Scholarly Works - Islamic Studies

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14576/181

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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
Sharia yes, sharia state no : negosiasi dan akomodasi syari’ah di Indonesia
(Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, 2023) Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin
The two works discussed in this book review examine how Sharia norms are negotiated and accommodated in modern nation-states. This process is inevitable as Muslims are confronted with the persistence of the nation-state and the theological obligation to apply Sharia norms in their lives. Although Hallaq’s work is very pessimistic in saying that paradigmatically the two systems are impossible to reconcile, his work can serve as an important background for understanding Hasyim’s work which discusses in detail how Sharia is accommodated in the legal order and public life in Indonesia, highlighting the role of the MUI as the main institution of this accommodation process. Hasyim’s work tries to answer three important questions: how and in what way MUI plays a role in the process of sharization; what its implications in law and public life in Indonesia are and how the process came about; and how the state and society respond to this sharization.
Open Access
Intertwining beauty and piety : cosmetics, beauty treatments, and ḥalāl lifestyle in urban Indonesia
(Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Mataram, 2023-06-12) Yanwar Pribadi; Muhammad Adlin Sila
This article discusses the intertwinement of beauty and piety among middle-class Muslim women in urban Indonesia through the use of cosmetics and beauty treatments within the broader trends of ḥalāl lifestyle. It uses an anthropological approach with case studies in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, and Serang, the capital city of Banten Province. Jakarta and Serang were chosen because Jakarta is a picture-perfect example of an older area characterized by the abundance of middle-class Muslims and the vehemence of ḥalāl lifestyle, while Serang represents a newer area in this regard. Moreover, this article explores the understanding and practices of religious rituals, as well as the responses of urban middle-class Muslim women towards commodified goods and services, consumerism behavior, and communal piety. We argue that the use of cosmetics and beauty treatments has become one of the most glaring public expressions that has concurrently influenced the way urban middle-class Muslim women perceive themselves, beauty, and piety. In addition, we contend that the understanding and practices of beauty and piety are becoming increasingly complex in urban areas. Finally, we maintain that ḥalāl lifestyle has played an important role in strengthening Islamic identity in contemporary Indonesia.
Open Access
Unearthing perspectives from Aristotle's nicomachean ethics and Islamic adl : discourse of settler colonialism in South Africa
(State Islamic University of Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, 2023-06-23) Shamim, Saemah; Nasir, Muhammad Muhammad
This study explores the enduring impacts of settler colonialism on contemporary South Africa, examining how it continues to shape issues of identity, citizenship, belonging, and social injustices. Moving beyond problem-solving, the research delves into ancient philosophical and Islamic ethical concepts of a just society. Two frameworks are compared: Aristotle's theories of justice, particularly from Books III and V of his Nicomachean Ethics (which cover the same material as Book IV of Eudemian Ethics), and the Islamic concept of Adl. By analyzing these frameworks and applying critical methods to South African discourse, including keynote speeches, the study aims to develop a more robust understanding of justice in the context of settler colonialism's lasting inequalities. This paper seeks to articulate and expand the conceptual understanding of these two frameworks, providing a richer philosophical and normative picture to inform current discussions on the legacy of settler colonialism. The study employs a qualitative approach, using document analysis, comparative analysis, and critical methods to analyze data. These methods are used to discuss the presented theories of justice. Additionally, in the South African setting, keynote speeches were analyzed as primary data.
Open Access
Fragmentation of Dakwah Media: Exploring Exclusive Islam in Indonesia Post-Reform Popular Islamic Novels
(Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Mataram, 2023-06-29) Muhamad Taufik Kustiawan; Mhd. Rasidin; Doli Witro; Darti Busni; Mufti Labib Jalaluddin
This article aims to highlight Islamic exclusivism in the form of popular Islamic novelS for children’s reading books in Indonesia after the reform of 1998. Building on the media theory of Gill Branston and Roy Stafford, this study explains Islamic pop novels as Islamic educational materials from a semiotic approach, structuralism, and critical discourse analysis. In particular, this study uses qualitative research methods by descriptively analyzing the reading of Islamic pop novels spreading in the Qur’anic Education Centre in Central Java. The results showed that since the Reformation, the movement used books, newsletters, magazines, and children’s readings of Islamic pop novels to shape the religious thoughts of urban Muslim children and youth in Indonesia. There is hardly a story related to diversity, the value of tolerance, and mutual respect between religious people in those materials. The awareness of religious comprehension in children's reading seems exclusive. It must be realized by various parties that the media utilizing Islamic literature is very influential on the growth and development of children's religious thinking in the educational space in the metropolis.
Open Access
Islamic leadership contestation : exploring the practices of conservative islamic movements in Indonesia
(Center for Research and Community Service (LP2M) in cooperation with the Postgraduate Program of UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, 2023-08) Muhamad Taufik Kustiawan; Mhd. Rasidin; Doli Witro; Darti Busni; Mufti Labib Jalaluddin
This paper describes the political contestation in the election of leaders that has occurred in the last five years in Indonesia. Since the reformation era, conservative Islamic movements have gained wide freedom to spread Islamic political ideology such as the idea of upholding Islamic law. This was clearly seen in the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election and 2019 Presidential Election, where the conservative Islamic movement voiced practical political aspirations by involving the role of religion. The case that happened to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) who was suspected of committing blasphemy at the end of 2016, turned into a protest movement that held “Aksi Bela Islam I, II, III” (Action for Defending Islam I, II, III) which was able to mobilize all elements of religious organizations in Indonesia. This movement is also supported by the role of social media which adds to the massive Islamic populism movement to promote the enforcement of Islamic law through the political stage. This is a qualitative research that prioritizes bibliographic sources. The results of this study indicate that the voices of Muslims who are involved in the “Action to Defend Islam” add to the success of the conservatism process which has a dichotomy of political interests to realize religious authoritarianism by using the Qur’anic verses. However, this study also explains the characteristics of the attitudes of leaders in the history of Islamic civilization who uphold egalitarianism that does not conflict with the democratic system because the responsibility of a leader is to create prosperity and justice for all mankind.
Open Access
Enealogy of wasaṭiyya within Indonesian society : the influence of sufism in Indonesian archipelago
(IAIN Ponorogo, 2023-11-22) Musa Alkadzim
This article examines the genealogy of wasaá¹iyya Islam in Indonesia. Historical processes of Islamization in the pre-Indonesia context have influenced how the Muslim majority of Indonesia demonstrates its moderate expression from historical periods to contemporary situations. The establishment of the Indonesian state has the heredity derivation from the past Islamization. The role of Sufism in the processes of Islamization is addressed here. Ash’arism or Aswaja paved the theological way for wasaá¹iyya by choosing a position of moderation between rationalist and conservative extremist schools of thought. On a deeper level, this article concludes that the Sufi foundations of the early Islamization period are essential for establishing wasaá¹iyya in Indonesia. When Pancasila, as the nation-state philosophy, incorporates cultural elements acknowledged by Muslim Ulama, it is evident that any attempt to undermine or pervert wasaá¹iyya Islam in Indonesia will finally fail. This research applied qualitative methodology with an exploratory research design. The data were collected using literature studies from books, journals, and related articles.
Open Access
Between salafi and sufi : ibn taimiyyah’s critique of al-qusyairi’s views on sufism
(University of Darussalam Gontor, 2023-11-28) Hamdan Maghribi; Alfina Hidayah
This article discusses two sects that are often contrasted: Salafi and Sūfī. It focuses on the views of Ibn Taimiyyah al-Harrānī as a representative of Salafi and ‘Abd al-Karīm al-Qusyairī of Sūfī-sunnī on Sufism. By analyzing the works of Ibn Taimiyyah and al-Qusyairī on Sufism, this article explores Ibn Taimiyah’s critical notes on al-Qusyairi's views on Sufism. Ibn Taimiyyah wrote no less than thirty-eight treatises on Sufism and cited more than forty Sūfī texts in explaining and analyzing his views on Sufism. Al-Qusyairī, on the other hand, describes in detail the Sūfī figures and their views in his Risālah. He also included his Sufistic analyses in Laṭāif al-Ishārāt. Using an interpretative approach and content analysis, this article finds that Ibn Taimiyyah did not reject Sufism. He rejected the practice of Sufism that he thought was not intertwined with the Qur’ān and Sunnah. This is evident from his respect for al-Qusyairī, whom he called al-Syaikh al-Ustāż, and Mutaṣawwifah Ahl al-Kalām, a term of honor within the Ṣūfī order. Nonetheless, Ibn Taimiyyah notes that al-Qusyairī’s quotations in his work are not followed by references and explanations. In explaining the practice of zuhd, al-Qusyairī did not provide examples from the ṣahābah and tābi’īn to strengthen his argument.
Open Access
Child exploitation by parents in early marriage : case study in Cianjur West java, Indonesia
(Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, 2023-11-30) Yayan Sopyan; Zezen Zainal Muttaqin; Cucu Solihat; Jaenal Aripin
Parents should protect their children. Child exploitation by parents is a cruel act. One form of parental deprivation of children’s rights is to marry them at an early age. In Indonesia, the rate of early marriage is still above 10% of all marriages. There is a trend of early marriage with Arab men in tourist destinations such as Puncak-Cianjur, West Java, after the increasing number of tourist visits from the Middle East. This research used a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach to explore informant' experiences, interpret their experiences, and give meaning to their experiences. Data were collected through observation and in-depth interviews using the Snow Bowling Effect method. The results of the research were analyzed using the framework method. This research found that parents determine the occurrence of early marriage. The drivers of early marriage are economic interests and religious dogma. Parents were influenced by biyong (marriage broker) in making decisions. Biyong took advantage of half of the dowry. Meanwhile, children’s consent to marry was influenced by religious doctrines that caused them to be altruistic and follow their parents' wishes. This research recommends the government be stricter in supervising foreign tourists and socializing the dangers of early marriage and mutáh marriage with foreigners.
Open Access
Religion and reason in contemporary Islamic ethics : a comparative study of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas and Taha Abderrahmane thought
(School of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Management and Technology (UMT), 2023-12-06) Aulia Rakhmat
The current research was based on a comparative study of the views of two prominent Islamic intellectual figures, namely Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas and Taha Abderrahmane regarding the position of reason and religion in contemporary Islamic ethics. As library-based research, the current study applied a comparative and textual analytical method to study the primary sources obtained from al-Attas' and Taha's works as well as supplemented by secondary sources from journals and books that are relevant to the topic of discussion. This study concluded that the difference between them was more obvious than the similarities. Through a philosophical lens of virtue ethics, al-Attas viewed ethics as an endeavor to cultivate and refine one's character and spirit by honing the key virtues, wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice, guided by the practical reasoning informed by the overarching influence of theoretical reason. Meanwhile, Taha rejects virtue ethics because for him to limit human actions to only a few elements of virtue cannot be justified since humans are ethical creatures who produce limitless actions. Through the conception of supported reason, which combines theory, praxis, and living experience, he strives for comprehensive ethics based on Sufi approach. However, they share the same opinion that in ethical decisions, the reason is dependent on religion, which they elaborate on through their respective arguments.
Open Access
Muslim politics : political model of Islamic law in adat societies
(Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga, 2023-12-20) Rifqi Nurdiansyah; Doli Witro
This research aims to analyze the political model of Islamic law within the indigenous community of Kerinci. The idea behind this research is the triumph of the Islamic party in the local, governor, and presidential elections in Kerinci, Jambi Province, between 2009 and 2019. Gradually, Islam acquired substantial political influence inside the customary domain of Kerinci. The study employs a combination of socio-historical and qualitative research. The data is examined utilizing Miriam Budiardjo’s political law approach, encompassing classical, behavioral, post-behavioral, dependence, neo-Marxist, rational choice, and new institutionalism approaches. Our research indicates that the implementation of Political Islamic Law in Kerinci is an integral component of the Islamic Populism movement, which has gained momentum and become deeply rooted in the political conduct of the local Muslim community. These cultural habits originate from the fundamental principles of society, which have emerged as a result of the assimilation of Islamic teachings into daily life. These individuals are involved in the decision-making processes of Adat Institution and Majelis Pengkajian Ulama’ (MPU). These individuals inherently endorse Islamic parties such as PAN (National Mandate Party) and PKS (Prosperous Justice Party). Adat institutions play a significant role in local elections by offering guidance through sectoral delegates in every adat region.
Open Access
More than a tafsir : convergence, contestation, and deradicalization of quranic interpretations on website
(Lajnah Pentahihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an, Badan Litbang dan Diklat Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, 2023-12-29) Muhammad Rosyid; Bhirawa Anoraga
Social media has opened space for practically anyone to interpret the Qur’an, thus the contestation of tafsir cannot be avoided. The term e-tafsir in this article refers to the Quranic interpretations that appear in the digital space through new media (both website and social media). This study employs a digital ethnography method by investigating and observing various websites related to the Quranic interpretations. It focuses on popular Islamic websites such as tafsiralquran.id, ibtimes.id, and buletinkaffah.com, which regularly uploaded Islamic articles between 2020 and 2023. The research argues that social media has resulted in the proliferation of e-tafsir, including conservative (textualist) interpretations of the Qur’an. Furthermore, the author contends that to reduce radicalism in Indonesia, it is not enough to block conservative websites; it should be countered by spreading moderate Quranic interpretations. This article unveils the contestation of e-tafsir in Indonesia, which may also occur in other digitalizing Muslim worlds.
Open Access
Women, faith, and authority : Malama Zainab Ja'afar and the navigation of religious authority in Northern Nigeria
(IAIN Salatiga, 2023-12-30) Nasir, Muhammad Muhammad; Haula Noor
This research examines female religious authority in northern Nigeria, with a specific emphasis on Malama Zainab Ja'afar Mahmood Adam. The research investigates how Malama Zainab negotiates her authority amidst controversies surrounding her public presence as a preacher and Qur'anic exegete within the male dominated Izala movement, a prominent reform movement with widespread influence throughout West Africa and beyond. Employing a qualitative approach, the study delves into Malama Zainab's background, social capital development, and association with Izala, utilizing both secondary sources and indepth interviews with her. The findings highlight Malama Zainab's efforts in bringing women to the forefront within mosque spaces and other gender-segregated settings, fostering their religious participation publicly. While her public activities primarily target female audiences, her preaching and proselytizing reach males through social media platforms, expanding her influence beyond traditional boundaries. Importantly, the findings also shed light on how the historical exclusion of women in socio-religious spaces in northern Nigeria is based on cultural and traditional interpretations rather than explicit religious prohibitions. Hence, the research contributes to the broader understanding of female religious authority, shedding light on the under-recognition of female scholars in comparison to their male counterparts in many Muslim-majority countries.
Open Access
Seeking baraka : transformation of ngaji from virtual to conventional among gen-xers
(Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, 2023-12-30) Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin
This study aims to reveal the transformation of ngaji practices among Generation X audiences, specifically followers of Gus Baha, from virtual to conventional formats. The rapid development of the internet and social media has significantly influenced religious practices, including the proliferation of virtual ngaji. However, despite the convenience of digital platforms, conventional ngaji remains prevalent. This research employs fieldwork and qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and observations, to investigate why individuals prefer attending traditional ngaji sessions despite the availability of virtual alternatives. The study finds that the cultural concepts of baraka (blessing) and sanad (chain of transmission) are crucial motivators for followers to seek in-person ngaji. Additionally, the research identifies the dual impact of unintended online ngaji—while it extends the reach of Gus Baha’s teachings and bolsters his religious authority, it also poses risks due to the potential for misinterpretation and unauthorized dissemination of content. This study contributes to understanding the dynamics between digital and conventional religious practices and highlights the enduring significance of direct spiritual engagement in contemporary Muslim communities.
Open Access
A Decade of Charitable Crowdfunding and Its Impacts on the Social Justice Trajectory of Islamic Philanthropy in Indonesia
(Society for South-East Asian Studies, 2023-12-31) Bhirawa Anoraga
This article aims to investigate the development of charitable crowdfunding and its impacts on Islamic philanthropy and its social justice trajectory in Indonesia. As the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia has thrived and undergone some legal and programmatic revolutions to promote social justice through Islamic philanthropy. However, this study demonstrates that the rapid growth of charitable crowdfunding in the last decade has some impacts on the social justice trajectory of Islamic philanthropy, particularly in the areas of inclusivity, sustainability, and governance. This study draws from the case of Kitabisa, the largest crowdfunding platform in Indonesia, by conduct-ing interviews with the founders and users and observing their online interactions on the platform and social media. This study also collects data on Muslim philanthropic Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that actively used Kitabisa to raise funds, with special attention to Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT), one of Indonesia's largest Muslim philanthropic NGOs. This study found that the trend of crowdfunding has amplified the inclusive space in Indonesian philanthropy where Muslim NGOs actively provide social services and enact collaborations with non-Muslims. However, through crowdfunding, Muslim NGOs have become more accommodating toward short-term social programs or ‘charity’. The crowdfunding trend has also raised accountability and transparency issues in Indonesian philanthropy. This study argues that the broader involvement of grassroots actors, either individuals or informal communities, through crowdfunding explains its impacts on Indonesian Islamic philanthropy’s trajectory for social justice.
Open Access
Weaving modernity in salafism : a comparative study of Muhammadiyah and Izala movements
(Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University, 2023-12-31) Nasir, Muhammad Muhammad
This study examines the parallels between Muhammadiyah, the oldest and largest modernist Islamic movement in Indonesia, and Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa Ikamatus Sunnah, also known as Izala, the most significant Islamic reformist movement in West Africa, which originated in northern Nigeria. Concurrently, these groups share a common focus on socio-religious reform and a commitment to puritan Islam. It is undeniable that various Islamic movements/groups have existed and continue to exist outside the Arab world, but relatively few studies have focused on Islamic groups operating in West Africa or Southeast Asia, for example. This study highlights the importance of examining Islamic movements in regions beyond the Arab world, particularly in West Africa and Southeast Asia. The large Muslim populations in Indonesia and Nigeria offer a rich context for exploring the dynamics of Islamic movements. The research reveals, despite the groups’ Salafi-inspired ideologies, they mediate socio-religious reform, indicating the modernising rather than conservative aspects of Indonesian and Nigerian Islam. Within their respective contexts, these groups represent forms of reconstructed alternative modernity, or distinctly Islamic interpretations of modernity, which they define through executing their reform activities within Islamic frameworks. They navigate the complexities of modernity by balancing adherence to traditional values with adaptation to contemporary developments. Notably, the study is driven by a belief that comparative studies across different Salafi-inspired groups in distinct contexts could provide broader understanding of the evolving relationship between Salafism and modernity.