Browsing by Author "Syamsul Rijal"

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    al-Ḥarāk al-ṣūfī wa al-da’wah al-insānīyyah fī Indūnīsīyā: Ḥālah al-Ḥabīb Abī Bakr al-’Aṭṭās al-Zabīdī
    (Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, 2024) Syamsul Rijal; Musa Alkadzim Alhabsyi
    Studies on Ba'alawi preachers in Indonesia have predominantly focused on popular figures who utilize new media and popular culture in their preaching to appeal to young Muslims. However, there has been a lack of attention given to Ba'alawi preachers who avoid publicity and prioritize humanitarian activities. This article examines the case of Ḥabīb Abū Bakr al-‘Aṭṭās al-Zabīdī (popularly known as Abuya/My Father by his followers), who has garnered a significant following across several Indonesian provinces. His followers regard him as a generous, peace-oriented Sufi who not only advocates for spreading peace and kindness but also embodies these values through humanitarian acts towards those in need, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. This article explores his mobility in business and da'wah across Indonesia and analyzes the methods he uses to distribute charities and empower Muslim communities. The case of Habib Abubakar demonstrates that Sufism transcends mere individual asceticism and detachment from worldly possessions; rather, its spiritual essence is manifested through active involvement in social and humanitarian affairs.
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    Cultivating piety in the urban landscape : a study on the spiritual odyssey of Salafi women in Jakarta
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Diah Ayu Agustina; Syamsul Rijal
    This thesis aims to shed light on piety cultivation among Salafi women through their engagement in studies hosted by the Nurul Iman Mosque in Blok M Square. This study investigates Salafi women's experiences after attending regular studies and the role of Nurul Iman Mosque as a center for spirituality and Sunnah studies for urban areas in nurturing Salafi women's piety. This thesis investigates the subjectivity, agency, and ethical forms of Salafi women who frequently attend sermons at mosques using Saba Mahmood's Politics of Piety theory. This study involves four months of fieldwork (March to June). Data were gathered by participant observation and interviews with 26 persons, including DKM Nurul Iman Mosque Management, Blok M Square Management, a trader, and 23 female congregants. Using a qualitative research technique, including interviews and observations, this study attempts to fully understand the growth of piety among urban Salafi women in mosque settings, capturing their lived experiences and explaining the variables that form their spiritual journeys. This study argues that Salafi women who actively participate in mosque studies have a profoundly positive impact on their own piety, spirituality, and overall well-being. The study reveals that mosque studies act as a catalyst for change, nourishing the soul and creating a strong bond with God. These women receive comfort, inspiration, and information that strengthens their religious commitment through the numerous studies offered. Mosques serve as social gathering places that promote a sense of sisterhood and belonging while providing a safe area for spiritual inquiry and self-improvement. This study also emphasizes the value of mosque studies in motivating urban Salafi women to reflect on and enhance their lives. Through sermon teachings and reminders, women are encouraged to evaluate their behavior and strive for ongoing growth in pursuing piety.
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    Embracing faith and fun : the emergence of Bikers Subuhan in Central Java
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Muhammad Rosyid; Syamsul Rijal
    This thesis examines the emergence of Bikers Subuhan (BS) which has grown rapidly in the past six years. The movement identifies itself as a community of motorcycle enthusiasts promoting congregational Dawn (Subuh) prayer in mosques. Presently, BS has established 108 communities spread throughout cities in Indonesia. This study demonstrates that there was an increase in members within the BS movement, most recruitment takes place through interpersonal relations between the BS members, the Safar Ride event, and the utilization of social media. This research focuses on the BS movement in Solo, considering that the city is known as a nest for various Islamic radical groups, where Islamist ideas remain strong and prevalent. This research applies the theory of Pop-Islamism promoted by Dominik Muller; he argues that Islamist ideas are still being voiced, albeit in different forms/languages, namely through the adoption and adaptation of pop culture. This research employs ethnographic fieldwork for approximately six months (February-July) through participatory and digital observation, interviews, content analysis, and documentation. Interviews were conducted with 26 participants, consisting of one staff member from the PKS faction, four awwalun (leaders), three murabbis (religious mentors/advisors), and 18 members of Bikers Subuhan. Through content analysis, the study will discuss the narratives propagated through Islamic religious preaching (pengajian), private groups, and discussions that followed during their activities. This study found that the BS community tends to lean more toward an Islamist movement rather than a motorcycle enthusiast community. In short, this religious movement utilizes the motorcycle community as a camouflage to attract participants and supporters toward their envisioned goals. This thesis argues that the Bikers Subuhan continue to advocate for disseminating Islamist narratives and endorse implementing Islamic laws, including establishing an Islamic state, albeit primarily within their internal circles. This study is expected to contribute to the literature on Islamic activism that utilizes fun as part of movement mobilization in Indonesia, with a concentration on Solo. Considering that this research is limited to the BS movement in Solo, the findings and analysis of this thesis do not generalize the direction of the Bikers Subuhan movement in Indonesia, which may give an orientation towards supporting Islamism.
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    Navigating nobility and cosmopolitanism : Shara'if's engagement in Jakarta's public sphere
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Rifa Tsamrotul Syaadah; Syamsul Rijal
    Religious identity and women's empowerment models have transformed in the rapidly changing industrial era. Women's Hadhrami, especially Sharai'f (female descendants of the prophet), have moved beyond relying solely on traditional teachings within the Yemeni community to contribute to society. Instead, they negotiate their emancipation in the public sphere by embracing women's leadership, political engagement, and social media entertainment as expressions of their Yemeni identity. This thesis addresses four key questions: How does Shara'if negotiate their identity to play roles in the public sphere? Are they attempting to expand their power or disregarding their social capital? How do they interpret their identity and maintain it amidst their nobility as descendants of the prophet? To what extent do they still embrace their Yemeni label when fulfilling their roles in the public sphere? This study adopts a qualitative data analysis approach, encompassing the systematic organization and interpretation of descriptive data collected through interviews, surveys, and observations. In-depth interviews with three shara'if were conducted to understand their aspirations regarding social empowerment in Jakarta's public sphere. The findings of this study reveal that, on the one hand, the identity of Jakartan shara'if grants special privileges to cosmopolitan shara'if, empowering them with prestige and attractiveness in the public sphere. On the other hand, these negotiations have also overshadowed the Women's Hadhrami's identity, leading to the discovery that their nobility can shape their authenticity as shara'if. This study argues that shara'if holds power in advocating for women's empowerment ideologies, which may not be readily apparent to some Shara'if communities in Indonesia.
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    The politics of ahl as-sunnah : adapting tharīqah ‘alawiyyah in Indonesian politics
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2024) Ahmad Rizki; Syamsul Rijal
    Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah is a Sufi order that was initially centered in Hadramaut, Yemen, but has now spread to Indonesia along with the Hadhrami diaspora and is closely associated with the Bā'alawī family. The founder of this order, Imam Faqīh Muqaddam, adopted a passive stance towards politics in the 12th century, setting an example for his followers, even though Imam Haddad later revitalized the order; this passive stance remains strong in Hadramaut to this day. In contrast, some figures of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia are now active in politics, with Habib Luthfi bin Yahya being one of the most prominent. On various occasions, he has expressed his active support for presidential candidates in Indonesian elections. Additionally, under Habib Luthfi, the practices of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia have undergone various adaptations in their rituals and teachings. This thesis will investigate how Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah adapts to the sociopolitical situation in Indonesia. The thesis aims to illustrate how Habib Luthfi adapts the teachings of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to support his lineage, Sufism, and politics by answering two main research questions: How did the dynamics of adaptation occur within Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to accommodate the socio-political conditions in Indonesia before and after independence? How does Habib Luthfi appropriate Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in dealing with contemporary socio-political developments in Indonesia? This research is conducted through qualitative methods and a historical approach that integrates scientific literature studies with ethnographic research on the adaptation of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in the sociopolitical dynamics of Indonesia. This thesis argues that Habib Luthfi has successfully adapted Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to address the current socio-political dynamics in Indonesia. The thesis contends that Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia has undergone various adaptations and transformations in response to political dynamics, such as colonialism, which limited their activities in the Netherlands East Indies, as well as national issues that required them to assimilate into Indonesian society. A contributing factor to this adaptation is the way Arab culture has acculturated with Indonesian culture. Habib Luthfi also successfully built a hierarchical relationship between the mursyid (spiritual guide) and the murid (spiritual disciple), placing him in a prestigious position within Indonesian Muslim society. His success is inseparable from the mutually beneficial relationship between Habib Luthfi, who, through his hierarchical influence, can maintain national stability, and the state, which assists Habib Luthfi in building his congregation.
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    Transformations and contestations of Islamic authority : traditionalist Muslim resistance to Bā’alawī in contemporary Indonesia
    (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2024) Moh. Muafiqul Khalid MD; Syamsul Rijal
    This thesis investigates the growing resistance over the past three years by certain traditionalist Muslim leaders and scholars in Indonesia towards the Bā’alawī, a Hadhrami group claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Initiated by Imaduddin Utsman through a critical examination of lineage records, this initial rejection has led to widespread reactions against the Bā’alawī lineage. These narratives of rejection (Bā’alawī rejectionists) have proliferated across social media, Islamic study assemblies (majlis taklim), and academic platforms. Conversely, responses from the Bā’alawī and their traditionalist supporters (Bā’alawī supporters) affirm the authenticity of their lineage. This phenomenon is unprecedented, given the historically esteemed position of the Bā’alawī within traditionalist Muslim contexts. This research identifies this phenomenon as a contestation of religious authority within traditionalist circles. It elucidates the underlying reasons, the processes through which it unfolds, and its impact on both the religious authority of the Bā’alawī and the broader authority of traditionalist Islam. Drawing on Anthony Giddens' structuration theory, this study indicates that the traditionalist rejection and reactions towards the Bā’alawī is a sociological phenomenon arising from the interaction between actors (Bā’alawī rejectionists) and social structures. Employing a qualitative approach that includes interviews, observations, and documentation, this research uncovers the motives and reasons behind the rejection from traditionalist NU circles towards the existence of the Bā’alawī. Through analyzing narratives from both Bā’alawī rejectionists and supporters, the study argues that the rejection is driven not only by theological differences but also by complex socio-political dynamics. The transformation of traditionalist societal structures, influenced by globalization and digitalization, reshapes the perception and practice of religious authority, leading to contests between traditional actors and new authorities, as well as among traditional authorities themselves.