Islamic Studies

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14576/12

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 73

Open Access
Gus Yahya and the NU’s New Path: Note on the 34th Congress
(Pusat Pengkajian Islam dan Masyarakat (PPIM) Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2022) Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin
The 34th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress in Lampung was organized in an unusual situation. It was the first kind of NU congress organized in the era of a global pandemic. The date of congress itself was a subject of controversy and debated by competing candidates due to the lockdown, a standard measure taken by the government to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus. There was even an idea to postpone the congress altogether and asked K.H. Said Aqil Siradj, the incumbent leader, to stay indefinitely until the situation is back to normal. However, after a tussle and negotiation, finally, all factions agreed that the congress would be organized at the initial date planned by the Central Board of NU (Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama, PBNU), which was at the end of December (22-23 December 2021). At that time, the case of Covid-19 was relatively low, and the gap was perfect for a congress.
Open Access
The Politics of ‘Halal’: From Cultural to Structural Shariatisation in Indonesia
(SSRN, 2022-03-01) Syafiq Hasyim
This article seeks to explain the politics of halal and its connection to the model of ongoing ‘shariatisation’ through an investigation of the institutionalisation of shariatisation of goods in Indonesia. It illustrates the historical steps of halal institutionalisation in Indonesia, fom from the issuance of early fatwas on halal to the establishment of a state halal body. It assesses a contest between the two models of shariatisation: first, state-enforced shariatisation, epitomised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs; and second, community-enforced shariatisation, epitomised by Council of Indonesian Ulama. This article argues that contest between the state and society over the shariatisation of goods in Indonesia is part of a dynamic process towards shariatisation. The shariatisation of goods is not merely about politics and theology but also involves lifestyle and commodification issues. I conclude that shariatisation that begins as cultural shariatisation has more sustainability and legitimacy than ‘structural’, that is, state-imposed, shariatisation.
Open Access
Relegitimizing Religious Authority : Indonesian Gender-Just ʿUlamāʾ Amid COVID-19
(MDPI, 2022-05-27) Eva F. Nisa; Farid F. Saenong
Studies have highlighted the increased vulnerability of women during and after disasters. Thus, there has been a call for gender-aware disaster management—an approach which is certainly needed, especially when a patriarchal culture is embedded in a society. Unfortunately, studies on women as vulnerable agents are often not balanced against careful examinations of instances where women help women. Drawing on (digital) ethnography conducted between 2020 and 2022, this article focuses on analysing the voices and activities of gender-just ʿulamāʾ (Muslim scholars) in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected traditional religious gathering practices, has led to creative solutions to social proximity restrictions. Many ʿulamāʾ have been “forced” by the situation to adjust to digital religion. This article analyses how female religious authorities who colour the daily daʿwa (proselytization) landscape in Indonesia deal with the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic. The daʿwa scene in Indonesia has long been the site of contention among various competing ideological understandings. The pandemic and the proliferation of digital religion has led gender-just ʿulamāʾ to relegitimize their authority through an online presence so they can compete and counter the narratives of tech-savvy conservative Muslims.
Open Access
Crowdfunding for inter-faith peace : youth, networked social movement, and muslim philanthropy NGOs in contemporary Indonesia
(State Institute of IslAccepted Manuscriptic Studies (IAIN) Salatiga, 2023) Bhirawa Anoraga
This study exAccepted Manuscriptines the involvement of Indonesian youth and Muslimphilanthropy NGOs in the promotion of inter-faith harmony throughcrowdfunding. Crowdfunding or online fundraising has been rapidly growing inIndonesia. It has been used to respond to various issues, Accepted Manuscriptong which is religiousviolence. Oftentimes, when radical acts happened in Indonesia, people turnedto crowdfunding to express inter-faith solidarity and support. This study drawsfrom the concept of networked social movement to explain the characteristicsof crowdfunding cAccepted Manuscriptpaigns for inter-faith harmony. This concept highlightscontemporary online movements that are spontaneous, leaderless, and temporalin nature which is distinct from the well-organized movements commonly studiedby scholars. This study employs digital ethnography on cAccepted Manuscriptpaigns that respondedto religious violence in the largest crowdfunding platform in Indonesia, Kitabisa,which is complemented by interviews with the cAccepted Manuscriptpaign initiators and Muslimphilanthropy NGOs. This article argues that the characteristics of network social movement fit with the current youth generation that is assumed to be sociallyapathetic and more immersed in developing themselves and consuming media.Nevertheless, despite the spontaneous and temporal tenets, the youth’s inter-faithmovements were able to mobilize a significant number of donations and attractMuslim NGOs that were often perceived to be sectarian to support the inter-faithcAccepted Manuscriptpaigns. The findings of this study contribute to the studies on Indonesianyouth, IslAccepted Manuscriptic philanthropy, and the state of inter-faith relations in Indonesia,which was argued to be experiencing a conservative turn.
Open Access
Prioritizing Life over Religion in Indonesia’s Covid-19 Fatwas : The Fatwas of NU, Muhammadiyah, and MUI
(Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, 2023) Syafiq Hasyim
The outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020 introduced a new angle on the use of Islamic legal argument in Indonesian fatwas. The argument of prioritizing life (ḥifẓ al-ḥayā), rarely considered as a legal argument of fatwa-making, arose during the outbreak of Covid-19. This article seeks to examine the espousal of prioritizing life in Indonesian fatwas in relation to Covid-19. It uncovers the theological, social, and political reasons behind the decision to prioritize the ḥifẓ al-ḥayā. It examines fatwas on Covid-19 issued by three mainstream Islamic organizations NU, Muhammadiyah, and MUI that indicate their reluctance to adopt the argument of prioritizing life in their fatwas. This article uses an interdisciplinary approach combining the interpretation of Islamic legal theory, Islamic jurisprudence, and social sciences analysis. Finally, this article demonstrates how pro-life fatwas, by adapting to the pandemic era by prioritizing life as legal argument, benefits religion in general.
Open Access
International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) negotiating pesantren values with the demands of upper-middle society : a case study
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Abdul Muiz; Lubis, Torkis
Pesantren serve as exemplary models for other Islamic educational institutions in their endeavors to educate students. The pesantren values of sincerity, simplicity. and self-independence, which are rooted in Islamic teachings, have been embraced by various institutions as means to cultivate positive personal character in accordance with religious doctrines. In contrast, the emergence of Islamic educational institutions that engaged in the International Standard School (ISS) program occurred during the 2000s. Despite the program's cancellation by the Constitutional Court, it is observed that several Islamic educational institutions persist in utilizing the designation "international" as a means to enhance their social standing. The International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) is an Islamic educational institution that employs the term "international" as a marketing tactic to promote its boarding-based approach. In addition to its exceptional international standard programs, this institution effectively incorporates both foreign and domestic curricula, resulting in the recognition of certain programs as "international pesantren" within the institution. The objective of this qualitative research is to examine the phenomenon of IIBS negotiation in relation to its internationalization efforts, while considering the application of the three pesantren values mentioned earlier. In this study, I contend that by examining the case of pesantren Algebra HIBS, Algebra education has effectively implemented pesantren values within an urban context, encompassing both students and parents. Furthermore, akin to other institutions within the IIBS framework, this particular establishment exhibits a tendency to commodify pesantren and its associated values in order to attract the middle- and upper-class segments of the market. This assertion is substantiated by the considerable financial investment made by parents in enrolling their offspring in this educational establishment. In addition to the commodification of pesantren and its values, Algebra has emerged as a symbol of an internationally recognized standard within the pesantren community, thereby exerting an influence on its social standing and surrounding milieu.
Open Access
Negotiating identities : the case of punk communities in the Tasawuf underground in Ciputat, Tangerang-Indonesia
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Juan Fath Ibrahim; Farid Fachruddin Saenong
This thesis examines the negotiation of identity between Punk and Muslim. This manifests the Hijrah Phenomenon in Pondok Tasawuf Underground, which has been active for the last six years. This movement identifies itself as a Hijrah community with tasawuf as an approach to street punks and several youth development programs, one of which is Auto Detailing training. Currently, members are recruited through Interpersonal communication between Street Punks in the TU Community and Street Punks in the Scene. In addition to offline da'wah, TU utilizes social media as a means of online da'wah by spreading Islamic teachings through Quotes and Videos of religious activities. Given that this phenomenon is one of the Hijrah phenomena that negotiates Street Punk Identity with religious piety, this study uses Religious Piety theory with the argument that the phenomenon of Muslim communities using religious labels or symbols, either Visible or Invisible, in the form of congregational prayer activities or the like, this is done to explore their religious piety in the public sphere. This research conducted for one month (Maret) on Fieldwork. Data collection techniques used semi-structured interviews, participatory and digital observation through WhatsApp status, Instagram, and Facebook. Interviews were conducted with 11 participants: one founder of the Tasawuf Underground community and ten Tasawuf Underground students. This thesis argues that the hijrah of street punks is influenced by the social network around the community space, whether through friends, family, or Islamic teachings obtained from hijrah communities. Tasawwuf, as a more moderate and tolerant manifestation of Islam, is able to correlate punk culture and Islamic values proportionally. Such as interpreting the meaning of freedom which is not characterised by freedom without rules. Where Hijrah participants can do whatever they want such as making music, styling punk without violating religious norms. This is in line with what Abraham said that religious values can synergise with punk culture. In line with the theory of ambivalence between culture, fun and faith as presented by Samuli Schielke which describes the ambivalence in morality, religiosity and pleasure. It promotes Sufism as a more moderate and tolerant interpretation of Islam, provides an alternative route to socio-economic mobilization, and encourages communication and understanding of comprehensive Islamic teachings. This makes it possible to negotiate punk and Muslim identities in an inclusive and tolerant manner. This research is expected to contribute to the literature of islamic activism studies, including the hijrah movement which is considered towards conservative turn. In contrast to this phenomenon the resul show that hijrah punk is more direct toward moderates stance.
Open Access
Desacralizing Islamic symbol and gender inclusivity : viewers' attitude toward cross-dressing accounts on social media
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Husni Mulyawati; Noorhaidi
The entanglement of religious behavior and social media leads to a new form of religious expression which is manifested within 'posting Islam" -as Slama contended- Computer literate content creators, primarily Muslim youths, produce creative youthful Islamic content to engage and help viewers to gain a better understanding of the messages conveyed. However, some content creators use uncommon ways to promote their content. One of them is by parodying the opposite sex and resembling them in dressing as a so-called cross-dresser. In Indonesia, the existence of cross- dressers is still perceived as taboo and stigmatized as immoral. However, it seems different when someone views what happens on social media. Whereas people try to refuse the existence of the LGBT community and everything associated with them including cross-dressing- in real life, enormous people unconsciously give validation on the existence of cross-dressers in the digital realm proven with millions of followers. Cross-dressing contents wrapped in Islamic symbols in social media are seemingly successful in shifting the perception of society toward the contradictive phenomenon. This research aims to examine the motives of viewers to watch the contents of cross- dressing parody and elaborate on the impacts engendered for Muslims' perception by engaging his contents, especially related to gender and religious symbols. To explain this case, I choose two content creators doing this parody namely Mak Beti and Fadlan Holao. The research was conducted by employing qualitative methods which the process of gaining primary data uses observation of social media, sharing questionnaires with the viewers, and interviewing some respondents. The result affirms that most of the viewers conceive cross-dressing as a deed violating religious norms and they are reluctant to accept it in real life, but they unconsciously showcase an accepting attitude toward cross-dressing in social media because of entertainment and it has become a common thing. This case displays the ambivalence and self-conflicting coming from contestation between self-idealism and what Schielke called moral registers and also coming from social media. It also asserts the power of social media to shift paradigms. It is subtle but potentially powerful. Furthermore, this research also amplifies the assumption that hijab as a religious symbol no longer becomes a Muslim's identity but shifts to become a lifestyle and commodified good. In other words, the religious symbol has been desacralized.
Open Access
Negotiating Islamic identity among urban middle-class Muslims : cases from Islamic private tutoring institutions in Jakarta, Indonesia
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Alviani Rachma; Yanwar Pribadi
This study delves into the intricate religious identity challenges faced by urban middle-class Muslims as they navigate their roles as modern Muslims. The increasing prevalence of secularism as the impact of modernity, Islamism phenomena in the urban city, and Islamic revivalism's impacts offers educated Muslims an opportunity to establish non-formal Islamic education platforms in the form of Islamic private tutoring institutions through intellectual discourse, aiming to influence urban middle-class Muslim families in shaping their children's Islamic identity. To achieve its objectives, this study employs Brekhus concepts of "marked identity" and "unmarked identity". It demonstrates how the marked identity group can exert influence over the unmarked identity group under certain circumstances. Employing qualitative research methods and socio-political approaches, this investigation conducts in-depth interviews and close observation of two prominent non-formal Islamic education namely Alif iqra and Igralabs both located in Jakarta. This study argues that Islamic private tutoring institutions as non- formal Islamic education have a role in shaping urban middle-class Muslims' Islamic identity amid modernity. The ability of educated Muslims to revive Islamic knowledge in a modern way provides a complete picture of Islam which attracted urban middle-class Muslim families. This process not only fosters a sense of modern Muslim identity but also instills a moderate Islamic identity aligned with the values of the Qur'an and Sunnah. It sheds light on the complexities of Muslim dilemmas in shaping their distinct religious identity.
Open Access
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.
Open Access
Interpreting an urge to become Bu Hajjah : studies on cultural reproduction and social construction on hajj pilgrimage of Bugis woman
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Ahmad Nailul Murad; Lubis, Torkis
Scholars have exhausted on the issue of how the ritual is managed by theagencies. However, in-depth discussion on how the after hajj effect in society,specifically on hajj woman-Bugis (bu Hajjah) household. This thesis examineshow they reproduce the cultural capital and how that affects their socialconstruction in everyday life. By proposing questions: how do Bugis womanperceive hajj ritual as a subset of tradition and how they, as returned hajj pilgrims,do shape their social and religious behavior, this thesis employs a qualitativedescriptive method gathering primary data by interview with hajj woman-Bugishousehold and the non-hajj as the key informants and enrich with the secondarydata from literature review, news, and official data from related formalinstitutions. This thesis conveys that Bugis woman hajj intensifies their localidentity by fashioning themselves with local clothes and embellishing withluxurious jewelries. In this sense, woman hajj not only symbolizes hajj dress totitle as a social capital but also collective identity of Bugis people. Furthermore,hajj symbol shapes their psychological, cultural, and social construction in thesense that they as a part of Muslim in local society. By hajj degree, Bugis womancan freely express their identity with confidence. Howver, the construction ofpost-hajj arrival of Bugis woman reinforces the social capital on various aspects in society life, including economic activities. In terms of their relation to hajj agencies, for Bugis woman, the hajj symbol is their social capital. But for the hajj agencies, the Bugis woman is the prospective economics capital.
Open Access
Indonesian traditionalist IUM graduate : ambivalence and identity negotiation
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Fahmi Wira Angkasa; Haula Noor
Since its establishment, Saudi Arabia has recognized the role of religion in nation- building. Muhammad bin Saud, with the assistance of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab as an influential religious figure from Dariyyah, solidified his political power. The ideology of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab became the essence of the development of religious institutions in Saudi Arabia, including the Islamic University of Madinah (IUM) as a religious-based university. IUM became influential institution to spread Salafism to Indonesia, through their alumni. Their movements caused religious contestation against traditionalist Muslims. However, this phenomenon has not deterred the motivation of traditionalist Muslims to study in Madinah. This study discusses Indonesian Muslim traditionalists at the IUM in negotiating their identity with the Salafism ideology conveyed on campus, and discusses to what extent Salafism teaching in IUM influences traditionalist principles. It also discusses how they engage with the traditionalist society in Indonesia, after experiencing changes and stability in their ideologies. The study uses qualitative approach, by interviewing Indonesian traditionalist Muslim alumni of IUM. The thesis found that traditionalist Muslims at IUM exhibit various degrees of change and stability, depending on how they negotiate with the teachings there, their breadth of traditionalist knowledge, and family backgrounds. Furthermore, the thesis concludes that they have inclusive view toward Salafism ideology, and able to engage with moderate preaching towards the traditionalist society in their respective areas.
Open Access
Islamic psychology, from hypothetical to empirical : the case of the International Student of Islamic Psychology (ISIP)
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Mustafa, Esra Ahmed Abdulhalim; Haula Noor
The objective of this study is to analyze the development of Islamic psychology and explore the emerging institutions and concepts that promote the Islamic framework of psychology. The study begins by providing a thorough explanation of Islamic psychology, followed by an exploration of related ideas such as Islamization and the integration of knowledge. Utilizing a qualitative methodology and employing the case study approach, the author directs their attention towards a fundamental aspect of Islamic psychology, wherein primary data is collected through the means of interviews. Furthermore, a comprehensive examination of relevant scholarly works pertaining to the subject of this research is undertaken. The primary contention put up in this study asserts that Islamic psychology has successfully addressed the complexities associated with Islamization, while simultaneously propelling innovative approaches and empirical paradigms. Through this investigation, the present study not only increases our understanding of the emerging Islamic paradigm of psychology and its growth trajectory but also makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing scholarly conversation surrounding the integration and convergence of Islam and psychology.
Open 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
Open Access
Muslim-convert preachers in Indonesia : religious authority, Biblical texts, and Muslim's acceptance
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Mufti Labib Jalaluddin; Farid Fachruddin
This research examines the emergence of Muslim preachers with the background of muallaf (converts) who formerly served as religious figures in Christianty as the newly emerging group in contemporary Indonesian Islam. Their emergence challenges the 'mainstream' Islamic religious authority which common Islamic preachers were Muslim-born. Muslim-Convert Preachers also provide Biblical text materials which are not common in general Islamic preachings. In this project, they are called Muslim-Convert Preachers. This study demonstrates the use of Biblical texts and converts status in sermons of Muslim-Convert Preachers as the source of alternative religious authority. The research focuses on a former nun Irena Handono and a former Christian priest Menachem Ali who represent two different dominant approaches in the use of Biblical texts. The study draws on ethnographic fieldwork for approximately four months (February-May) through digital observation, interviews, content analysis, and documentation. Interviews were conducted with Handono and Ali to dig for more information about their stories and motives of conversion and preaching, while interviews with five followers of each preacher were to discover the reason they follow those preachers and their attitude towards Biblical texts after following the preaching. Through content analysis and digital observation, the research studies the narrative and approach that both preachers present in the use of Biblical texts in either Islamic preachings or podcasts on YouTube social media. The data is analyzed using Alatas' (2021) theory of articulatory labor and Scheppele and Soltan's (1987) theory of authority of alternatives. This thesis found that Biblical texts are approached in two ways. While the first name commonly uses in the polemical approach to criticizing Christianity, the second one which relies prefers the apologetic one to connect Quranic revelation to the former revelation. This research argues that the use of Biblical texts is the main and first element to establish Islamic religious authority by Muslim-Convert Preachers through interest and then articulated with polemical and apologetic approaches that ultimately have an impact on increasing the Islamic faith of their followers and their knowledge of tahrif (corruption) in the Bible.
Open Access
A study of Fatwa-making : Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI) and classical Islamic discourse on interfaith marriages
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Muhammad Arrafii; Syafiq Hasyim
The issue of interfaith marriage has become a religious polemic that continues to exist in society. In Indonesia, the Indonesian Ulama Council (or Majelis Ulama Indonesia) has issued fatwas banning religious differences since 1975, 1981, 1986, until 2005. All of which prohibit the marriage of Muslim men with non-Muslims. Interestingly, the MUI's fatwa opposed the majority of classical scholars, because Muslim men with non-Muslim women are permissible in classical literature. On the other hand, Muslim communities in Muslim-majority countries have progressively transcended racial, religious, and social differences. The rate of interfaith marriage in Muslim countries is increasing due to globalization, which has raised such controversial issues that some contemporary scholars have reinterpreted the issue based on understanding the related scriptural text. However, this study will examine the interfaith marriage of the MUI fatwa by reviewing the views of classical scholars on the issue. This study aims to answer questions about: first, how legal doctrine proposed by classical scholars and contemporary scholars is; second, the background to the MUI fatwa and the basis for the arguments presented; and third, the dynamics of the emergence of interfaith marriage rules in Indonesia. This study compared Islamic legal tradition with MUI fatwa arguments in its analysis. This study employs classical Islamic literature such tafsir books, the book of comparative figh madhhab (or schools), and MUI's document related to the study's topic. However, this research revealed that the Islamic legal tradition has influenced the formulation of the fatwa-making on interfaith marriage from the MUI'S standpoint, which disregarded modern viewpoints when examining the interfaith marriage issue. This study adds to the body of information or range of perspectives on the subject of interfaith marriage.
Open Access
Negotiating religious identity of Shi'i women in Indonesia : between resilience and resistence
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Nur Azka Inayatussahara; Haula Noor
This study focuses on the experiences of Shi'i women who are members of Fathimiyyah IJABI and Muslimah ABI in negotiating their religious identities. As part of a minority group, the Shi'is have experienced discrimination, and their women are not exempt from this. Despite the unfavorable circumstances for the Shi'i community, the positions of women in Fathimiyyah IJABI and Muslimah ABI are intriguing because they have the ability to empower, provide a means to do something, despite their marginalized status. Women in general still encounter obstacles in empowering other women, let alone Shi'i women who need to negotiate their religious identity in society. They must practice their religious teachings while seeking acceptance within the community. This study aims to investigate how the members of Fathimiyyah IJABI and Muslimah ABI negotiate their religious identities. It also examines the influence of socio-religious conditions on the discrimination and how they navigate their activism in response to this discrimination. To achieve these objectives, this research utilizes a qualitative method with data collection techniques such as semi-structured interviews and documentation. Using snowball sampling, 24 interviewees were obtained, with 12 members from Fathimiyyah IJABI and 12 members from Muslimah ABI. The findings of this research reveal that the experiences of discrimination differ between the two groups, with Fathimiyyah IJABI being more vulnerable than Muslimah ABI due to the stigmatization associated with Jalaluddin Rakhmat and Muthahhari Foundation. This stems from the perception in society that Shi'ism is a deviant doctrine and the visibility of Jalaluddin Rakhmat as a prominent Shi'i figure. Furthermore, the cultural background of being descendants of the Prophet held by some Muslimah ABI members does not make them immune to discrimination, which takes the form of domestic violence and sexism associated with mut'a, involving women's specific experience. Based on these findings, this research argues that there are two religious identities among Shi'i women in Indonesia: hidden and declared. This is influenced by socio-religious conditions that make them vulnerable. Therefore, in navigating their activism, these Shi'i women manifest their religious identities with two different goals: resilience and resistance.
Open Access
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.
Open Access
Countermarginalization and fostering a sense of belonging : a case study of Muslim sexual minorities in Indonesia
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Maysa Sonia Alam Rahman; Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin
This study aims to fill the existing gap in the discussion between Islam and sexual minority groups by exploring the strategies and methods that are employed by Muslim sexual minorities group in Indonesia in claiming their part as wider Indonesian Muslims. The research object of this study is Amar Alfikar, a transmale individual that represents an understudied subject within sexuality discourse. This thesis intends to particularly observe the trajectory of the advocacy of Alfikar in promoting alternative interpretation in Islamic studies. By employing Social Identity Theory developed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner as the theoretical framework, this thesis delves further into the advocacy and community of Alfikar and argues that Iqamah, an Islamic study community established by him serves as a representation of a new reality. The research methodology involves qualitative method, which focuses on analyzing his book 'Queer Menafsir: Islamic Theology for Diverse Bodies' and observing the Iqamah community. Literature review was used to critically analyze the ideas and alternative interpretations that Alfikar advocates in "Queer Menafsir,' while digital ethnography is employed by being part of Iqamah to observe the activities of the members. The findings of the study indicate that to be part of the wider Indonesian Muslim community, Iqamah serves as an alternate reality that caters for their experiences as part of Indonesian Muslims and fosters their sense of belonging. This research also emphasizes the paradox of tolerance that is applied towards sexual minority communities in Indonesia and suggests that equating the definition of tolerance as one of possible solution in situating the position of minorities community within the wider Indonesian community.
Open Access
Tafsir, state, and authority : behind the Indonesian official thematic commentaries
(Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, 2023) Nuzul Fitriansyah; Farid Fachruddin
This study focuses on the Official Thematic Commentaries of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as the research subject. The objective is to examine the interrelationships among the ulama, the state, and tafsir. The research assumes that the production of these commentaries serves as a state agenda to enhance its authority by officially endorsing these products. It is viewed as a form of state contestation, aiming to control and dominate the religious discourse within the public sphere. The research employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating critical discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews. The qualitative research approach is employed to explore the influence of power relations on the political discourse of knowledge in Quranic exegesis. This method allows for a comprehensive understanding and explanation of phenomena, focusing on context and interpretation. The primary data source in this research consists of the official thematic commentaries produced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The secondary data source is the Lajnah, responsible for producing this type of commentary. Additionally, semi-structured interviews are conducted with representatives from LPMQ (Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al- Qur'an), which serves as a representative body of the state involved in producing these commentaries. This research investigates the evolution of discourse in Official Thematic Commentaries by employing critical discourse analysis. The analysis of the available texts will encompass various aspects, including the literal and linguistic content, the background and role of the authors in the writing process, and the social, political, economic, and religious context surrounding the production of the texts. Drawing on Bourdieu's theory of arena and capital, this thesis argues that the state, through the project of official thematic commentaries as a representation of cultural capital, seeks to exert control and dominance over the religious sphere by promoting these official commentaries. Furthermore, by highlighting the official thematic commentaries as a specific case, this research fulfils the criteria of a new category in the discourse of tafsir, which I refer to as official tafsir.