The Role of the Malay Customary Institution in Off-Court Divorce Mediation: a Case Study in Rantau Pandan, Jambi

In general, the concept of mediation in fiqh literature concerns merely with pre-divorce conflicts. In contrast, the Malay Customary Institution in Rantau Pandan, Jambi also concerns with restoring household integrity after divorce. This paper aims at describing and analyzing the role of the Malay Customary Institution in restoring post-divorce households in Rantau Pandan. The field research was conducted where the data taken from in-depth interviews and documentation. This paper concludes that there are two forms of mediation process practiced by the Malay Customary Institution in Rantau Pandan: the mediation that is prompted by the initial request of the involving parties and that is without the precondition of reconciliation. The success of the Customary Institution in mediating familial conflicts is supported by several factors, such as; the competence of the mediators, kinship relations, and the goodwill of the respective parties. The mediation practiced of the Customary Institution works in line with the guidance of the Qur’ān and the principle of mediation in Islam. Additionally, this institution has developed the concept of mediation outside the court, both in terms of form and task.

A Set of Prayer Outfits as a Mahar? Discrimination against Women in the ʻUrf Reality of the Archipelago’s Fiqh

Provisions of mahar (dowry) in Islam practiced by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions are substantially used as a standard of giving dowry in a marriage. Mahar provided by the Prophet as well as those by his companions had a high economic value; unless they were fortuneless. However, what has been practiced by many recently does not reflect the deed of the Prophet Muhammad. Nowadays, people tend to provide a set of prayer outfit as a mahar, an item which could not support a family financially. Even if some people do provide high-priced mahar, yet much of it is used before akad (the marriage vow) to finance a wedding reception, rather than handing out the money directly to the wife. This article aims at evaluating this tradition, since it discriminates against women’s privilege of mahar. From the findings of the research, it is concluded that traditions; giving a set of prayer outfit to women, or using mahar as a payment for a wedding reception discriminate against women’s rights because the essence of mahar is to economically support or help the wife in the future. According to the provisions of ʻurf, this tradition does not fit in the Islamic law and is not legitimate to be incorporated into the Archipelago’s fiqh.

Philosophical Sufism and Legal Culture in Nusantara: An Epistemological Review

A research on the relation between sufism, sharia, and the local culture is essential for some reasons. First, Islamic philosophy and customary law (or the law of the peoples) are perceived as opposing each other. Second, Islamic philosophy, also in Geertz’s theory, regards Islam merely as the structure of religious orthodoxy. Third: the structure of Islamic orthodoxy, often portrayed as a highly rigid one, is often (seen as) conflicting with sufism in the world of Islamic scholarship. This paper aims to determine the dynamic relation between the spiritual values ​​of Sufism and traditional values ​​surviving in the so-called Nusantara legal culture. It also elaborates on the extent to which a distinct epistemology typical to sufism may contribute to enriching the cultural space of Nusantara law. As normative legal research, this paper employs the principle of legal culture developed by Lawrence M. Friedman. It concludes that the spiritual values ​​of sufism are not conflicting with the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. It would also argue that the construction of Nusantara legal culture has a unique character resulted from dynamic interaction of traditional values, on the one hand, and sufism on the other.

Islam and National Law: A Formal Legal Review on Sharia Laws in Aceh

The implementation of sharia in Aceh has gone through a democratic process subscribed by the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Nevertheless, some observers consider it problematic. Against this backdrop, this article discusses the principles of the formalization of sharia into positive law and further concretely analyses the case of formalization of sharia in Aceh. Employing a normative approach on research of law, this article shows that the principles of sharia codified in the qanuns of Aceh are grounded on the Qurʾān and the Sunna. The formalization of the sharia into the qanuns has gone through democracy and complies with the Indonesian law. Those qanuns contain regulations on ʿaqīda, muʿāmala, Islamic convocation, and Islamic criminal law.

Cak Nur on politics: Indonesian Political Islam and the Role of Islamic Politics

The Indonesian political elites tend to use Muslims for their personal interests, instead of making Islam as their moral guide in the political arena, despite Nurcholish Madjid’s (Cak Nur) secularization is needed. For this reason, this research discusses the political ideals of Cak Nur, especially the idea of ​​secularization in the midst of the current political Islam in Indonesia. Using a descriptive method, literature study, and a qualitative approach, the results of the study showed that Islam essentially is not merely a formal structure or composition and collection of laws of the state and government. Islam is the embodiment of tawḥīd. It is a spiritual force that can give birth to a soul that is ḥanīf, inclusive, democratic, and respects society’s pluralism. Therefore, an understanding of more advanced Islamic teachings, such as Cak Nur’s secularization concept which according to Cak Nur's does not lead to secularism; as well as the need for freedom of thought, an idea of ​​progress, and openness to ideas are a necessity in Indonesia. As such Moslem should use a secular lens to view worldly matters that need rational and objective thinking, rather than using faith, Islamic law, ʻaqīda (creed), and ʻibāda (worship) which are spiritual matters.

Criminal Objectives Integrality in the Indonesian Criminal Justice System

The integrality of the criminal justice system must be realized in every aspect of sub-systems, in substance, structure, and legal culture. In this respect, in the process of criminal justice, the three sub-systems’ integrality are required so that the criminal justice system is capable to produce fair legal decisions in the process of law enforcement in Indonesia. Until such a policy is undertaken, the law will always be harsh against the poor and weak against the rich. This paper discusses criminal objectives integrality in Indonesian criminal justice system and its influence in the integrated criminal justice system. Using a normative juridical method, this paper demonstrates that each sub-system of criminal justice (the Police, Prosecutors, Courts, and the prison) is in line with the main objectives of criminal law enforcement as found in various laws that govern the institutions.

The Military and Civil Supremacy in Indonesian Democracy: Towards an Ideal Model in Siyāsah Sharʻiyyah Perspective

In the history of Indonesia, civil-military relations changed in the reformasi era with the separation of the military and the police, resulting in the removal of the dual-function doctrine and military reform. Despite so, two decades after reformasi has not formed a standard and ideal mechanism to govern civil-military relations within the framework of objective civilian control. This paper addresses issues regarding (a) how the dual-function concept and internal reform within the military; (b) regulatory issues that govern military operations other than war; (c) the ideal model of civil-military relations in Indonesia to ensure democratic life and an overview of the siyāsah sharʻiyyah aspects. Using descriptive qualitative method and conducting discussions with military and human rights experts, this paper demonstrates that military reform in Indonesia after the New Order has not yet been fruitful to accomplish the mission to form professional soldiers. The military is still involved in political and civilian life under the pretext that there is no military assistance law. As a consequence, the ideal model of civilian control that puts the military under the control of civilian authority according to siyāsah sharʻiyyah principle has not been fully successful and effective.

The Fiqh Wasaṭiyyah Approach Towards the Involvement of Malaysian Women in Religious Extremism Phenomenon

The trend of women’s active participation in religious extremism phenomenon has become a serious global threat, including for Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. This paper aims to offer a fiqh approach in the form of wasaṭiyyah in order to reinforce counter-laws of religious extremism, especially on the issue of Malaysian women’s involvement in the Daesh extremist group (al-Dawlah al-Islāmiyyah fī al-ʻIrāq wa al-Shām). Through library and field research, this paper concludes that an approach of fiqh wasaṭiyyah, which is based on the reality of law and the reality of religious extremism, can be developed. This research is hoped to assist various parties, especially the Malaysian government, to improve existing deradicalization process and strengthen the efforts to restraint religious extremism in the grassroots.

Khamr Criminal Act and Its Resolution in Subulussalam City, Aceh

The enactment of khamr qanun in Aceh shows Aceh government’s commitment in prohibiting and eradicating khamr and similar drinks. However, the enforcement of the qanun has not been effective, especially in the City of Subulussalam as evidenced in several violations of the qanun. This paper aims to discuss what and how the khamr qanun in Subulussalam, its effectiveness, obstacles faced by the Subulussalam city government in enforcing the qanun, and solutions offered by the city government. After examining relevant literature and conducting observations, discussions, and interviews with Subulussalam City leaders, this paper concludes that the ineffectiveness of the khamr qanun enforcement is due to some constraints, such as lenient punishment, limited human resources, weak socialization of Islamic law and community education.