Pesantren for Middle-Class Muslims in Indonesia (Between Religious Commodification and Pious Neoliberalism)

<p>Research about Islamic educational institutions, the market and the rise of the new Muslim middle-class in Indonesian society has mainly focused on schools. Its correlation with pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) as Islamic education providers has not yet been deeply portrayed. This paper aims to identify changes in pesantren management practices in relation to the growth of the Muslim middle-class and questions whether pesantren management practices intended to cater for the middle-class segment of society can be categorized as commodification or as acts of pious neoliberalism. As a preliminary examination, this paper was based on extensive literature and media research, interviews with teachers and parents in pesantren, and non-participant observation. This research highlights three different strategies developed by pesantren to respond to the growing size of the Muslim middle-class in Java, Indonesia: ‘developing’, ‘inserting’ and ‘creating’ new pesantren education programs. Three models are highlighted here in three select pesantren in Java: Firstly, a pesantren established and designed to accommodate middle-class Muslims that employs an approach that is an amalgamation between religious education and international educational standards. Secondly, a well-established traditional pesantren which built new ‘elite’ buildings to respond to demand from middle-class Muslims. And thirdly, a pesantren that targets urban middle-class students of all ages who have limited religious knowledge and which mainly focuses on a tahfidz program (memorizing of the Qur’an) through creating a ‘friendly’ image of learning the Qur’an. These pesantren maintain a deeply religious curriculum similar to traditional pesantren and provide good facilities for students but charge high fees for education, and as such may connotate a commodification practice. Using Mona Atia’s concept of pious neoliberalism, the writer questions whether the fusion of religious practices of any kind, commodification and adjustment to market logic, in this context, might be better understood as pious neoliberalism. In this sense, the commodification practices in the examples offered here should not always bear a pejorative meaning. While admitting that global changes have introduced new challenges to the Muslim community and in relation to Islamic education, it is hoped that this article will encourage further discussion and investigation on the subject of the changing nature of provision and management of Islamic educational institutions, in particular pesantren, in Indonesia.</p>

Seeking Justice Through Qanun Jinayat: The Narratives of Female Victims of Sexual Violence in Aceh, Indonesia

<p>This article examines the experience of Acehnese female victims of sexual violence seeking justice through Qanun Jinayat (Islamic criminal bylaw) in Aceh, Indonesia. The empirical data in this study were collected through in-depth interviews with the victims and families related to the cases of sexual violence. By employing the narrative agency, this article argues that telling the experience of seeking justice is a way female victims of sexual violence express their resistance to the implementation of Qanun Jinayat in Aceh. Regarding this, we will show that Aceh’s Qanun Jinayat, which was originally implemented to eradicate sexual violence, turns out to have limitations in realizing the desired goals. This finding ultimately confirms that the concept of legal pluralism adopted in Aceh, Indonesia, has liminality in facilitating justice for women and other marginalized communities.</p>

The Actualization of Liberal Indonesian Multicultural Thought in Developing Community Harmonization

<p>Not many Kiai have thoughts about multiculturalism. Kiai M. Sholeh Bahruddin and Kiai Abdullah Syam are considered unique because they have multicultural Islamic thoughts and actualize them in building community harmony. This paper aimed to explore the basis, approach, and channel of Islamic actualization in responding to various challenges. The research method used was the qualitative method with a symbolic interaction approach. The data collection procedures were conducted through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The data were analyzed by following the steps suggested by Saldana, Miles, and Huberman (2013). This study found that the basis for the actualization of multicultural Islamic thoughts of Kiai M. Sholeh Bahruddin and Kiai Abdullah Syam was social, humanistic, cultural, religious, and psychological. The approach used was a synergy between religious, moral, psychological, theological, cultural, social, and educational approaches. Meanwhile, the actualization channels used are through social channels, cultural arts, propaganda, social media, silaturrahim (hospitality in Islam), education levels, and scientific meetings.</p>

Rereading the Indonesian Interpretation of the Qur’an on Awliyā’: The Cases of Hamka and M. Quraish Shihab

<p>There are some problems with interpreting the verses contained in the Koran to the understanding of the contemporary Islamic age, especially regarding the issue of non-Muslim leaders. The majority of Muslim scholars argue that their religion prohibits selecting a non-Muslim leader in a normal situation. Meanwhile, few of them allow such leaders in reasonable conditions based on the argument that the prohibition in the Qur’ān and the Sunna is no longer applicable in the present life. Therefore, this paper re-analyzed the meaning of awliyā’ from the interpretation of Hamka and M. Quraish Shihab with Jorge J.E. Gracia’s hermeneutics perspective. The result suggested that the prohibition to appoint a non-Muslim as the leader is applicable only in situations where such a person shows real hostility toward Islam and makes the religion their enemy. It also applies to Muslims that violate the commands of God and His messenger because the main requirements of being a leader are the ability to create justice and foster prosperity.</p>

The Concept of Peace in the Qur’an: A Socio-Thematic Analysis of Muslims’ Contestation in Salatiga, Indonesia

<p>This research aims not only to understand the concept of peace in the Qur’an but also analyze Muslims’ contestation in Salatiga to lead to a peaceful life among religious believers. It requires an in-depth examination on dialectical perspectives between the ideal concept of peace in the Quran and the reality of a peaceful culture in the public sphere. Methodologically, this research combines literature review and semi-structured interviews to gather theoretical data based on social responses and literature of contemporary Qur’anic interpretation. The research subjects consist of (1) Muslims living with non-Muslim family members in the same house, (2) Muslims in a non-Muslim neighborhood, (3) religious figures, and (4) non-Muslims with Muslim family members. In order to interpret a special meaning of Qur’anic terms related to peaceful life, this research employs a hermeneutical approach of socio-thematic interpretation of the Qur’an. In conclusion, this research points out that Muslims in Salatiga play a significant role in building a peaceful life where some concepts, such as unity, freedom, honesty, and respect, are principles thriving vividly throughout society. Additionally, tolerance is a foundation of social interaction leading them to cooperate. Besides, several values, namely harmonization, tolerance, and coexistence, can be seen as dominant ideas within the communities, and practices such as cooperation and friendship can also be seen in their daily life. Thus, this research affirms that the Muslim majority can lead to tolerance and accommodate diversity as a way of life.</p>

Becoming the State-Funded Madrasah or Retaining Autonomy: The Case of Two Madrasahs in Kelantan

<p>Malaysia witnessed the rise of Islamic education more than a century ago, partly evidenced by the establishment of traditional Islamic education institutions called pondok or madrasah. Starting in the nineteenth century, Islamic pondok schools spread in Malaysia, founded by ‘ulama (Islamic scholars) who gained financial support from the community. As time went by, many pondok, previously supported by civil society, began to face financial difficulties because of the changing political landscape, economic situation, the death of their founders, and changes in government policy. This paper investigates the experiences of two madrasahs in the state of Kelantan in Malaysia and the strategies they have adopted to resolve their financial issues. This paper argues decisions and strategies regarding financing were influenced by several factors, including the degree of attachment felt by the current asatidz (teachers) to the history of their pondok, their desire to preserve the legacy of the madrasah founder, and the level of economic pressure they experienced. The primary choice was between relinquishing ownership to the state by becoming a state (funded) school or remaining a self-governed school with limited access to state funds. </p>

Observing Islam With Ethics: From Hatred Theology to Religious Ethics

<p>The emergence of religious phenomena that lead certain Muslim groups in Indonesia to spread hatred (religious hate speech) became the primary rationale of this article. This phenomenon occurred because some Muslim groups consider their religious understanding to be the only actual theological truth while ignoring religious ethics in a religiously plural society. Therefore, some questions were raised: Firstly, what is the conceptual structure of Islam? Secondly, what does Islam teach its believers in regards to living together within the Islamic community and living among believers of other different religions? The method of ethics was employed to analyze the two research questions by describing, analyzing, and criticizing the attitude of the Islamic movement, which spreads hatred. From this article, it is expected that Muslims should emphasize not only religious theological but also ethical truth. The findings are as follows: firstly, the conceptual structure of Islam comprises of threefold: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan, which culminate in Ihsan, Sufism, and ethics. Secondly, in regards to becoming a Muslim and embracing it among believers of other religions, Islam essentially relates its religious and theological truth to the religious ethic (the ethic of al-Qur’an), which combines three elements of ethics: God’s, religious, and social ethics. The two latter ethics should always refer to God’s affirmative ethics, for instance, with His Divine attributes of The Most Merciful and Just. God has mercy on human beings and treats all of them justly. Likewise, human beings essentially should do the same in relation to God and fellow human beings.</p>

Pancasila and Islamic Education: The Deradicalization Model of Madrasahs Based on Islamic Boarding Schools in Central Java

<p>The purpose of this study is to review the deradicalization strategy in religion through strengthening the understanding of Pancasila in the context of Islamic Education at Islamic boarding madrasahs in Central Java. This study involved <em>Madrasah-Pesantren</em>/Madrasahs-Islamic Boarding schools (MP) in the North Coast (Pantura) Region of Central Java, including Madrasah Aliyah (MA) al-Wathoniyah Semarang, MA Qudsiyyah Kudus, MA al-Hidayah Kudus, MA al-Hidayat Lasem Rembang, and MA al-Anwar Sarang Rembang. By employing a qualitative approach through interview and observation data collection methods, this study revealed that the government of the Republic of Indonesia's religious deradicalization program requires support from Islamic boarding schools. One of them is the conceptual support that makes the program effective, referring to deradicalization through Islamic Education (PAI). This deradicalization process is carried out through strengthening Pancasila values integrated through PAI. It is based on the style of radicalism, especially among Muslims who question the national principle's validity of Pancasila in the name of Islam. Pancasila is considered a secular ideology and even <em>kafir</em> because it did not depart from God's revelation. Indeed, this judgment is baseless because the first principle is Belief in the Almighty God, reflecting the value of <em>tawhid</em>. With the existence of <em>tawhid</em> in Pancasila, this national principle is religious in nature, even comprising <em>tawhid</em>. This religious dimension introduction is carried out through Islamic Education in <em>Madrasah-Pesantren</em> (MP) to protect students (santri) and students from the radicalism virus.</p>

Islamophobia and Religious Intolerance: Threats to Global Peace and Harmonious Co-Existence

<p>Recent events show that there are heightened fear, hostilities, prejudices and discriminations associated with religion in virtually every part of the world. It becomes almost impossible to watch news daily without scenes of religious intolerance and violence with dire consequences for societal peace. This paper examines the trends, causes and implications of Islamophobia and religious intolerance for global peace and harmonious co-existence. It relies on content analysis of secondary sources of data. It notes that fear and hatred associated with Islām and persecution of Muslims is the fallout of religious intolerance as reflected in most melee and verbal attacks, anti-Muslim hatred, racism, xenophobia, anti-Sharī'ah policies, high-profile terrorist attacks, and growing trends of far-right or right-wing extremists. It reveals that Islamophobia and religious intolerance have led to proliferation of attacks on Muslims, incessant loss of lives, wanton destruction of property, violation of Muslims’ fundamental rights and freedom, rising fear of insecurity, and distrust between Muslims and non-Muslims. The paper concludes that escalating Islamophobic attacks and religious intolerance globally had constituted a serious threat to world peace and harmonious co-existence. Relevant resolutions in curbing rising trends of Islamophobia and religious intolerance<strong> </strong>are suggested.</p><p> </p>

Motive of CSR Practices in Indonesia: Maqasid al-Sharia Review

<p>This research examines the underlying motive of CSR implementation and design, according to maqasid al-sharia. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to obtain primary data through interviews with 5 CSR informants. Secondary data was collected from the public company’s annual report on the IDX in 2019. Data was sampled and examined using purposive and content analysis technique. The results showed that there are 2 motives in CSR, specifically social and economic. Furthermore, the economic motive is more dominant and expects provision of monetary feedback. Consequently, CSR becomes less effective and most programs do not follow the real stakeholders’ needs. The dignity of CSR needs to be regained by implementing maqasid al-sharia dimensions. There are 2 approaches used to implement CSR, including a support system that utilizes pressure. The transcendental approach initiates corporate actors through religious values from maqasid al-sharia, making the implementation more humanist and stakeholder-oriented.</p>