The Triumph of the Second Leaders: Ahmad Khatib and Rashīd Riḍā in Islamic Reform in Indonesia

The advent of Islamic reform in Indonesia at the turn of the 20th century is to be attributed to two scholars or called the second Muslim leaders. They were Ahmad Khatib in Mecca and Rashīd Riḍā in Cairo. Ahmad Khatib was an intellectual leader of mainly Malay-Indonesian section of Jawa (Southeast Asians Muslims) in Mecca when the Islamic reform began to be voiced by Cairo ‘ulama, Muḥammad ‘Abduh and Rashīd Riḍā. One crucial point to discuss in this article is that the two scholars shared similar religious thoughts, which hold a determining role in the development of Islamic reform, much more than the role of Muḥammad ‘Abduh, the first leader of the movement. As can be gleaned from Ahmad Khatib’s works and his intellectual orientation, as well as from the fatwas of Rashīd Riḍā in al-Manār, both scholars emphasized the primacy of pristine Islam (salāf), different from the thought of ‘Abduh. In fact, it was in the hands of Ahmad Khatib’s students that the Islamic reform reached wider audiences in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the early 20th century also witnessed the mounting request for fatwas to Rashīd Riḍā in al-Manār, which greatly contributed to the transmission of reform ideas from Cairo to the region.

Islam and Iran's post-revolution War on Drugs: A Durkheimian Analysis

By applying Durkheim's last opinion in the elementary forms of religious life, this paper seeks the rationale of the Iranian war on drugs policy in religious thoughts, not penological or criminological ones. It attempts to show that the war on drugs policy originates from an understanding that attributes evilness to such criminals to prevent the disintegration of Islamic society. This approach blurs the line between "preserving Islam" and the "Islamic society," and the repressive policies are consecrated to avoid social disintegration. Our study confirms Durkheim's attitude in which sacredness is highly contagious. Following the sanctity of preserving Islamic society from the profane of drug crimes, the application of specialized mechanisms for fighting drugs would be plausible.

Chastity is being true to one’s word - Presenting the story of Vallalamakarajan

Devotional literature is not merely a literary work, but also an act of uplifting moral life and the religious beliefs of the people. When we look at devotional literature and religious thoughts, these are the best. Thus, in advancing the position of chastity, the story of Vallalamakarajan in Arunachala Purana confirms the singularity of the word efficiency while advancing the position of chastity. Chastity is here irrespective of male or female. It also breaks down the barriers of lower classes and the upper classes. If a word is to have its meaning, it is appropriate to combine the time frame in which it is spoken and the social setting. The word chastity presents us in a particularly significant position. It very well may be seen that the term has been utilized in the feeling of peculiarities since the hour of Sangam to the later to the later moral literary works

An Investigation into Architectural Creolization of West African Vernacular Mosques

In investigating the influence of religious thoughts on architecture, much attention has been given to divine world-wide religions by the researchers, while indigenous religions have to a great extent been neglected. Ancient tribes in different parts of the world, have, on the basis of their cosmology, shaped beliefs which reflect on their architecture, especially on their sacred buildings. Regarding the Dogons-a well-known and a dominant tribe in West Africa- their Gods, cosmology and beliefs have led to the formation of settlements comprising houses, temples and other types of buildings in accordance with their religious thoughts while also being in harmony with nature. Up on the expansion of Islam throughout Africa, especially West Africa, vernacular mosques are shaped gradually beside shrines making a typology of Islamic architecture which has traces of both Dogon and Islamic architecture within it; While the influence of natural materials and indigenous building techniques should not be neglected. Taking a descriptive-deductive analysis approach, this paper will search for the architectural creolization process and will eventually conclude that West African vernacular mosques inherit their formal and spatial features mostly from Dogon house and pioneer mosques in Medina and their physical features, elements and exterior decorations from Dogon temples.

Knowledge, stigma, and beliefs toward mental illnesses among schoolteachers in Damascus

Background: Teachers have an important role in promoting the mental wellbeing of their students, hence their knowledge and attitudes toward mental health disorders should be assessed. A very few studies regarding this topic were conducted in Syria, but due to the recent events which have had occurred the country, it is essential to deal with students who suffer from mental illnesses professionally especially that such disorders may be stigmatized by the society. Aims: This paper aims to investigate knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward mental disorders in a sample of Syrian schoolteachers. Method: A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaire was conducted in Damascus and Refdimashq, involving 400 teachers from 16 schools. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of stigmatizing positions toward psychiatric illnesses was low among teachers. The contributors did not state a correlation between spiritual beliefs and psychological disorders. It was also found that teachers were neutral in their knowledge about mental illnesses and psychiatric treatment or interventions along with their mental health resources. However, 42.5% of the participants use the internet for such purposes. Conclusion: In general, teachers of Damascus and its Refdimashq had a reasonable degree of awareness about mental disorders and treatments. Furthermore, neither stigma nor the relation between religious thoughts and mental disorders had been ascertained.

The Theological Teachings and Principles of Pavai Literature

The article analyzes the turn of the year in recognition of Kannaberumaan, the Nandavegopan Kumaran, the sharpen sward tycoon, and Yasodai, the young lion, and the Thiruvemba of Manivasaka, who was dissolved by the Thiruvasaka that I am a liar, my heart is a lie, and i cry. Both the creators of reverential literature have recorded the rise of the female race through songs of early morning, expressing the principles of the standards and unmistakable rules that blasphemy is raised despite the fact that religious thoughts are at various levels.

The Expression of Religious Elements and Factors of Religious Thoughts in the Empress’s Ceremonial Costume “Hui Yi” of Song Dynasty

Hui Yi (袆衣) is the highest standard ceremonial costume to the empress in the Song Dynasty, used for important occasions such as wedding ceremonies, coronations, holding court, and ancestral shrine sacrifices. This paper uses the method of literature research, as well as using the method of mutual demonstration of historical books and image data to summarize the types of religious elements in the Song Dynasty empress’s Hui Yi (袆衣). By using interdisciplinary research methods, combined with art, sociology and history, this paper analyzes the reasons for the formation of religious elements. The purpose of this paper is to understand the religious development of Song Dynasty society by the design elements of Hui Yi (袆衣). Studies have shown that the empress’s Hui Yi (袆衣) of the Song Dynasty followed traditional Confucianism in costume forms and colours, and the accessories and patterns reflected Buddhist and Taoist elements. This has a lot to do with the religious system and social customs of the Song Dynasty and confirms the integration of the three religions of “Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism” in the Song Dynasty.

Pondok Pesantren sebagai Wadah Moderasi Islam di Era Generasi Milenial

From the pesantren's womb figures were born who helped declarator and motorized the progress of the nation. However, in the recent development of boarding schools such as losing direction and identity in navigating the era of modernization. There are several traditions in the pesantren that are missing, such as intensive recitation of the sorogan and bandongan systems, which are proven to have produced reliable pesantren alumni who in the past were important elements in the pesantren system and curriculum. It should, when there is an effort to revitalize and optimize some of the important elements in the pesantren, the contribution of pesantren to the Indonesian nation will not be questioned anymore. This study aims to track pesantren religious thoughts and movements in the era of globalization. As well as describing the Islamic spirit of the santri in the pesantren environment which continues to be sought as a fortress for Muslims, In line with the millennial era, the faces of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia are no longer monopolized by traditional groups or radicals, but have been colored by new pesantren formed by other Islamic groups with different faces.

New Formation of Islamic Legislative System by Muḥammad Iqbāl

If we want to study Muḥammad Iqbāl’s Islamic thought, we have to study his book: (Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam) before reading any book about him, as we cannot ignore this book on this subject, because the researcher cannot reach the depth of his thought and philosophy without studying this book. Iqbāl has philosophized in the statement of these complex topics that are related to “the science and spiritual experiences”, the perception of the existence of God, the reality and habit, the human self, the compulsory and choice, the spirit of Islamic civilization, Ijtihād, and development of Islamic legislative system. Iqbāl’s character in this book appears, as an Islamic poet, thinker and philosopher, in which we also see Iqbāl as he wants to develop a new Islamic science of speech. It should be noted that Muḥammad Iqbāl addressed these topics with careful research and deep study in the light of the teachings of Islam and modern philosophy, and opened the doors of thinking about Islam to his contemporary thinkers and scholars and those who came after them. Iqbāl by his mentality and being influenced by the philosophical approach tends to the synthesis of this method of mental analysis, but because of his religious tendency, he also tends to correct the steps of thought itself by highlighting the Qur’anic view on the content of the mental experience to follow in its footsteps towards the truth, using the descriptive analytical approach that is always fit in the treatment of such topics.

God’s Existence, Truth of Prophecy and Prayer as a Religious Experience to Muḥammad Iqbāl

If we want to study Muḥammad Iqbāl’s Islamic thought, we have to study his book: (Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam) before reading any book about him, as we cannot ignore this book on this subject, because the researcher cannot reach the depth of his thought and philosophy without studying this book. Iqbāl has philosophized in the statement of these complex topics that are related to “the science and spiritual experiences”, the perception of the existence of God, the reality and habit, the human self, the compulsory provision and the choice, the spirit of Islamic civilization, and meaning of the prayer as a religious experience. Iqbāl’s character in this book appears, as an Islamic poet, thinker and philosopher, in which Iqbāl wants to develop a new Islamic science of speech. It should be noted that Muḥammad Iqbāl addressed these topics with a careful research and deep study in the light of the teachings of Islam and modern philosophy, and opened the doors of thinking about Islam to his contemporary thinkers and scholars and those who came after them. Iqbāl by his mentality and being influenced by the philosophical approach tends to the synthesis of this method of mental analysis, but because of his religious tendency, he also tends to correct the steps of thought itself by highlighting the Qur’anic view on the content of the mental experience to follow in its footsteps towards the truth, using the descriptive analytical approach that is always fit in the treatment of such topics.