Al-Qalam

BUILDING ISLAMIC SCHOOLING IN A MUSLIM-MINORITY REGION: KH. USO, 'ASABIYAH, AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN PAPUA (1965–2020)

2025-05-22T08:18:43+00:00

This research is historical research that explores the role of KH. Uso in establishing and developing Islamic education in Muslim minority areas in Southwest Papua, especially in Sorong City, through the stages of heuristic, criticism, interpretation and historiography. KH. Uso as a pioneer of Islamic education was commissioned by the Ministry of Religion in 1965, KH. Uso faced significant challenges in establishing Islamic educational institutions in the midst of the Christian majority. Using Ibn Khaldun's Ashabiyah theory, this research analyzes the social solidarity between the indigenous and migrant Muslim communities, which has become a significant force in the development of Islamic education in Papua. In addition, state support the Papua Special Autonomy policy and contribution from organizational networks such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah also accelerated the process of Islamic education in the region. KH Uso succeeded in establishing various Islamic education institutions, such as PGAN, MI Annur YAPIS, STAIS Al Hikma, and STAIN Sorong, which provided access to formal Islamic education that was previously very limited. The results of this research show that although socio-political challenges and limited resources became obstacles, strong social solidarity and state support managed to overcome these difficulties. The thriving Islamic education in West Papua makes an important contribution to reducing the education gap between Muslims and the Christian majority and improving the overall quality of education.

THE RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION OF QISAS IN CONTEMPORARY CONTEXTS: A QUR’AN PERSPECTIVE

2025-05-29T00:14:52+00:00

The concept of qisas punishment in the Holy Qur’an remains a focal point of scholarly debate in the modern era, particularly regarding its implementation within contemporary Islamic legal systems and its compatibility with international human rights standards. This study examines the enduring relevance of qisas in modern Sharia and investigates how its application can be harmonized with the principles of social justice, equality, and universal human values. Utilizing a qualitative approach and a case study method, this research explores classical Islamic legal sources, historical contexts, contemporary scholarly interpretations, and comparative practices of qisas enforcement across Muslim-majority countries. The findings reveal considerable diversity in the interpretation and implementation of qisas. While some countries maintain a retributive framework emphasizing proportional justice and legal uniformity, others adopt restorative models that prioritize reconciliation, forgiveness, and communal harmony. The study argues that qisas retains its relevance when understood within an adaptive and dynamic Islamic legal framework responsive to contemporary legal developments and evolving ethical norms. By situating qisas within broader discourses of restorative justice and human dignity, this research contributes to ongoing discussions on Islamic legal reform and underscores the potential of qisas to function as a humane, progressive, and socially responsive component of justice systems in the modern world.

PERFORMING PIETY IN THE DIGITAL AGE: HALAL CONSUMPTION AND MUSLIM IDENTITY

2025-05-29T04:13:06+00:00

Halal consumption has emerged as a central mode of identity performance among Jakarta’s urban millennial Muslims, intertwining religious obligation with consumer culture. This study examines how young Muslims navigate their religious identity, ethical values, and digital presence through the everyday practices of halal consumption. Moving beyond theological and market-centered frameworks, the research employs a qualitative design combining semi-structured interviews and digital ethnography to examine how halal is performed, curated, and contested in daily life. The findings show that halal is not merely a set of dietary or consumer rules but a performative and relational identity articulated through four key dynamics: the curation of the “Halal Self” on social media; the deployment of halal as moral distinction and cultural resistance; the negotiation of structural constraints on religious agency; and the formation of a Digital Ummah as a space for soft advocacy and peer-based religious knowledge. The study argues that halal consumption represents a multifaceted ethical practice, embedded in the complex interpit’apakalay of affective, technological, and sociopolitical aspects of contemporary Muslim life.

THE INTERFAITH LELAYU TRADITION: RELIGIOUS PLURALISM IN BULUNGCANGKRING VILLAGE JEKULO KUDUS

2025-06-03T05:27:57+00:00

This study aims to provide an in-depth description of the interfaith lelayu tradition practiced by the Muslim community and members of the Evangelical Church in Tanah Jawa (GITJ) congregation in Bulungcangkring Village, Jekulo, Kudus. The analysis focuses on the humanitarian values embodied in this tradition and examines how the community preserves harmony and respects religious boundaries during the lelayu process, which serves as a tangible expression of interreligious coexistence in local culture. The acts of offering condolences and performing tahlil reflect the spirit of tolerance and harmony among different faith communities. This research employed a qualitative approach with fieldwork as the primary data source, using observation, interviews, and documentation for data collection. The findings reveal that the lelayu tradition in Bulungcangkring Village transcends religious boundaries and provides a shared space for interfaith interaction grounded in mutual cooperation, empathy, and solidarity. Despite theological differences, community members maintain respect for their respective religious doctrines. Consequently, this tradition does not generate doctrinal conflict but rather reinforces the spirit of tolerance in social life, contributing to a broader understanding of cultural practices that foster peace and harmony within a pluralistic society.

THE INFLUENCE OF CAMPUS RELIGIOUS CULTURE AND LEGAL POLICIES ON STUDENT RESILIENCE: THE ROLE OF CULTURAL EMPATHY AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MEDIATION

2025-06-10T05:02:11+00:00

The research aims to analyze the influence of Campus Legal Policy and Campus Religious Culture on Student Resilience, with mediation by using a quantitative approach with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via the SmartPLS 4 application. The researchers collected data from 542 students enrolled in various academic programs and utilized validated instruments to measure campus legal policy, campus religious culture, cultural empathy, emotional intelligence, and student resilience. The key findings are as follows: (1) Campus Religious Culture significantly influences Cultural Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Student Resilience; (2) Cultural Empathy significantly influences Emotional Intelligence and Student Resilience; (3) Emotional Intelligence positively influences Student Resilience; and (4) Campus Legal Policy significantly impacts Student Resilience, indirectly affecting it through the mediation of Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Empathy. This research highlights the importance of strengthening campus religious culture and promoting students' affective development through empathy and emotional intelligence, thereby enhancing their academic resilience. These findings have practical implications for campus policies that aim to foster character development and psychological well-being.

THE CONTESTATION OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND LOCAL FIQH: AS’ADIYAH’S REJECTION OF USTADZ FIRANDA IN WAJO

2025-07-14T03:32:39+00:00

This study examines the contestation of religious authority between As’adiyah, representing local traditional ulama, and Ustadz Firanda, representing the transnational Salafi da'wah movement, focusing on the case of Firanda's rejection in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi. The central argument of this research is that strong religious authority is not solely derived from online popularity but is instead grounded in social legitimacy, contextual wisdom, and an established scholarly reputation for maintaining harmony within a culturally diverse Muslim society. Using a qualitative approach with a case study method, this research draws upon a formal statement issued by the As’adiyah community. The findings reveal that the rejection of Firanda's da'wah was motivated not only by theological differences but also by efforts to preserve the continuity of local jurisprudence and the socio-cultural harmony of the Bugis community. Local religious authority, rooted in the legacy of the Shafi’i school and Bugis cultural values, demonstrates significant resilience against the expansion of purification-oriented transnational da'wah movements. This study underscores the importance of reactualizing local jurisprudence based on maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah to address the challenges posed by transnational da'wah, particularly in promoting the common good (maṣlaḥah) of the ummah and safeguarding local culture.

MARAKKA’ BOLA TRADITION AMONG THE BUGIS COMMUNITY OF BARRU: A CULTURAL EXPRESSION OF SOLIDARITY, LOCAL WISDOM, AND ISLAMIC VALUES

2025-07-14T19:08:34+00:00

The Marakka’ Bola tradition is an intangible cultural heritage of the Bugis people in Barru Regency that reflects local wisdom through the collective relocation of traditional stilt houses. Amidst the challenges of modernization that threaten to erode communal values, a comprehensive understanding of the function of this tradition is very important. This study aims to provide a descriptive analysis of the procedural aspects, cultural values, social symbolism, and Islamic perspectives contained in the Marakka’ Bola tradition. A descriptive qualitative method was used, with data collected through a review of scientific articles, visual documentation, and media reports. The data was then analyzed thematically to interpret the cultural, social, and religious dimensions of the tradition. The findings of the study show that Marakka’ Bola not only embodies social solidarity and the preservation of ancestral heritage, but is also in line with Islamic principles, namely ta’awun (mutual assistance) and ukhuwah (brotherhood). This tradition continues to function as a unifying force and a dynamic tool for the intergenerational transmission of social values and character.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF DIGITAL UMMAH IN THE AGE OF ALGORITHMS

2025-07-17T00:49:47+00:00

The study examines the formation of new religious authorities within the Cyber Islamic Ummah, configured by social media algorithms. Through a one-month qupesalitative approach, the research focused on the analysis of viral religious content on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram by applying the theoretical framework of Digital Ummah and Cyber Islamic Environments (CIEs). Data were collected through observation of the top 30 videos on each platform, in-depth interviews with five ulama (traditional Islamic scholars) and five digital influencers, as well as audience interaction analysis (likes, shares, and comments), which were then analyzed thematically. The findings reveal new religious practices among digital users, characterized by the dominance of short da'wah content (15-60 seconds) on TikTok and Instagram Reels, which yields an engagement rate 3-5 times higher than long-form content. This reality leads to the simplification of complex religious material into a sound bite that loses crucial nuance. The themes of prohibiting heresy (32%), criticizing modern lifestyle (25%), and practical worship guides (18%) dominate, reconfiguring the hierarchy of religious authority where digital popularity outweighs the depth of knowledge. Although Cyber Islamic Environments, as a hybrid space, democratize access to religious knowledge, there is a risk of fragmentation of understanding, shallowness of meaning, and intolerance. The study recommends strategic collaboration among scholars, content creators, digital platforms, and regulators through the transformation of da'wah formats, enhancing digital literacy, and drafting ethical guidelines to create a healthy digital da'wah ecosystem while preserving the authenticity of traditional scientific teachings and authorities.

ECOTHEOLOGY OF THE KAJANG PEOPLE: THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN ECOLOGY AND THEOLOGY IN THE INDIGENOUS KAJANG COMMUNITY OF SOUTH SULAWESI

2025-08-27T05:16:53+00:00

The global ecological crisis demands an interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond technical solutions to include spiritual dimensions. This study explores Pasang ri Kajang, the ancestral teachings of the Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous People in South Sulawesi, as a source of ecotheological values integrating ecological awareness with religious belief. Employing a qualitative approach through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, the research was conducted within the Kajang customary territory, focusing on the Ammatoa (customary leader), their teachings, and daily practices. The findings reveal that Pasang ri Kajang functions not only as a customary normative system but also as a contextual theological framework that defines human–nature relations in both ecological and spiritual terms. The principles of simplicity (kamase-masea), prohibitions against environmental exploitation, and rituals of reverence toward sacred forests embody the local praxis of ecotheology. Furthermore, the Ammatoa is identified as an “ecological imam,” a spiritual and ecological leader who interprets Pasang as an “ecological revelation” that safeguards harmony among humans, nature, and the Creator. This study asserts that the local wisdom of Pasang contributes significantly to global ecotheological discourse by offering an alternative narrative to anthropocentric models of development. It demonstrates that faith, culture, and ecology can engage in meaningful dialogue to construct a new, context-sensitive, and spiritually just paradigm of environmental preservation

LOCAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL OF PRINGGASELA LOMBOK: AN ANALYSIS OF THE WASATHIYAH ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

2025-08-20T05:54:28+00:00

This research aims to review the Pringgasela Cultural Festival as a representation of a local cultural preservation combined with the Wasathiyah Islamic values. A qualitative approach through an ethnographic study case was used to comprehend social dynamics, innovation diffusion processes, and symbolic meanings that emerged in the festival. Data were obtained from observation, interview, and field documentation. The result showed that festival becomes a space for cultural preaching that brings together both tradition and Islamic spirituality in harmony. The values of moderation (tawassuth), balance (tawazun), and innovation (tahawwur wa ibtikar) are reflected in the creative packaging of cultural activities, yet remain rooted in the Islamic identity of the Pringgasela society. Through Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis, this festival is understood as a cultural text producing Islamic narratives of Lombok that are moderate, open, and adaptive to social change.

ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CONTINUITY OF SILAT BUHUN SINGA DORANG IN PAMEUNGPEUK

2025-07-22T02:56:30+00:00

Silat as a traditional martial art has long evolved among various ethnic groups across the Nusantara
archipelago, including the Sundanese, who have developed diverse schools of silat embedded within
their cultural heritage. One such school, Silat Buhun Singa Dorang, later experienced a
transformation into Pusaka Siliwangi. This study aims to investigate the socio-cultural and spiritual
contexts underlying this renaming process and to elucidate the role of Islamic spirituality in
sustaining the continuity of both Singa Dorang and Pusaka Siliwangi over time. Employing a
qualitative research design within a modern ethnographic framework, this study relies on sensory
based engagement to collect rich, contextually grounded data that were analyzed and presented
descriptively. The ethnographic approach is particularly appropriate, as the practice of Silat Buhun
is deeply embedded in the socio-religious life of the Sundanese Muslim community in Pameungpeuk.
The findings reveal that the transformation from Singa Dorang to Pusaka Siliwangi constitutes a
deliberate recontextualization effort that aligns traditional martial values with Islamic ethical
principles. This strategic rebranding not only reinforces the cultural identity of the local community
but also ensures the endurance of Silat Buhun as a living heritage sustained by Islamic spiritual
values amidst socio-cultural change.

HADITH AND ELECTORAL POLITICS: ELITE DISCOURSE AND VOTER MOBILIZATION IN INDONESIA

2025-07-29T11:10:57+00:00

This paper examines the constructive practices employed by political elites during elections, particularly through social interactions that shape their political behavior and interests. The study aims to identify political strategies that facilitate consensus between elites and voters, considering various models of social exchange that occur within political processes. In an effort to counter negative perceptions of politics, this research highlights the positive dimensions of elite–voter interactions. Adopting a qualitative approach and drawing upon secondary data from books and scholarly journals, the study analyzes the role of hadith in electoral politics. Hadiths addressing leadership, justice, and deliberation are explored as ethical foundations for understanding political strategies, including compromises made by political elites. The findings reveal that political engagement can generate positive outcomes, such as the formation of social networks that foster political stability. Although political elites are often perceived negatively, their efforts at compromise contribute to conflict mitigation and the balancing of political interests. From the perspective of hadith, politics extends beyond the pursuit of power. It serves as a means to realize the common good. The concept of compromise in voter mobilization should therefore be grounded in the values of justice, deliberation, and unity as taught in hadith. Consequently, politics can be understood as a vehicle for promoting collective welfare, serving the public interest, and aligning with Islamic ethical principles.

FLUID ISLAMIC IDENTITIES AND POSTHUMAN ASSEMBLAGES IN BANU MUSHTAQ’S HEART LAMP

2025-08-16T09:57:55+00:00

This article reframes debates on Muslim women’s piety by moving from essences to practices that materialize at thresholds. Taking the short-story collection Heart Lamp as an analytic site, it proposes an “interface ethics” that reads piety as embodied coordination across veil–gate–movement. A diffractive close reading aligns posthuman feminism with Islamic feminist hermeneutics to map domestic ecologies, school-gate encounters, bus rides, humor as de-escalation, and multilingual drift as instances where agency is distributed across bodies, garments, objects, and spaces. This study identifies three significant findings: first, domestic scenes disclose micropolitics of piety that recalibrate authority through care work, timing, and spatial tact rather than doctrinal dispute. Second, material thresholds—corridors, ticket lines, doorways—assemble pious comportment as relational, iterative, and auditable in the text, shifting analysis from moral judgment to situated coordination. Third, accented translation sustains a polyvocal, posthuman voice: local Islamic registers remain audible while critique travels, preventing flattening into secular feminist or pietist monologues. These insights offer a portable heuristic for literary criticism and policy discourse: attend to interfaces, not identities. The study clarifies hijab controversies beyond binary moral panics, and suggests design implications for school-gate protocols, uniform guidelines, and queue management that minimize coercion while supporting dignity. It also outlines methodological audit trails—scene matrices linking indicators, quotations, and claims—that render hermeneutic reasoning transparent. The contribution is conceptual (interface ethics), empirical (text-grounded mappings), and practical (design heuristics). Centered on Heart Lamp’s South Asian Muslim milieux, the framework generalizes to comparable literatures and arenas, offering prompts for gate design, translation pedagogy, and dignity-forward regulation.

READING IRAQ FROM INDONESIA: DIALOGUES BETWEEN IRAQI LITERATURE AND INDONESIAN SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTS

2025-07-21T03:12:55+00:00

This study addresses a critical gap in global literary discourse, the near absence of Southeast Asian
perspectives in interpreting Arab post-secular fiction. While Iraqi literature is often analyzed within
Middle Eastern frameworks, this study argues for a necessary transregional approach. Focusing on
Inaam Kachachi’s Tashari, it examines how the Christian-Iraqi protagonist, Wardiyah Iskandar,
whose narrative embodies sacred agency, ritual memory, and moral dislocation, resonates ethically
and affectively within Indonesia’s pluralistic, post-authoritarian, and culturally contested context.
The study aims to: (1) analyze the reinterpretation of Iraqi post-secular narratives through
Indonesia’s sociocultural and religious context; (2) reveal ethical and spiritual rearticulations
emerging from transregional encounters; and (3) reframe Arab trauma fiction through Southeast
Asian hermeneutics. Methodologically, it adopts an interdisciplinary qualitative approach combining
post-secular literary theory, sociocultural analysis, and comparative hermeneutics. A close reading
of Tashari is conducted alongside Indonesia’s discourses on interfaith pluralism, spiritual
fragmentation, and moral reformulation. The dialogic mapping reveals interpretive pathways
neglected by dominant paradigms. The findings show that Tashari functions as a transregional
ethical archive, a literary space where theological boundaries blur, interfaith solidarities form, and
sacred dissent emerges. Indonesian readers, shaped by histories of colonialism, authoritarianism,
and religious negotiation, actively reconstruct the novel’s moral and spiritual meanings,
transforming Iraqi suffering into a shared space of ethical reflection and collective mourning. This
study proposes a new model of transregional literary ethics, demonstrating how post-secular fiction
mediates cross-cultural understanding, rehumanizes the other, and generates transformative moral
and spiritual resistance across contested geographies.

CONGREGANTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE MOSQUE LIBRARY AS A CENTER OF ISLAMIC LITERACY

2025-08-16T23:12:06+00:00

This study investigates congregants’ perceptions of the presence and function of mosque libraries and examines the factors that influence their effectiveness as centers of Islamic literacy. A qualitative research design was employed in three major mosques in South Sulawesi: the 99 Domes Asmaul Husna Mosque in Makassar, the Syekh Yusuf Lakiung Mosque in Gowa, and the Grand Mosque of Maros. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews with eight purposively selected participants, and analysis of library management documentation. The findings reveal that although congregants generally demonstrate strong awareness of mosque libraries, their actual engagement with these facilities remains limited. Some view the library as an important source of religious knowledge, while others rely more heavily on oral learning through sermons. Several factors were identified as barriers to optimal use, including limited accessibility, lack of promotion, unattractive physical environments, and outdated collections. In addition, the absence of qualified librarians hinders effective management and the sustainability of literacy programs. The implications of this study suggest that mosque library management should focus on strengthening community outreach, improving facilities and services, regularly updating collections, and integrating digital resources to attract younger audiences. Overall, the findings highlight the untapped potential of mosque libraries as community-based centers of Islamic literacy that can foster lifelong religious learning, promote a culture of reading among Muslims, and enhance the mosque’s educational and social roles within society.

OMAH TANI AS A PRACTICE OF INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE BASED ON DIA-PRAXIS AND DECOLONIZATION

2025-08-17T15:50:46+00:00

Interfaith dialogue in Indonesia is generally framed as a formal religious forum oriented toward theological
consensus, which may limit more comprehensive engagement across different social contexts. This approach
often to overlooks the dynamics of interreligious praxis that grow organically in social spaces, particularly
in the context of agrarian movements and struggles for structural justice. This study aims to examine the
Omah Tani community in Batang, Central Java, as a manifestation of interfaith dialogue rooted in agrarian
solidarity and collective action. Using a qualitative case study design, data is collected through in-depth
interviews, observations, and documentation and analysis. The analysis is conducted thematically, drawing
on the theoretical frameworks of dia-praxis and the decolonization of religion, to explore how expressions
of faith are realized in social actions that transcend doctrinal and institutional boundaries. The research
findings indicate that interfaith interaction within the Omah Tani community takes place through collective
work in land management, agrarian policy advocacy, and interreligious spiritual practices. This form of
engagement creates a participatory and horizontal dialogue space, where solidarity becomes the foundation
of inclusive and transformative religiosity. This research offers a conceptual contribution to expanding the
paradigm of interfaith dialogue, from one that previously focused solely on theological discussions among
elites to one realized through collective action. By examining Omah Tani’s experience, this research
demonstrates that faith or religion is not merely an individual expression but also a collective force in the
struggle for justice. The case of Omah Tani demonstrates that interfaith dialogue can transcend exclusivity
and “colonial” perspectives, growing in a collaborative space grounded in solidarity and commitment to
vulnerable groups.