Scholarly Works - Islamic Studies
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Item Embargo Port security and preman organizations in Indonesia(Taylor and Francis, 2024-10-09) Yanwar PribadiStrongmen have long been widely associated with bandits, violent entrepreneurs or revolutionaries. Such strongmen should be differentiated from the strongmen of politics. The latter are defined as political leaders who rule by repression and exercise an authoritarian administration, while the former are defined as gangsters who benefit from local insecurities to obtain an occupation, build their reputation and accumulate social and political influence when they become involved in politics. In the case of Indonesia, there have already been several significant works on these stereotypically sturdy and muscular people, who have been represented as bandits (Suhartono Citation1995), village leaders (Onghokham Citation1978), rebels (Cribb Citation1991), local heroes, powerbrokers and criminals (Schulte Nordholt Citation1991). Preman, Indonesian contemporary free men (Dutch: vrije mannen), stand in between a blurred line of strongmen and violent groups. Preman (thug) was originally used to refer to irregular or demobilized soldiers; later, the term came to mean bandit and then gangster.Item Open Access The future of artificial intelligence in/and of Islam : a view from muslim Southeast Asia(Indiana University Press, 2024-10-09) Bhirawa AnoragaThe conference on “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in/and of Islam: A View from Muslim Southeast Asia” was held on July 2-4, 2024, at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII). The conference was initiated by the Faculty of Islamic Studies UIII in collaboration with Project 0100 led by Bart Barendregt (Leiden University, the Netherlands). The conference aims to “explore the dynamic intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and Islam … [and] discuss the profound implications arising from the co-production of digital and religious futures.” Barendregt also asserted that Southeast Asia was selected as the conference’s focus since “Southeast Asia [does] not only [have] a significant Muslim population … it is also very much at the forefront of digital technologies interacting with them in everyday practices.” The conference covered three main programs: Keynote Speeches, Panel Sessions, and Masterclasses. This writing focuses on the discussions in the keynote speeches and exclusive panel sessions, with more detailed explanations dedicated to the keynote speeches. Masterclasses focused primarily on technical and practical engagement directly with the audience.Item Open Access 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 AlhabsyiStudies 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.Item Open Access Forced marriage and sex trafficking under the guise of nikah siri in Indonesia(Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, 2024) Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin; Yayan SopyanProstitution, forced marriage, and sex trafficking have long been practiced in the Puncak area of West Java, Indonesia. The practice is condoned not only by the surrounding community but also by state officials. This paper resulted from our field research, interviews, and observation in the Puncak area. In addition, it includes an extensive literature review, which encompasses the study of Indonesian and international law regulation, academic writing, and media reports. This paper seeks to uncover the reasons why the practices of sex trafficking and forced marriage are tolerated and what has led to this approval. By dwelling on legal, historical, and anthropological studies, this paper argues that the practices are tolerated because they hide behind a thick veil of cultural-religious justification and are obscured by legal tricks/stratagems, which we call 'trafficking framing.' This framing conceals and camouflages sex trafficking and forced marriage under accepted legal-cultural practices. This paper seeks to uncover the veil of trafficking framing and reveal that the practice of secret marriage (nikah siri) in Puncak is nothing but sex trafficking.Item 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 JalaluddinThis 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.Item 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 MuhammadThis 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.Item 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 NoorThis 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.Item Open Access Islamic traditional education : a comparative perspectives from Nigeria's makarantar allo to Indonesia's pesantren(Al-Hayat Al-Istiqomah Foundation, 2024-04-05) Nasir, Muhammad MuhammadThis study examines the historical evolution of Makarantar Allo in northern Nigeria and Pesantren in Indonesia, comparing their structures and operations across colonial, post-colonial, and contemporary periods. The focus on these institutions is driven by their similarities and the potential application of Indonesia's Islamic educational standards to enhance Nigeria's existing system. Incorporating a mixed-methods approach, this study collected primary data through interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations in Indonesia while engaging in the Makarantar Allo setting in Nigeria. Secondary data, consisting of historical facts, were gathered through document analysis. The analysis involved qualitative methods, verified through triangulation and cross-referencing with historical records. The research provides insights into the efficacy of Islamic education in Indonesia and Nigeria, highlighting differences and similarities. Pesantren in Indonesia operates centrally regulated, while Nigeria's Makarantar Allo is decentralized and unfunded. The comparative analysis suggests potential lessons for Nigeria's policymakers to improve the structure of Makarantar Allo based on the centralized Indonesian model, offering valuable standards for similar institutions with similar objectives in other Muslim countries. This research addresses a gap in the existing literature by comparing two traditional institutes, Makarantar Allo and Pesantren. The study explores their evolution, analysing their histories, curricula, teaching methods, structures, and challenges. This comparative pattern contributes to the novelty of the research, providing valuable insights into the unique characteristics and shared aspects of these traditional Islamic education systems.Item 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 MuhammadThis 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.Item Open Access Muslim women entrepreneurs : an exploratory study of the nigerian ‘mumpreneurs’ perspective(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2024-07-30) Nasir, Muhammad Muhammad; Shamim, SaemahPurpose – This paper explores the motivations and challenges faced by Muslim women ‘mumpreneurs,’ in Northern Nigeria, a region with a predominantly Muslim population. The unique socio-religious and cultural context of Northern Nigeria serves as a key driver for this research, prompting a deeper understanding of the experiences of Muslim mumpreneurs in the area. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a qualitative approach, by utilizing semi-structured interviews with 12 Muslim mumpreneurs residing in various states across Northern Nigeria. Accordingly, thematic analysis was used to explore the influence of their motherly roles on their entrepreneurial experiences. Findings – Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: Motivations: Mumpreneurs were driven by desires for financial independence, positive societal impact and increased flexibility to manage work-family balance. Challenges: Lack of capital, skills, knowledge and sociocultural constraints (e.g. gender norms) impeded their progress. Push and pull factors: Their entrepreneurial journeys were shaped by both internal aspirations and external societal influences. Originality/value – The findings of this study provide further understanding of the distinct experiences of Muslim mumpreneurs in Northern Nigeria, contributing significantly to our knowledge of the dynamics of Muslim women mumpreneurs in a specific, understudied Muslim society. By implication, it highlights the need for targeted support for this under-researched population, informing policymakers, support organizations, and future research endeavors.Item Open Access The Sultan, Survivors, and Silencers : The# ArewaMeToo Movement in Northern Nigeria's Online Sphere(Department of Religious Studies, State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya, 2024-03-01) Nasir, Muhammad Muhammad; Shamim, SaemahThe #ArewaMeToo movement in Nigeria is a social mediadriven campaign against sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The movement has generated controversy and resistance, prompting a closer examination of its emergence, trajectory, impact, and implications. This study, therefore, examines the emergence and trajectory of the movement and how it has used social media platforms such as Twitter (X) and Facebook to raise awareness about sexual harassment and gender-based violence in northern Nigeria. The movement has attracted significant attention and support, particularly from women who identify themselves as survivors of sexual harassment and who seek to challenge dominant approaches to sexual assault and harassment in the region. Drawing on both secondary and primary sources, this qualitative study provides a comprehensive understanding of the #ArewaMeToo movement and its impact. This research finds the controversial factors that contributed to the Nigerian Sultanate Council’s decision to ban the movement, including the influence of Muslim intellectuals and social media influencers. It also reveals the historical context, key actors, and impact of the movement, as well as the effectiveness of online movements in driving social change.Item Open Access From Villain to Hero : The Role of Disengaged Terrorists in Social Reintegration Initiatives(Cogitatio Press, 2024-05-09) Haula NoorConvicted terrorists released from prison often experience social stigma, exclusion, and difficulties reintegrating into society. Authorities have identified the utility of using formerly convicted and released terrorists or disengaged terrorists as an intermediary to help and support terrorist inmates as they go through social reintegration processes. This article explores their role as an intermediary who advocates for fair treatment and rights for their fellow ex-inmates, assisting families and helping them undergo the reintegration process. This research involved interviews with members of three foundations: Yayasan Persadani, Hubbul Wathon Indonesia 19, and DeBintal. By analysing the narrative of the participants, this study found that social reintegration efforts led by disengaged terrorists fostered a sense of social belonging and connectedness among ex-inmates. In addition, these foundations offer valuable assistance to terrorist inmates while ensuring community safety. They serve as a reliable support system during times of need and act as a communication bridge between them and the government. This framework positions these foundations as integral components in addressing concerns about the effectiveness of government-led integration initiatives. The approach adopted by these foundations has positive effects on preventing the re-engagement of released inmates with extremist networks. Despite the need to measure the effectiveness of these initiatives comprehensively, efforts made by these foundations provide potential for societal resilience against terrorism.Item 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 HasyimThe 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.Item 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 AnoragaThis 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.Item 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 AnoragaThis 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.Item 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 MutaqinThe 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.Item Open Access The Politics of ‘Halal’: From Cultural to Structural Shariatisation in Indonesia(SSRN, 2022-03-01) Syafiq HasyimThis 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.Item Open Access Relegitimizing Religious Authority : Indonesian Gender-Just ʿUlamāʾ Amid COVID-19(MDPI, 2022-05-27) Eva F. Nisa; Farid F. SaenongStudies 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.Item 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 SilaThis 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.Item 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 JalaluddinThis 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.