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Islam Nusantara

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Indonesian Muslim men wearingsongkokandsarongstanding insalah.

Islam NusantaraorIndonesian (Islamic) modelis a term used to refer to the empirical form of Islam that was developed in theNusantara(Indonesian archipelago). This term was introduced and promoted by the Indonesian Islamic organizationNahdlatul Ulama(NU) in 2015, as a rejection ofWahhabism.[1]

According to NU, the roots of Islam in the archipelago can be traced back to at least the 16th century, as a result of interaction, contextualization, indigenization, interpretation and vernacularization of universal Islamic values, according tosocio-culturalreality ofIndonesia.[1]Islam Nusantara is defined as an interpretation of Islam that takes into account local Indonesian customs in forming itsfiqh.[2]It tends to express greaterpluralismandmoderation,opposition tofundamentalism,and a degree ofsyncretismwith local traditions.

In June 2015, Indonesian PresidentJoko Widodoopenly expressed his support for Islam Nusantara, which in his view is the moderate form of Islam compatible to Indonesian cultural values.[3]

History

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Indonesian traditional Quranic school.

Thespread of Islam in Indonesiawas a slow, gradual and relatively peaceful process. One theory suggests it arrived directly fromArabiabefore the 9th century, while another creditsSufimerchants and preachers for bringing Islam to Indonesian islands in the 12th or 13th century either fromGujaratinIndiaor directly from theMiddle East.[4]By the 16th century, Islam began to supplant Hinduism and Buddhism as the major faith in the archipelago. The traditional Islam in Indonesia mainly belongs to theSunnibranch, taught by revered clerics calledkyaiinpesantrenboarding school, especially in Java. Some aspects of traditional Islam in Indonesia has incorporated local culture and customs.

Early practices of Indonesian Islam were more or less influenced by Sufism and existing local spiritualism. Several traditions, such as revering and recognizing the authority ofkyai,honoring prominent Islamic figures such as theWali Songo,and also taking part in Islamic traditions such asziarah kubur(tomb pilgrimage),tahlilan(selamatanceremony to send the spirit of deceased one to the afterworld), andmaulid nabi(commemorating the prophet Muhammad's birthday) including Javanesesekatenceremony, were observed diligently by traditionalist Muslims in Indonesia. However, after the incoming ofModernist Salafismfollowed byWahhabismfrom Arabia, the scriptural Islamic puritans denounced those traditions asshirkorbid'ah,deprecated as a form ofsyncretismthat corrupted the purity of Islam. This condition has led to the ongoing religious dispute, uneasy coexistence and somewhat a spiritual rivalry, between traditionalist Nahdlatul Ulama and modernist puritanMuhammadiyah.[5]

Ziarah kubur,visiting the tomb of prominent Islamic figure.

Examining the destruction of the war-torn Middle East; theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict,Arab Spring,the Iraq War and theSyrian War,Indonesian moderate Islamic scholars noticed that some of these conflicts were having religious aspects, especially the problem ofIslamic radicalismandextremism.[6]Indonesia also has suffered severalterrorist attacksthat were launched byjihadistIslamist group such asJamaah Islamiyah'sattacks on Bali.[7]The ultra conservative doctrine ofSalafiandWahhabifollowed and promoted by the state ofSaudi Arabiahas dominated the global discourse of Islam for decades.[8]The wary sentiments were aggravated further by the advent ofISISin 2013 that performed abhorred war crimes in the name of Islam.

In recent years, there has been a rise of fundamentalism and religious intolerance in Indonesia.[9]Internally, some of foreign and localIslamistorganizations, such asHizbut Tahrir Indonesia(HTI),Front Pembela Islam(FPI), and also Islamist political parties such asPartai Keadilan Sejahtera(PKS) have been actively involved in Indonesian politics in recent years, undermining the traditionalist Islamic institution especially Nahdlatul Ulama. Those Islamist elements in Indonesian politics are suspiciously regarded as weakening and harming the secular state ideologyPancasila.[10]

Moderate Indonesian Muslim scholars, especially those traditionalist of Nahdlatul Ulama background, suggest that Indonesian Muslims are distinct; there is a difference between theArabizationand the traditional practice ofIndonesian Islam.[11]Compared to their Middle East Muslims counterpart, Indonesian Muslims has enjoyed a relative peace and harmony for decades. This was owed to Indonesians interpretation of Islam which is more moderate, inclusive and tolerant.[12]Indonesia—as the world's largest Muslim population, could to contribute to the evolution of Islamic world, by offering its brand of Islam as an alternative to Saudi's Wahhabism.[13]Thus subsequently, Islam Nusantara was identified, formulated, coined and promoted.

In March 2019, the Nahdlatul Ulama's Alim Ulama National Conference (Munas Alim Ulama NU)agreed on the definition of the concept of Islam Nusantara, and emphasized that Islam Nusantara Islam is not a new school, a newmadhhabor a new sect, but an understanding of Islam that respects the culture and traditions of Nusantara (Indonesian archipelago).[14]

Characteristics

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Boys and girls students are studying together in their classroom.

The main traits of Islam Nusantara aretawasut(moderate),rahmah(compassionate), anti-radical, inclusive and tolerant.[3]Tawasut by "moderate" here connotes the Sunni Islamic theological position ofwasatiyyahrather than political position.[15]In its relations to local culture, Islam Nusantara uses a sympathetic cultural approach on teaching Islam; it did not destroy, disrupt or supplant the native culture, but on the contrary embraces, honor, nurture and preserves local culture. One of the main characteristic of Islam Nusantara is the consideration of local Indonesian culture in forming their fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).[2]

Islam Nusantara was developed locally in indigenous educational institutions of traditionalistpesantrenboarding schools. As the result, it is based on traditional eastern notions of decorum and mannerism; it emphasizes honoring the status and authority ofkyaiorulama(religious teacher). The students require the on-going guidance of their religious teacher, in order not to go astray or develop false or radical ideas. Another distinctive aspect is the emphasis onRahmatan lil Alamin(blessings for the universe) as Islamic universal value, which promote peace, tolerance, mutual respects and a somewhatpluralistoutlook in regard of Islamic interactions withinummah(within Muslim community) and in inter-religions relations.[16]

Criticism

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Islam Nusantara has been fiercely opposed and criticized by other branches of Islam, especially by adherents ofwahhabismandsalafism,or other similar doctrine that seeks to "purify" Islam from any "un-Islamic" local elements, which are often condemned asshirkorbid'ah.Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, PKS and FPI has openly opposed the Islam Nusantara.[3]Islam Nusantara has been criticized as a somewhatsyncreticform of Islam, which undermines the "perfectness" and singularity of Islam and corrupted the unity of the ummah.[17]

Muhammadiyah,another influential Islamic organization in Indonesia—although not directly opposed to the concept, has stressed that the term Islam Nusantara should be addressed cautiously and proportionally, not to undermine and repress other branches of Islam, different understandings, or other doctrines of Islam. If Islam Nusantara is favoured, adopted, elevated and promoted by the state, they feared that other Islamic branches would suffer persecution and discrimination.[18]

The opposition, such as the chief ofWest SumatranIndonesian Ulema Council,Gusrizal Gazahar, argued that Islam Nusantara is an unnecessary addition to the "already perfect" Islam, and it is linked too closely or belongs to a certain group (i.e. Nahdlatul Ulama). There has been a circulating accusation that it might stray and develop to become a new religion. In response, in December 2019 the chief executive of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Robikin Emhas, emphasized that Islam Nusantara is not a new religion, and explained that it is a religious understanding that accommodates local wisdom and traditional Indonesian practices, that are not contrary to the teachings of Islam according to thequranandhadith.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Apa yang Dimaksud dengan Islam Nusantara?".Nahdlatul Ulama(in Indonesian). 22 April 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 16 September 2019.Retrieved10 August2017.
  2. ^abAzis Anwar Fachrudin (24 July 2015)."The face of Islam Nusantara".The Jakarta Post.Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2018.Retrieved10 August2017.
  3. ^abcHeyder Affan (15 June 2015)."Polemik di balik istiIah 'Islam Nusantara'".BBC Indonesia(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2018.Retrieved10 August2017.
  4. ^Nina Nurmila (2013-01-31). Jajat Burhanudin, Kees van Dijk (ed.).Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting Images and Interpretations.Amsterdam University Press. p. 109.ISBN9789089644237.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-05-28.Retrieved2017-08-10.
  5. ^( dw ), Deutsche Welle."Mitos Kerukunan Antara Nahdlatul Ulama dan Muhammadiyah (Bagian Pertama) | DW | 30.01.2018".DW.COM(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 2018-08-15.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  6. ^Ahmad Saifuddin."Islam, Radikalisme, dan Terorisme | NU Online".NU Online(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 2019-07-17.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  7. ^Caruso, Phil (6 February 2018)."Indonesia and Terrorism: Success, Failure, and an Uncertain Future".Middle East Institute.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-10-04.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  8. ^Fauzi M. Najjar."Whither the Islamic Religious Discourse?".Middle East Policy Council.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-08-04.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  9. ^Vajra Reza Alam (17 January 2017)."Coping with growing intolerance in Indonesia".The Jakarta Post.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-18.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  10. ^Thompson, Neil (17 November 2017)."Islam and Identity Politics in Indonesia".The Diplomat.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-08-15.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  11. ^Syahirul Alim (13 July 2018)."Islam Nusantara, Arabisasi, dan 'Rahmatan Lil Alamin'".kumparan(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 2018-08-15.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  12. ^"Islam Radikal di Indonesia".Indonesia Investments.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-09-23.Retrieved2018-08-15.
  13. ^"Indonesia. un altro Islam?".Cultura & Culture(in Italian). May 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-08-11.Retrieved2017-08-10.
  14. ^Wijanarko, Tulus (2019-03-01)."Munas Alim Ulama NU Sepakati Pengertian Islam Nusantara".Tempo(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 2020-02-01.Retrieved2020-06-01.
  15. ^Burhani, Najib.Al-Tawassuṭ wa-l I‘tidāl: The NU and Moderatism in Indonesian Islam.Asian Journal of Social Science, 2012, p. 564.
  16. ^"Ini Sejumlah Ciri Islam Nusantara".Nahdlatul Ulama(in Indonesian). 16 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2019.Retrieved10 August2017.
  17. ^"Islam Itu Sudah Sempurna, Tidak Butuh Embel-Embel" Nusantara "".Era Muslim(in Indonesian). 15 June 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2018.Retrieved10 August2017.
  18. ^Marniati (8 July 2015)."Muhammadiyah: Istilah Islam Nusantara Harus Digunakan Proporsional".Republika(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2018.Retrieved10 August2017.
  19. ^"PBNU Sebut Islam Nusantara Bukan Agama Baru".nasional(in Indonesian).Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-23.Retrieved2020-06-01.