraging various media channels, notably Islamic Animation
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The negotitation between piety and fun : the islamization of online game in contemporary Indonesia
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Rizal Fadlillah Nurhida; Bhirawa Anoraga
    Scholars on Muslim societies often highlight the use of new media by radical groups, while broadly, the internet is used more for accessing entertaintment and playing games. This study aims to investigate this often-overlooked use of the internet which i argue has been more significant as a strategy to propagate islam. Even Muslims who utilize this new media not only share Islamic da'wah content such as preaching videos, but they also participate in games, particularly online games. Even though it is widely accepted that games are against Islam, a decent Muslim will not engage in them since they will cause him to be inconsistent and ambivalent towards his Islamic rules, according to well-known scholarly views. However, it turns out that Muslims can negotiate while having fun; for example, in Indonesia, there are already social media influencers who play games while preaching. An example of how fun and piety are not as completely understood as they formerly were. With the continuing development of new media, particularly online games, which are becoming increasingly popular, it has been discovered that the impact of games is no longer limited to entertainment. Therefore, games, and particularly online games, can no longer be ignored, as in earlier studies that mostly only covered new media and fun piety in general, without mentioning online games specifically.