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Asep Iqbal

Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Faculty Member

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Senior lecturer and researcher at the State Islamic University of Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Research interests include sociology of religion, Islam in Indonesia, religion and media, and technology and society.
Supervisors: David T. Hill, Garry Rodan, Mary Holmes, Nico Kaptein, Zaini Muhtarom, Harun Rasyid
Address: CASSR, FISIP, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia

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The University of Sydney

Penelope Ingram

University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Sydney

Michael Fitzgerald

Pomona College

University of Oslo

Jacob Johanssen

St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London

Giulio Baldassi

Patricia 'Iolana, PhD

University of Glasgow

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Books by Asep Iqbal

Challenging Moderate Islam in Indonesia: NU Garis Lurus and Its Construction of the "Authentic" NU Online

Rising Islamic Conservatism in Indonesia (Routledge), 2020

Internet dan Gerakan Salafi di Indonesia: Sebuah Kajian Awal

Diandra Kreatif, 2019

Buku ini berpandangan bahwa adalah tidak tepat memberikan label gerakan anti-modern kepada geraka... more Buku ini berpandangan bahwa adalah tidak tepat memberikan label gerakan anti-modern kepada gerakan fundamentalisme agama. Mungkin lebih tepat untuk mengatakan bahwa fundamentalisme agama itu ultra-ortodoks dalam hal ideologi, namun ia sesungguhnya gerakan modern secara teknologis. Sumbangan buku ini terletak pada temuannya bahwa kebanyakan kelompok-kelompok keagamaan konservatif tidak hanya bertahan di tengah arus modernisasi, tetapi juga mampu mentransformasi realitas-realitas modernitas seperti internet menjadi sebuah produk modernitas yang baru yang bisa memenuhi kebutuhan dan kepentingan keagamaan mereka. Untuk mendukung argumen ini, dalam buku ini saya menganalisis Salafisme, sebuah gerakan fundamentalisme Islam transnational, dan mengeksplorasi penggunaannya atas media teknologi internet dalam konteks Indonesia kontemporer dalam upaya mengungkapkan cara-cara bagaimana ia menggunakan produk modern yang mengglobal ini. Dalam buku ini, saya menjelaskan bagaimana kelompok Salafi memanfaatkan internet sesuai dengan tujuan-tujuan ideologis mereka dalam kerangka yang disebut dengan “teknologi yang dibudayakan” (cultured technology), “proses lokalisasi kekuatan global teknologi informasi” (localization process of global force of technology), “apropriasi media global” (appropriation of global media), dan “spiritualisasi teknologi” (spiritualizing technology). Analisis tekstual merupakan metode utama yang digunakan dalam pembahasan buku ini karena ia dianggap memadai dalam upaya untuk memahami konten situs-situs Salafi dan mengungkap cara-cara kaum Salafi menggunakan internet.

Relasi Antaragama dan Ulama Nusantara Antaragama

Pusat Penelitian dan Penerbitan UIN Bandung, 2018

Buku ini membahas tentang pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten tentang penganut agama lain, khususnya Y... more Buku ini membahas tentang pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten tentang penganut agama lain, khususnya Yahudi dan Kristen. Untuk mengungkap gagasan ulama terkenal dari Banten ini, Asep Muhamad Iqbal memfokuskan analisisnya atas karya terpenting Nawawi Banten, yakni tafsir berbahasa Arab setebal dua jilid yang dinamakannya Marāh Labīd (terbit pertama kali di Mekah sekitar tahun 1884). Tafsir ini menempati tempat yang penting dalam sejarah tafsir Al-Quran di dunia Melayu-Indonesia setelah Tarjumān al-Mustafīd karya Abdul Rauf Singkil (ditulis sekitar tahun 1675). Sejauh ini, ia merupakan tafsir berbahasa Arab pertama yang pernah ditulis oleh ulama Nusantara. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan tematik dan analisis filologis-kesejarahan, penulis buku ini berhasil mempersembahkan dalam suatu kategorisasi yang menarik pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten seputar penganut Yahudi dan Kristen sebagaimana terrefleksikan dalam tafsirnya. Buku ini penting dalam beberapa. Pertama, dalam perspektif yang lebih luas, ia merupakan upaya berharga untuk menjelaskan pemikiran ulama Nusantara yang terlibat dalam jaringan ulama internasional, khususnya ulama Nusantara di Mekah pada abad sembilan belas, yang selama ini dirasakan kurang memperoleh perhatian memadai dari sarjana keislaman. Kedua, buku ini memberi sumbangan berharga terhadap kajian pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten, ulama yang besar peranannya bagi perkembangan wacana keislaman di dunia pesantren wilayah Melayu-Indonesia sampai sekarang. Ketiga, pembahasan buku ini tentang perspektif Muslim atas penganut Yahudi dan Kristen secara jelas berhasil mengungkapkan pandangan ulama Nusantara abad sembilan belas tersebut tentang penganut agama-agama lain dan sekaligus kontribusi bagi wacana dialog antaragama yang sedang dipromosikan dalam dekade-dekade terakhir ini. Singkat kata, kehadiran buku ini merupakan sumbangan bagi kajian warisan keislaman Nusantara abad sembilan belas dan menambah jajaran karya tentang sambutan bagi wacana dialog antaragama dalam perspektif Muslim.

Law and Punishment in Islam: The Ideal Concept of Hudud and Its Practices

Komnas Perempuan, 2017

This book tries to present a theological view of Islamic law and to explain that the reality of I... more This book tries to present a theological view of Islamic law and to explain that the reality of Islamic law is not monolithic. The diversity of opinions on the implementation of Islamic law which cannot be reduced into a single form makes it very important to be known by public and the state officials amidst the emergence of strong aspiration to implement the Islamic criminal law as a ‘positive law’ in Indonesia. In particular, this book explains in depth the theory of hudud, the purpose of punishment in Islam, and the implementation of flogging in the context of Islamic studies, which would help bring justice and prosperity for people.

Spiritualizing the Internet: Internet dan Gerakan Salafi di Indonesia (the Internet and the Salafi Movement in Indonesia)

Global House, 2010

Yahudi dan Nasrani dalam al-Quran,Hubungan Antaragama menurut Syaikh Nawawi Banten (Jews and Christians in the Qur'an, Syaikh Nawawi Banten's Views on Interfaith Relationship)

Teraju (Mizan Group), 2004

Papers by Asep Iqbal

Self, Society, and Repression in Babel: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Journal of Asian Social Science Research, 2019

As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the re... more As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the relationship between self and society and the dualism between pleasure and reality in modern society, this article examines this important issue by analyzing the award-winning film Babel by using a psychoanalytic perspective. Based on textual analysis of the film’s storylines, this article argues that Babel not only substantially represents the relationship between self and society, but also depicts the continuing tension and dualism between them. This is seen in the storylines of its characters that illustrate the relationship between sexual drives and social regulations. For the sake of social interests and cultural production, pleasure is repressed by external reality and sexuality is repressed through socially sanctioned sexual regulations. The self must attempt to balance between libidinal desire and social control to enter the normality of the social world.

Challenging moderate Islam in Indonesia

Rising Islamic Conservatism inIndonesia

Agama dan Adopsi Media Baru: Penggunaan Internet oleh Gerakan Salafisme di Indonesia

Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia, Jan 19, 2015

Pendahuluan P andangan tentang ketidaksepadanan agama dan modernisasi sebagaimana diutarakan oleh... more

Self, Society, and Repression in Babel: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Journal of Asian Social Science Research (JASSR), 2019

As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the re... more As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the relationship between self and society and the dualism between pleasure and reality in modern society, this article examines this important issue by analyzing the award-winning film Babel by using a psychoanalytic perspective. Based on textual analysis of the film's storylines, this article argues that Babel not only substantially represents the relationship between self and society, but also depicts the continuing tension and dualism between them. This is seen in the storylines of its characters that illustrate the relationship between sexual drives and social regulations. For the sake of social interests and cultural production, pleasure is repressed by external reality and sexuality is repressed through socially sanctioned sexual regulations. The self must attempt to balance between libidinal desire and social control to enter the normality of the social world. Intisari Terdapat kecenderungan pada kajian-kajian yang ada untuk mengabaikan kajian bagaimana media menggambarkan persoalan sosiologis tentang hubungan antara diri-individu dan masyarakat dan dualisme antara kesenangan dan realitas dalam masyarakat modern. rtikel ini mengkaji isu penting ini dengan menganalisis film peraih pernghargaan Babel dengan menggunakan perspektif psikoanalitis. Berdasarkan pada analisis tekstual atas storylines film tersebut, artikel ini berargumen bahwa film Babel bukan saja secara substantif merepresentasikan hubungan antara diri-individu dan masyarakat, melainkan juga menggambarkan ketegangan dan dualisme yang terus berlangsung antara keduanya. Hal ini terlihat pada storylines tokoh

People of the Book dan Gagasan Pluralisme Keagamaan dalam Alquran

Wawasan Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya, 2018

To a certain extent, globalization has provided religions with opportunities to play their roles ... more To a certain extent, globalization has provided religions with opportunities to play their roles more extensively and encounter each other more openly than before. In addition to its advantages, this has created a tendency of rigid and exclusive ways of religiosity among different religious believers when they encounter each other or with other cultures. For most believers, this is a way of claiming religious identities, which should be maintained and defended. This article deals with what Islam as a system of belief has contributed to religious pluralism. Using the thematic method of interpretation, it focuses on its analysis on Quranic verses of Ahl al-Kitab, a term that refers to People of the Book. The article argues that from the Quranic perspective, religious pluralism is valid and constitutes one of the main principles of Quranic teachings. Religions of People of the Book differ in terms of syir'ah and minhaj, but they at the same time share a substantial similarity in terms of din, which is seen in their shared doctrine of monotheism (tawhid). To this monotheism, Alquran calls other religions to find a common term. This inclusive religiosity plays as the basis of how Alquran responds to other religions: it acknowledges their validity as systems of belief and emphasizes the shared point as seen in its response to the opposition of People of the Book in the early Islam (Jews and Christians). Abstrak Pada batas tertentu, globalisasi telah menyediakan peluang-peluang bagi agama-agama untuk lebih muncul dan bertemu satu-sama lain. Di samping dampak positif, hal ini menimbulkan kecenderungan cara keberagamaan yang rigid, eksklusif dan akhirnya isolasi pemeluk suatu agama ketika dihadapkan dengan agama dan kultur lain yang dianggapnya asing dan destruktif. Bagi umumnya pemeluk agama, sikap seperti ini merupakan penegasan identitas keagamaan yang memang sudah semestinya dipertahankan. Artikel ini membahas apa kontribusi Islam sebagai sebuah sistem keagamaan bagi persoalan pluralitas keagamaan ini. Dengan menggunakan metode tafsir tematik, artikel ini memfokuskan analisisnya pada ayat-ayat People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab). Artikel ini berargumen bahwa dalam perspektif Alquran, pluralisme keagamaan merupakan persoalan yang absah dan salah satu prinsip dasar Alquran. Meskipun berbeda dalam bentuk syir'ah dan minhaj, pada saat yang sama agama-agama People of the Book (Yahudi dan Nasrani) memiliki kesamaan substansial pada dimensi-dalamnya atau din dalam istilah Alquran, yang terletak pada ajaran monoteisme (tawhid). Kepada monoteisme inilah Alquran mengajak agama-kitab lainnya untuk mencari titik-temu. Cara keberagamaan yang inklusif ini mendasari sikap dan respon Alquran terhadap agama-agama lain: tidak menafikan validitasnya dan lebih menekankan pada titik kesamaan seperti yang diperlihatkan dalam merespon oposisi People of the Book (komunitas Yahudi dan Nasrani di Madinah).

URGENSI TAFSIR TEMATIK BAGI MUSLIM MODERN

Mumtaz News, 2018

Pendahuluan Selama empat belas abad ini, khazanah intelektual Islam diperkaya dengan berbagai mac... more Pendahuluan Selama empat belas abad ini, khazanah intelektual Islam diperkaya dengan berbagai macam perspektif dan pendekatan dalam menafsirkan Alquran. Setiap mufassir (penafsir Alquran) berusaha menafsirkan Alquran dengan perspektif yang dipilihnya sesuai latar berlakang disiplin keilmuannya, lingkungan sosio-politik di mana ia hidup, mazhab teologis, mazhab fiqh dan sebagainya. Dengan demikian, tumbuhlah dengan pesat tradisi penafsiran Alquran dengan lahirnya berbagai kitab tafsir dan mazhab yang terbentuk atas dasar masing-masing tafsir tersebut. Misalnya, tafsir teologis, filosofis, sufistis, hukum, saintis dan sebagainya (Lihat, misalnya, al-Zahabiy 1986). Namun, terdapat kecenderungan yang umum dari berbagai perspektif dan pendekatan tafsir tersebut bahwa para mufassir menafsirkan Alquran secara ayat-per ayat sesuai susunannya dalam mushaf dan pemahamannya lebih didasarkan pada pendekatan filologis-gramatikal. Cara penafsiran seperti ini dinamakan 'metode tafsir analitis' (al-ittijah al-tajziy fi al-tafsir). Konsekuensi logisnya, kecenderungan ini telah menghasilkan pemahaman yang parsial (sepotong-potong) tentang pesan-pesan Alquran. Tujuan semula untuk memperoleh pesan-pesan Alquran secara integral menjadi terabaikan. Pada kenyataannya, pendekatan ini sering melepaskan ayat dari konteks kesejarahannya akibat dipengaruhi oleh tujuan untuk mendukung sudut-pandang tertentu. Gagasan-gagasan asing atau prakonsepsi-prakonsepsi sering dipaksakan ke dalam Alquran tanpa memperhatikan konteks kesejarahan dan kesusastraan kitab suci ini seperti yang tampak pada tafsir dengan pendekatan teologis, filosofis dan sufistis dan saintis. Kenyataan ini-bahwa metode penafsiran Alquran secara ayat-per ayat yang telah memperlakukan Alquran secara "tidak adil"-telah mendorong para pakar tafsir modern untuk menyusun sebuah metode penafsiran yang dapat mengungkapkan pandangan-dunia Alquran secara integral. Metode ini dinamakan 'pendekatan tematik atau sintesis' (al-ittijah al-tauhidy aw al-maudu'iy fi al-tafsir). Essay ini akan membahas apa urgensi tafsir tematik bagi Muslim modern. Ia berargumen bahwa tafsir tematik merupakan metode tafsir alternatif penting yang harus dikembangkan oleh sarjana dan ulama Islam modern untuk mengungkapkan pandangan-dunia al-Quran dalam upaya menjadikan Alquran sebagai petunjuk dalam kehidupan modern. Untuk itu, pada bagian selanjutnya, artikel ini membahas dasar-dasar penafsiran metode tematik, menjelaskan langkah-langkah operasional tafsir tematik, menjelaskan kelebihan metode tematik dibanding metode analitik, dan, terakhir, menjelaskan nilai strategis tafsir tematik bagi upaya penggalian pandangan-dunia Alquran bagi dunia modern. Dasar-dasar Penafsiran Metode Tematik Metode tafsir ini dinamakan 'tematik' karena ciri pertamanya adalah memulai dari sebuah tema yang berasal dari kenyataan eksternal dan kembali ke Alquran dan disebut 'sintesis'

Bersama Sufi Memahami Haji

Republika , 2005

Haji merupakan suatu ibadah yang kaya dengan simbol-simbol keagamaan, pengorbanan dan peringatan.... more Haji merupakan suatu ibadah yang kaya dengan simbol-simbol keagamaan, pengorbanan dan peringatan. Di kalangan sarjana Muslim, para ahli fikih (fuqaha) umumnya memandang haji sebagai kewajiban yang harus diterima seorang Muslim tanpa harus meminta penjelasan mengapa ia begini atau begitu. Menurut mereka, haji sebagai ibadah berada di luar jangkauan pemahaman manusia, yang hanya dapat diketahui melalui wahyu Tuhan. Para ahli fikih lebih banyak menaruh perhatian pada pelaksanaan ibadah tersebut, meliputi syarat dan rukunnya, ketimbang pemahaman akan makna-makna di balik ritual yang tampak. Haji dipahami sebagai ibadah yang dilaksanakan untuk mendapatkan perkenan dan ridho Allah dan akhirnya pahala surga di akhirat. Akhirnya, pandangan legalistik-formalistik ini tercermin dalam cara keberagamaan populer kaum Muslim tentang haji. Di kalangan Muslim Indonesia, keadaan ini diperburuk dengan adanya keyakinan-keyakinan yang berasal dari kepercayaan kebatinan lokal dan motivasi sosial dan politis. Namun, kalangan sufi, kaum yang menekankan interiorisasi dalam beragama, mempunyai pandangan yang berbeda dan unik dalam memahami haji. Kaum sufi tidak setuju dengan pandangan bahwa haji merupakan kewajiban semata tanpa berupaya memahami simbol dan ritual yang terdapat di dalamnya. Mereka menekankan pada signifikansi spiritual haji sekaligus mengkritik pemahaman literal terhadap teks wahyu dan ritual haji. Para sufi tertentu di masa awal Islam memandang haji sebagai alat dan sarana meraih tahapan-tahapan tingkat kesufian. Bagi mereka, haji adalah perjalanan menuju Tuhan. Seorang sufi yang melaksanakan haji memutuskan semua pertalian dengan apapun yang bersifat duniawi. Ia akan selalu rindu untuk mengulangi lagi perjalanan spiritual ini untuk meraih makna-makna spiritualnya. Lebih jauh, kaum Sufi tidak memandang haji itu sendiri sebagai tujuan; tujuan sebenarnya ibadah haji adalah kebersamaan dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan. Makna batin Untuk dapat meraih kebersamaan dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan, seorang yang

Spencer, Islam di Barat, dan Ancaman Islam bagi Barat: Review atas buku Robert Spencer, Islam Ditelanjangi

Jurnal Studi Agama dan Masyarakat, 2005

RESTRICTING IMMIGRANTS, COLONIAL INHERITANCE AND POLITICAL INTERESTS: AUSTRALIA'S CITIZENSHIP TEST UNDER THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT

JISPO Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, 2018

In 2006, Australia under the Howard government proposed a citizenship test aimed at restricting i... more In 2006, Australia under the Howard government proposed a citizenship test aimed at restricting immigration and toughening citizenship requirements. To understand this proposed citizenship, this essay attempts to analyse the basic ideas of the test by explaining its possible relationship with the Australia's past history and Australia's dependence on the 'superpower' countries in the issue. It explains that the proposed citizenship test reflected John Howard's political brands and manifested his wonderful skills in understanding and exploiting the living fears of 'the other' among Australian people for political gain in the his second term. The huge support for the proposed citizenship test indicated that the fear of 'the other' and 'potential enemies' was still evident among Australian. It also served as evident that multiculturalism was under threat because people considered it as a policy that undermines dominant culture. The article argues that Australia's colonial past still plays a role in people's attitudes and government policies. "The chains of colonial inheritance" has not disappeared in contemporary Australia.

Constructing Third Space in A Multi-Religious Society: A Preliminary Account of Interreligious Relations between Muslims, Christians and Kaharingan Adherents in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia

KALAM, 2018

A growing body of literature has given shape and voice to the emerging field of interreligious st... more A growing body of literature has given shape and voice to the emerging field of interreligious studies. However, most of related studies have tended to focus on the relations between religious communities in Western countries. The scholars have not given adequately attention to the richness and complexity of the relations among different religious communities in Asian region and possibility of theoretical and practical contributions to interreligious relations. This article seeks to analyzes the interreligious relations among different religious communities in Indonesia based on data generated through interviews with Muslim, Christian and Kaharingan communities in Indonesia. Employing the concept of Third Space, this article focuses on the performance of interreligious relations between Muslims, Christians, and the adherents of local religion of Kaharingan in Kalimantan Tengah province, Indonesia. It explains the the third space issue in the narrative of interfaith relations and the third space in the practice of interreligious relations in the region. This study find that the diverse religious communities in Indonesia practice a peaceful and co-existence life, which is strongly inspired and driven by shared particular social-cultural contexts of rich treasures and precious tradition of cultural heritage in the forms of Indonesian communalism and community spirit. It concludes that the diverse religious communities create “third spaces”, as common grounds between them which are shared at individual, institutional and societal levels.

When Religion Meets the Internet: Cyberreligion and the Secularization Thesis

Jurnal Komunikasi Islam, 2016

This article examines the presence of cyberreligion, the worldwide increasing use of the internet... more This article examines the presence of cyberreligion, the worldwide increasing use of the internet for religious purposes, in which religion is migrating online as its strategies of adaptation and shaping a new environment. It aims to look at the phenomenon of religious migration to virtual world its possible implications for secularization thesis. The internet is a tool that serves the needs of religious communities, rather subvert their existence and development. The migration of religion to cyberworld has proved that religion not only survives in the face of modernization but also constantly transforms itself and becomes increasingly adaptive, hybrid and reflexive in a new environment. The article argues that the massive emergence of online religion serves a (another) counterpoint to the prediction of the end of religion in modern society as proposed by the proponents of secularization theory. It also claims that religious use of the internet among religion surfers has no significant impacts on the real world organized religions and their religious communal identity.

Migrasi Agama ke Alam Maya

Cermin, 2009

Sebuah fenomena menarik semakin marak ketika memasuki abad ke-21. Survey-survey yang dilakukan o... more Sebuah fenomena menarik semakin marak ketika memasuki abad ke-21. Survey-survey yang dilakukan oleh the Pew Internet and American Life Project di Amerika Serikat mendukung fenomena ekspresi relijiusitas baru ini. Pada tahun 2000, lembaga survey ini menemukan bahwa sekitar 21% pengguna internet atau sekitar 20 juta orang berselancar di dunia internet untuk mencari informasi spiritual dan keagamaan. Empat tahun kemudian, tahun 2004, jumlah ini meningkat tiga kali lipat menjadi 64% dari 128 juta pengguna internet di negeri Barack Obama ini, atau sekitar 82 juta orang menggunakan internet untuk kepentingan dan tujuan-tujuan keagamaan seperti mencari informasi tentang bagaimana tata cara beribadah. Fenomena ini tentu saja mengejutkan atau menggembirakan bagi sebagian orang. Tulisan ini bermaksud menjelaskan migrasi agama ke dunia internet dan mengaitkannya dengan tesis sekularisasi pada masyarakat modern.

Studi Islam dan Dialog Antarperadaban: Sebuah Kontribusi bagi Mutual Understanding for Coexistence

Jurnal Kajian Islam, 2009

This article deals with the notion that Islamic Studies as a discipline resulted from political a... more This article deals with the notion that Islamic Studies as a discipline resulted from political and theological interests of the European and North American on Islam and Muslim societies. In its early development, Islamic Studies was characterized by theological polemic and generated by the motives of finding the weaknesses of Islam and Muslims and at the same time showing the superiority of Christianity and Christendom over Islam and the Muslim world. Approaches used to study Islam were mostly philological and historical studies and the object of study was focused on Islamic texts and documents. However, it argues, in the modern era Islamic Studies in Western countries have been oriented to academic interests and to some extent pragmatic and practical needs. Studies on Islam and Muslim societies have been emphasized on practical realities with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches. Moreover, the significance of modern Islamic studies lie in its contribution to the dialogue of civilizations aimed at creating mutual understanding for coexistence. The discipline of Islamic studies has played a significant role in developing mutual understanding and respects between Western and Islamic civilizations. Therefore, the article asserts, this is a golden opportunity for those are concerned in Islamic studies to develop this discipline as a means for establishing cooperation among the world civilizations. For Muslims, in particular, Islamic studies can be media for easing Western misunderstandings of Islam and Muslim societies as well as contributing to mutual understanding among civilizations and the establishment of a just world order.

The Educational Background of Imams and Its Contribution to their Recognition as Religious Leaders: The Case of Indonesian Muslim Community in the Netherlands

Islam Realitas Journal of Islamic and Social Studies, 2017

The Netherlands is one of European countries whose population with Islamic background has been in... more The Netherlands is one of European countries whose population with Islamic background has been increasing significantly. Statistical data show that there are around one million Muslims in this country or around six per cent of total population of the Netherlands. Some Muslim communities in this country came from Southeast Asia including Indonesia. The number of Muslim population from Indonesia was estimated to be around 200,000 out of 400,000 Dutch population with Indonesian background. This certainly necessitates the involvement and role of religious leaders who are able to serve the need and interests of Muslim community with Indonesian backrgound in this country. One of the important issues needs attention is the educational background of these religious leaders. Therefore, this paper describes the following: what is the educational background of the imams and how this contributes to their recognition as religious leaders by Muslim community with Indonesian background in the Netherlands. It argues that the different patterns of educational background of imams among Indonesian Muslims in the Netherlands have significantly contributed to their recognition as respected religious leaders by their community.

Challenging Moderate Islam in Indonesia: NU Garis Lurus and Its Construction of the "Authentic" NU Online

Rising Islamic Conservatism in Indonesia (Routledge), 2020

Internet dan Gerakan Salafi di Indonesia: Sebuah Kajian Awal

Diandra Kreatif, 2019

Buku ini berpandangan bahwa adalah tidak tepat memberikan label gerakan anti-modern kepada geraka... more Buku ini berpandangan bahwa adalah tidak tepat memberikan label gerakan anti-modern kepada gerakan fundamentalisme agama. Mungkin lebih tepat untuk mengatakan bahwa fundamentalisme agama itu ultra-ortodoks dalam hal ideologi, namun ia sesungguhnya gerakan modern secara teknologis. Sumbangan buku ini terletak pada temuannya bahwa kebanyakan kelompok-kelompok keagamaan konservatif tidak hanya bertahan di tengah arus modernisasi, tetapi juga mampu mentransformasi realitas-realitas modernitas seperti internet menjadi sebuah produk modernitas yang baru yang bisa memenuhi kebutuhan dan kepentingan keagamaan mereka. Untuk mendukung argumen ini, dalam buku ini saya menganalisis Salafisme, sebuah gerakan fundamentalisme Islam transnational, dan mengeksplorasi penggunaannya atas media teknologi internet dalam konteks Indonesia kontemporer dalam upaya mengungkapkan cara-cara bagaimana ia menggunakan produk modern yang mengglobal ini. Dalam buku ini, saya menjelaskan bagaimana kelompok Salafi memanfaatkan internet sesuai dengan tujuan-tujuan ideologis mereka dalam kerangka yang disebut dengan “teknologi yang dibudayakan” (cultured technology), “proses lokalisasi kekuatan global teknologi informasi” (localization process of global force of technology), “apropriasi media global” (appropriation of global media), dan “spiritualisasi teknologi” (spiritualizing technology). Analisis tekstual merupakan metode utama yang digunakan dalam pembahasan buku ini karena ia dianggap memadai dalam upaya untuk memahami konten situs-situs Salafi dan mengungkap cara-cara kaum Salafi menggunakan internet.

Relasi Antaragama dan Ulama Nusantara Antaragama

Pusat Penelitian dan Penerbitan UIN Bandung, 2018

Buku ini membahas tentang pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten tentang penganut agama lain, khususnya Y... more Buku ini membahas tentang pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten tentang penganut agama lain, khususnya Yahudi dan Kristen. Untuk mengungkap gagasan ulama terkenal dari Banten ini, Asep Muhamad Iqbal memfokuskan analisisnya atas karya terpenting Nawawi Banten, yakni tafsir berbahasa Arab setebal dua jilid yang dinamakannya Marāh Labīd (terbit pertama kali di Mekah sekitar tahun 1884). Tafsir ini menempati tempat yang penting dalam sejarah tafsir Al-Quran di dunia Melayu-Indonesia setelah Tarjumān al-Mustafīd karya Abdul Rauf Singkil (ditulis sekitar tahun 1675). Sejauh ini, ia merupakan tafsir berbahasa Arab pertama yang pernah ditulis oleh ulama Nusantara. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan tematik dan analisis filologis-kesejarahan, penulis buku ini berhasil mempersembahkan dalam suatu kategorisasi yang menarik pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten seputar penganut Yahudi dan Kristen sebagaimana terrefleksikan dalam tafsirnya. Buku ini penting dalam beberapa. Pertama, dalam perspektif yang lebih luas, ia merupakan upaya berharga untuk menjelaskan pemikiran ulama Nusantara yang terlibat dalam jaringan ulama internasional, khususnya ulama Nusantara di Mekah pada abad sembilan belas, yang selama ini dirasakan kurang memperoleh perhatian memadai dari sarjana keislaman. Kedua, buku ini memberi sumbangan berharga terhadap kajian pemikiran Syeikh Nawawi Banten, ulama yang besar peranannya bagi perkembangan wacana keislaman di dunia pesantren wilayah Melayu-Indonesia sampai sekarang. Ketiga, pembahasan buku ini tentang perspektif Muslim atas penganut Yahudi dan Kristen secara jelas berhasil mengungkapkan pandangan ulama Nusantara abad sembilan belas tersebut tentang penganut agama-agama lain dan sekaligus kontribusi bagi wacana dialog antaragama yang sedang dipromosikan dalam dekade-dekade terakhir ini. Singkat kata, kehadiran buku ini merupakan sumbangan bagi kajian warisan keislaman Nusantara abad sembilan belas dan menambah jajaran karya tentang sambutan bagi wacana dialog antaragama dalam perspektif Muslim.

Law and Punishment in Islam: The Ideal Concept of Hudud and Its Practices

Komnas Perempuan, 2017

This book tries to present a theological view of Islamic law and to explain that the reality of I... more This book tries to present a theological view of Islamic law and to explain that the reality of Islamic law is not monolithic. The diversity of opinions on the implementation of Islamic law which cannot be reduced into a single form makes it very important to be known by public and the state officials amidst the emergence of strong aspiration to implement the Islamic criminal law as a ‘positive law’ in Indonesia. In particular, this book explains in depth the theory of hudud, the purpose of punishment in Islam, and the implementation of flogging in the context of Islamic studies, which would help bring justice and prosperity for people.

Spiritualizing the Internet: Internet dan Gerakan Salafi di Indonesia (the Internet and the Salafi Movement in Indonesia)

Global House, 2010

Yahudi dan Nasrani dalam al-Quran,Hubungan Antaragama menurut Syaikh Nawawi Banten (Jews and Christians in the Qur'an, Syaikh Nawawi Banten's Views on Interfaith Relationship)

Teraju (Mizan Group), 2004

Self, Society, and Repression in Babel: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Journal of Asian Social Science Research, 2019

As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the re... more As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the relationship between self and society and the dualism between pleasure and reality in modern society, this article examines this important issue by analyzing the award-winning film Babel by using a psychoanalytic perspective. Based on textual analysis of the film’s storylines, this article argues that Babel not only substantially represents the relationship between self and society, but also depicts the continuing tension and dualism between them. This is seen in the storylines of its characters that illustrate the relationship between sexual drives and social regulations. For the sake of social interests and cultural production, pleasure is repressed by external reality and sexuality is repressed through socially sanctioned sexual regulations. The self must attempt to balance between libidinal desire and social control to enter the normality of the social world.

Challenging moderate Islam in Indonesia

Rising Islamic Conservatism inIndonesia

Agama dan Adopsi Media Baru: Penggunaan Internet oleh Gerakan Salafisme di Indonesia

Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia, Jan 19, 2015

Pendahuluan P andangan tentang ketidaksepadanan agama dan modernisasi sebagaimana diutarakan oleh... more

Self, Society, and Repression in Babel: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

Journal of Asian Social Science Research (JASSR), 2019

As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the re... more As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the relationship between self and society and the dualism between pleasure and reality in modern society, this article examines this important issue by analyzing the award-winning film Babel by using a psychoanalytic perspective. Based on textual analysis of the film's storylines, this article argues that Babel not only substantially represents the relationship between self and society, but also depicts the continuing tension and dualism between them. This is seen in the storylines of its characters that illustrate the relationship between sexual drives and social regulations. For the sake of social interests and cultural production, pleasure is repressed by external reality and sexuality is repressed through socially sanctioned sexual regulations. The self must attempt to balance between libidinal desire and social control to enter the normality of the social world. Intisari Terdapat kecenderungan pada kajian-kajian yang ada untuk mengabaikan kajian bagaimana media menggambarkan persoalan sosiologis tentang hubungan antara diri-individu dan masyarakat dan dualisme antara kesenangan dan realitas dalam masyarakat modern. rtikel ini mengkaji isu penting ini dengan menganalisis film peraih pernghargaan Babel dengan menggunakan perspektif psikoanalitis. Berdasarkan pada analisis tekstual atas storylines film tersebut, artikel ini berargumen bahwa film Babel bukan saja secara substantif merepresentasikan hubungan antara diri-individu dan masyarakat, melainkan juga menggambarkan ketegangan dan dualisme yang terus berlangsung antara keduanya. Hal ini terlihat pada storylines tokoh

People of the Book dan Gagasan Pluralisme Keagamaan dalam Alquran

Wawasan Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya, 2018

To a certain extent, globalization has provided religions with opportunities to play their roles ... more To a certain extent, globalization has provided religions with opportunities to play their roles more extensively and encounter each other more openly than before. In addition to its advantages, this has created a tendency of rigid and exclusive ways of religiosity among different religious believers when they encounter each other or with other cultures. For most believers, this is a way of claiming religious identities, which should be maintained and defended. This article deals with what Islam as a system of belief has contributed to religious pluralism. Using the thematic method of interpretation, it focuses on its analysis on Quranic verses of Ahl al-Kitab, a term that refers to People of the Book. The article argues that from the Quranic perspective, religious pluralism is valid and constitutes one of the main principles of Quranic teachings. Religions of People of the Book differ in terms of syir'ah and minhaj, but they at the same time share a substantial similarity in terms of din, which is seen in their shared doctrine of monotheism (tawhid). To this monotheism, Alquran calls other religions to find a common term. This inclusive religiosity plays as the basis of how Alquran responds to other religions: it acknowledges their validity as systems of belief and emphasizes the shared point as seen in its response to the opposition of People of the Book in the early Islam (Jews and Christians). Abstrak Pada batas tertentu, globalisasi telah menyediakan peluang-peluang bagi agama-agama untuk lebih muncul dan bertemu satu-sama lain. Di samping dampak positif, hal ini menimbulkan kecenderungan cara keberagamaan yang rigid, eksklusif dan akhirnya isolasi pemeluk suatu agama ketika dihadapkan dengan agama dan kultur lain yang dianggapnya asing dan destruktif. Bagi umumnya pemeluk agama, sikap seperti ini merupakan penegasan identitas keagamaan yang memang sudah semestinya dipertahankan. Artikel ini membahas apa kontribusi Islam sebagai sebuah sistem keagamaan bagi persoalan pluralitas keagamaan ini. Dengan menggunakan metode tafsir tematik, artikel ini memfokuskan analisisnya pada ayat-ayat People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab). Artikel ini berargumen bahwa dalam perspektif Alquran, pluralisme keagamaan merupakan persoalan yang absah dan salah satu prinsip dasar Alquran. Meskipun berbeda dalam bentuk syir'ah dan minhaj, pada saat yang sama agama-agama People of the Book (Yahudi dan Nasrani) memiliki kesamaan substansial pada dimensi-dalamnya atau din dalam istilah Alquran, yang terletak pada ajaran monoteisme (tawhid). Kepada monoteisme inilah Alquran mengajak agama-kitab lainnya untuk mencari titik-temu. Cara keberagamaan yang inklusif ini mendasari sikap dan respon Alquran terhadap agama-agama lain: tidak menafikan validitasnya dan lebih menekankan pada titik kesamaan seperti yang diperlihatkan dalam merespon oposisi People of the Book (komunitas Yahudi dan Nasrani di Madinah).

URGENSI TAFSIR TEMATIK BAGI MUSLIM MODERN

Mumtaz News, 2018

Pendahuluan Selama empat belas abad ini, khazanah intelektual Islam diperkaya dengan berbagai mac... more Pendahuluan Selama empat belas abad ini, khazanah intelektual Islam diperkaya dengan berbagai macam perspektif dan pendekatan dalam menafsirkan Alquran. Setiap mufassir (penafsir Alquran) berusaha menafsirkan Alquran dengan perspektif yang dipilihnya sesuai latar berlakang disiplin keilmuannya, lingkungan sosio-politik di mana ia hidup, mazhab teologis, mazhab fiqh dan sebagainya. Dengan demikian, tumbuhlah dengan pesat tradisi penafsiran Alquran dengan lahirnya berbagai kitab tafsir dan mazhab yang terbentuk atas dasar masing-masing tafsir tersebut. Misalnya, tafsir teologis, filosofis, sufistis, hukum, saintis dan sebagainya (Lihat, misalnya, al-Zahabiy 1986). Namun, terdapat kecenderungan yang umum dari berbagai perspektif dan pendekatan tafsir tersebut bahwa para mufassir menafsirkan Alquran secara ayat-per ayat sesuai susunannya dalam mushaf dan pemahamannya lebih didasarkan pada pendekatan filologis-gramatikal. Cara penafsiran seperti ini dinamakan 'metode tafsir analitis' (al-ittijah al-tajziy fi al-tafsir). Konsekuensi logisnya, kecenderungan ini telah menghasilkan pemahaman yang parsial (sepotong-potong) tentang pesan-pesan Alquran. Tujuan semula untuk memperoleh pesan-pesan Alquran secara integral menjadi terabaikan. Pada kenyataannya, pendekatan ini sering melepaskan ayat dari konteks kesejarahannya akibat dipengaruhi oleh tujuan untuk mendukung sudut-pandang tertentu. Gagasan-gagasan asing atau prakonsepsi-prakonsepsi sering dipaksakan ke dalam Alquran tanpa memperhatikan konteks kesejarahan dan kesusastraan kitab suci ini seperti yang tampak pada tafsir dengan pendekatan teologis, filosofis dan sufistis dan saintis. Kenyataan ini-bahwa metode penafsiran Alquran secara ayat-per ayat yang telah memperlakukan Alquran secara "tidak adil"-telah mendorong para pakar tafsir modern untuk menyusun sebuah metode penafsiran yang dapat mengungkapkan pandangan-dunia Alquran secara integral. Metode ini dinamakan 'pendekatan tematik atau sintesis' (al-ittijah al-tauhidy aw al-maudu'iy fi al-tafsir). Essay ini akan membahas apa urgensi tafsir tematik bagi Muslim modern. Ia berargumen bahwa tafsir tematik merupakan metode tafsir alternatif penting yang harus dikembangkan oleh sarjana dan ulama Islam modern untuk mengungkapkan pandangan-dunia al-Quran dalam upaya menjadikan Alquran sebagai petunjuk dalam kehidupan modern. Untuk itu, pada bagian selanjutnya, artikel ini membahas dasar-dasar penafsiran metode tematik, menjelaskan langkah-langkah operasional tafsir tematik, menjelaskan kelebihan metode tematik dibanding metode analitik, dan, terakhir, menjelaskan nilai strategis tafsir tematik bagi upaya penggalian pandangan-dunia Alquran bagi dunia modern. Dasar-dasar Penafsiran Metode Tematik Metode tafsir ini dinamakan 'tematik' karena ciri pertamanya adalah memulai dari sebuah tema yang berasal dari kenyataan eksternal dan kembali ke Alquran dan disebut 'sintesis'

Bersama Sufi Memahami Haji

Republika , 2005

Haji merupakan suatu ibadah yang kaya dengan simbol-simbol keagamaan, pengorbanan dan peringatan.... more Haji merupakan suatu ibadah yang kaya dengan simbol-simbol keagamaan, pengorbanan dan peringatan. Di kalangan sarjana Muslim, para ahli fikih (fuqaha) umumnya memandang haji sebagai kewajiban yang harus diterima seorang Muslim tanpa harus meminta penjelasan mengapa ia begini atau begitu. Menurut mereka, haji sebagai ibadah berada di luar jangkauan pemahaman manusia, yang hanya dapat diketahui melalui wahyu Tuhan. Para ahli fikih lebih banyak menaruh perhatian pada pelaksanaan ibadah tersebut, meliputi syarat dan rukunnya, ketimbang pemahaman akan makna-makna di balik ritual yang tampak. Haji dipahami sebagai ibadah yang dilaksanakan untuk mendapatkan perkenan dan ridho Allah dan akhirnya pahala surga di akhirat. Akhirnya, pandangan legalistik-formalistik ini tercermin dalam cara keberagamaan populer kaum Muslim tentang haji. Di kalangan Muslim Indonesia, keadaan ini diperburuk dengan adanya keyakinan-keyakinan yang berasal dari kepercayaan kebatinan lokal dan motivasi sosial dan politis. Namun, kalangan sufi, kaum yang menekankan interiorisasi dalam beragama, mempunyai pandangan yang berbeda dan unik dalam memahami haji. Kaum sufi tidak setuju dengan pandangan bahwa haji merupakan kewajiban semata tanpa berupaya memahami simbol dan ritual yang terdapat di dalamnya. Mereka menekankan pada signifikansi spiritual haji sekaligus mengkritik pemahaman literal terhadap teks wahyu dan ritual haji. Para sufi tertentu di masa awal Islam memandang haji sebagai alat dan sarana meraih tahapan-tahapan tingkat kesufian. Bagi mereka, haji adalah perjalanan menuju Tuhan. Seorang sufi yang melaksanakan haji memutuskan semua pertalian dengan apapun yang bersifat duniawi. Ia akan selalu rindu untuk mengulangi lagi perjalanan spiritual ini untuk meraih makna-makna spiritualnya. Lebih jauh, kaum Sufi tidak memandang haji itu sendiri sebagai tujuan; tujuan sebenarnya ibadah haji adalah kebersamaan dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan. Makna batin Untuk dapat meraih kebersamaan dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan, seorang yang

Spencer, Islam di Barat, dan Ancaman Islam bagi Barat: Review atas buku Robert Spencer, Islam Ditelanjangi

Jurnal Studi Agama dan Masyarakat, 2005

RESTRICTING IMMIGRANTS, COLONIAL INHERITANCE AND POLITICAL INTERESTS: AUSTRALIA'S CITIZENSHIP TEST UNDER THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT

JISPO Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, 2018

In 2006, Australia under the Howard government proposed a citizenship test aimed at restricting i... more In 2006, Australia under the Howard government proposed a citizenship test aimed at restricting immigration and toughening citizenship requirements. To understand this proposed citizenship, this essay attempts to analyse the basic ideas of the test by explaining its possible relationship with the Australia's past history and Australia's dependence on the 'superpower' countries in the issue. It explains that the proposed citizenship test reflected John Howard's political brands and manifested his wonderful skills in understanding and exploiting the living fears of 'the other' among Australian people for political gain in the his second term. The huge support for the proposed citizenship test indicated that the fear of 'the other' and 'potential enemies' was still evident among Australian. It also served as evident that multiculturalism was under threat because people considered it as a policy that undermines dominant culture. The article argues that Australia's colonial past still plays a role in people's attitudes and government policies. "The chains of colonial inheritance" has not disappeared in contemporary Australia.

Constructing Third Space in A Multi-Religious Society: A Preliminary Account of Interreligious Relations between Muslims, Christians and Kaharingan Adherents in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia

KALAM, 2018

A growing body of literature has given shape and voice to the emerging field of interreligious st... more A growing body of literature has given shape and voice to the emerging field of interreligious studies. However, most of related studies have tended to focus on the relations between religious communities in Western countries. The scholars have not given adequately attention to the richness and complexity of the relations among different religious communities in Asian region and possibility of theoretical and practical contributions to interreligious relations. This article seeks to analyzes the interreligious relations among different religious communities in Indonesia based on data generated through interviews with Muslim, Christian and Kaharingan communities in Indonesia. Employing the concept of Third Space, this article focuses on the performance of interreligious relations between Muslims, Christians, and the adherents of local religion of Kaharingan in Kalimantan Tengah province, Indonesia. It explains the the third space issue in the narrative of interfaith relations and the third space in the practice of interreligious relations in the region. This study find that the diverse religious communities in Indonesia practice a peaceful and co-existence life, which is strongly inspired and driven by shared particular social-cultural contexts of rich treasures and precious tradition of cultural heritage in the forms of Indonesian communalism and community spirit. It concludes that the diverse religious communities create “third spaces”, as common grounds between them which are shared at individual, institutional and societal levels.

When Religion Meets the Internet: Cyberreligion and the Secularization Thesis

Jurnal Komunikasi Islam, 2016

This article examines the presence of cyberreligion, the worldwide increasing use of the internet... more This article examines the presence of cyberreligion, the worldwide increasing use of the internet for religious purposes, in which religion is migrating online as its strategies of adaptation and shaping a new environment. It aims to look at the phenomenon of religious migration to virtual world its possible implications for secularization thesis. The internet is a tool that serves the needs of religious communities, rather subvert their existence and development. The migration of religion to cyberworld has proved that religion not only survives in the face of modernization but also constantly transforms itself and becomes increasingly adaptive, hybrid and reflexive in a new environment. The article argues that the massive emergence of online religion serves a (another) counterpoint to the prediction of the end of religion in modern society as proposed by the proponents of secularization theory. It also claims that religious use of the internet among religion surfers has no significant impacts on the real world organized religions and their religious communal identity.

Migrasi Agama ke Alam Maya

Cermin, 2009

Sebuah fenomena menarik semakin marak ketika memasuki abad ke-21. Survey-survey yang dilakukan o... more Sebuah fenomena menarik semakin marak ketika memasuki abad ke-21. Survey-survey yang dilakukan oleh the Pew Internet and American Life Project di Amerika Serikat mendukung fenomena ekspresi relijiusitas baru ini. Pada tahun 2000, lembaga survey ini menemukan bahwa sekitar 21% pengguna internet atau sekitar 20 juta orang berselancar di dunia internet untuk mencari informasi spiritual dan keagamaan. Empat tahun kemudian, tahun 2004, jumlah ini meningkat tiga kali lipat menjadi 64% dari 128 juta pengguna internet di negeri Barack Obama ini, atau sekitar 82 juta orang menggunakan internet untuk kepentingan dan tujuan-tujuan keagamaan seperti mencari informasi tentang bagaimana tata cara beribadah. Fenomena ini tentu saja mengejutkan atau menggembirakan bagi sebagian orang. Tulisan ini bermaksud menjelaskan migrasi agama ke dunia internet dan mengaitkannya dengan tesis sekularisasi pada masyarakat modern.

Studi Islam dan Dialog Antarperadaban: Sebuah Kontribusi bagi Mutual Understanding for Coexistence

Jurnal Kajian Islam, 2009

This article deals with the notion that Islamic Studies as a discipline resulted from political a... more This article deals with the notion that Islamic Studies as a discipline resulted from political and theological interests of the European and North American on Islam and Muslim societies. In its early development, Islamic Studies was characterized by theological polemic and generated by the motives of finding the weaknesses of Islam and Muslims and at the same time showing the superiority of Christianity and Christendom over Islam and the Muslim world. Approaches used to study Islam were mostly philological and historical studies and the object of study was focused on Islamic texts and documents. However, it argues, in the modern era Islamic Studies in Western countries have been oriented to academic interests and to some extent pragmatic and practical needs. Studies on Islam and Muslim societies have been emphasized on practical realities with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches. Moreover, the significance of modern Islamic studies lie in its contribution to the dialogue of civilizations aimed at creating mutual understanding for coexistence. The discipline of Islamic studies has played a significant role in developing mutual understanding and respects between Western and Islamic civilizations. Therefore, the article asserts, this is a golden opportunity for those are concerned in Islamic studies to develop this discipline as a means for establishing cooperation among the world civilizations. For Muslims, in particular, Islamic studies can be media for easing Western misunderstandings of Islam and Muslim societies as well as contributing to mutual understanding among civilizations and the establishment of a just world order.

The Educational Background of Imams and Its Contribution to their Recognition as Religious Leaders: The Case of Indonesian Muslim Community in the Netherlands

Islam Realitas Journal of Islamic and Social Studies, 2017

The Netherlands is one of European countries whose population with Islamic background has been in... more The Netherlands is one of European countries whose population with Islamic background has been increasing significantly. Statistical data show that there are around one million Muslims in this country or around six per cent of total population of the Netherlands. Some Muslim communities in this country came from Southeast Asia including Indonesia. The number of Muslim population from Indonesia was estimated to be around 200,000 out of 400,000 Dutch population with Indonesian background. This certainly necessitates the involvement and role of religious leaders who are able to serve the need and interests of Muslim community with Indonesian backrgound in this country. One of the important issues needs attention is the educational background of these religious leaders. Therefore, this paper describes the following: what is the educational background of the imams and how this contributes to their recognition as religious leaders by Muslim community with Indonesian background in the Netherlands. It argues that the different patterns of educational background of imams among Indonesian Muslims in the Netherlands have significantly contributed to their recognition as respected religious leaders by their community.

Varied Impacts of Globalization on Religion in a Contemporary Society

Religion, 2016

This article discusses the current situation of religion caused by the forces of globalization by... more This article discusses the current situation of religion caused by the forces of globalization by analyzing the developing phenomenon related to religion in contemporary society. It argues that globalization has a mixed impact on religion in ways that lead to the opposing view of secularist scholars that religion will be diminished. Apparently, religion has experienced a revival in many parts of the world, mainly in the form of religious fundamentalism. Problems and challenges posed by globalization, such as the environmental crisis and secular society have provided the opportunity and the power to religion to revitalize itself and to transform themselves into a religion with a new form that has a role and a new identity. Furthermore, globalization may lead to the decline of organized religion in modern society and certain intellectual subculture, but it does not cause the death of religion in private life. This is in line with the emergence of the phenomenon of " believing without belonging ". In short, globalization has helped to transform the religion itself and changed its strategy to address the problems and challenges of globalization to create " world de-secularization ". [Artikel ini membahas keadaan mutakhir agama yang diakibatkan oleh kekuatan-kekuatan globalisasi dengan melakukan analisa atas fenomena yang sedang berkembang terkait agama dalam masyarakat kontemporer. Ia berargumen bahwa globalisasi memiliki dampak yang beragam terhadap

Islamic fundamentalism, nation- state and global citizenship: the case of Hizb ut-Tahrir

by Zulkifli UIN Jakarta, Asep Iqbal, and Zulkifli Harmi

Contrary to common understanding among observers, this essay argues that Islamic fundamentalism i... more Contrary to common understanding among observers, this essay argues that Islamic fundamentalism is not anti-globalization movement, but rather as parts, participants, and interpreters of globalization. Focusing on the case of Hizb ut-Tahrir, it shows that regardless of its utopian nature of the ideology it promotes , Islamic fundamentalism is a globalizing force that constitutes a return of old world religions to modern society, which is characterised by its rejection of the validity of nation-states and vision of a global citizenship through the establishment of Islamic Caliphate as a single global community of believers (ummah) with its universalistic rules and laws within contemporary Mus-lim world. Berbeda dari pandangan yang sejauh ini banyak dikemukakan oleh para pengamat, tulisan ini berargumen bahwa fundamentalisme Islam bukan merupakan gerakan anti-globalisasi, melainkan justru sebagai bagian, partisipan dan penafsir fenomena globalisasi. Dengan memfokuskan analisisnya pada kasus Hizb ut-Tahrir, tulisan ini menunjukkan bahwa terlepas dari sifat utopian ideologi yang diusungnya, gerakan fundamentalisme Islam tidak diragukan lagi merupakan sebuah kekuatan globalisasi yang mewakili kembalinya agama besar dunia ke masyarakat modern, yang bercirikan penolakan atas validitas negara-bangsa dan visi kewarganegaraan global melalui pembentukan komunitas global umat Islam dalam bentuk khilafah Islam dengan aturan dan hukum universalnya dalam dunia Islam kontemporer.

Internet, Identity and Islamic Movements: The Case of Salafism in Indonesia

Islamika Indonesiana, 2014

The revolution of information and communication technology has transformed the world into differe... more The revolution of information and communication technology has transformed the world into different shape, including Muslim world. This technology in the form of internet does not merely have the democratizing potential for Muslim world, but also has created a new public sphere and new Islamic authority. This paper discusses the role of internet as played by Muslim religious movement, especially Salafism in Indonesia. Using textual analysis of data collected from their websites, this article argues that the internet as modern technology of information and communication has helped Salafism rise to the public to show their ideological and doctrinal stances as well as to challenge their enemies such as Liberal Islam Network (Jaringan Islam Liberat), Shiah, and so on. Through the internet too, this movement respond to such contemporary issues as terrorism, earthquake and others. This means that although orthodox in doctrine and attitude, this movement can benefit from the internet very much for its missionary purposes.

Religion and the Adoption of New Media: The Use of the Internet by the Salafi Movement in Indonesia (in Indonesian)

Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia (Universitas Indonesia), 2013

Through analysis of the case of the internet and Salafism in Indonesia, this article argues that ... more Through analysis of the case of the internet and Salafism in Indonesia, this article argues that the notion of incompatibility between the internet and religion, which is based on the secularization theory that emphasizes on the inherent incompatibility between religion and modernity, is inaccurate and not empirically supported. In fact, the internet provides religion with new opportunities that have been eagerly welcomed, adopted and cultured by religious communities according to their religious purposes and communal interests. This new medium has become a new enabling tool that facilitates religion and religious communities to pursue their goals and advance their views. This positive response to the internet is represented in the ways Salafis in Indonesia are utilizing websites, which can be categorized into four types of usage: ideological, polemical, contextual and communicative uses. The internet is used by Salafis as a new medium for disseminating ideology, engaging in disputes, responding to contemporary issues and building linkage with one another. All this clearly demonstrates that the internet has positively impacted on religion and that religion is able to be part of modernity by adopting and adapting modernity products like the internet.

Understanding Jews and Christians in the Qur'ānic Commentary of Syeikh Nawawi Banten (1813-1897)

Yahudi dan Nasrani dalam al-Quran: hubungan antaragama menurut Syaikh Nawawi Banten