Burhani, Ahmad Najib. 2018. "Plural Islam and Contestation of Religious Authority in Indonesia". in Islam in Southeast Asia: Negotiating Modernity, eds. Terence Chong & Norshahril Saat. Singapore: ISEAS. pp. 140-163.
Abstract
Do the rallies of Aksi Bela Islam (Defending Islam Action) reveal a new map of religious outlook in Indonesia? Is it indicating the rise of conservatism and a threat to “moderate Islam”? Is it still valid and relevant to see the NU and Muhammadiyah as two main representations of Indonesian Islam? This paper intends to discuss these three questions by focusing on the dynamics of ulama and Muslim organizations, especially the NU and Muhammadiyah, after the Aksi Bela Islam. This paper, firstly, shows that the fragmentation of religious authority in Indonesian Islam has begun to take place even before the rallies. However, the change became clearer and more obvious after the rallies. Although still having significant roles, the NU and Muhammadiyah are no longer the sole authority holders in religious affairs in Indonesia. Secondly, the success of the rallies was primarily based on its ability to transform conservatism into pop-culture and the manipulation of fear felt by some Muslims from the threats of different groups.
Keywords: Aksi Bela Islam, conservatism, religious authority, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Rizieq Syihab, Muhammadiyah, fear, marginalization.
Abstract
Do the rallies of Aksi Bela Islam (Defending Islam Action) reveal a new map of religious outlook in Indonesia? Is it indicating the rise of conservatism and a threat to “moderate Islam”? Is it still valid and relevant to see the NU and Muhammadiyah as two main representations of Indonesian Islam? This paper intends to discuss these three questions by focusing on the dynamics of ulama and Muslim organizations, especially the NU and Muhammadiyah, after the Aksi Bela Islam. This paper, firstly, shows that the fragmentation of religious authority in Indonesian Islam has begun to take place even before the rallies. However, the change became clearer and more obvious after the rallies. Although still having significant roles, the NU and Muhammadiyah are no longer the sole authority holders in religious affairs in Indonesia. Secondly, the success of the rallies was primarily based on its ability to transform conservatism into pop-culture and the manipulation of fear felt by some Muslims from the threats of different groups.
Keywords: Aksi Bela Islam, conservatism, religious authority, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Rizieq Syihab, Muhammadiyah, fear, marginalization.
