Contemporary Islam Research Articles

Educational Construction in Ibn Khaldun's Philosophy: Literary Analysis and Contribution to Contemporary Islamic Education

This article aims to analyze the construction of education in Ibn Khaldun's philosophy and explore its contribution to contemporary Islamic education through a literature-based approach. Using library research methods, this study examines Ibn Khaldun's major work, Muqaddimah, along with various secondary literatures that discuss his philosophical views on education. The findings reveal that Ibn Khaldun views education as a gradual social process, emphasizing practical and moral learning, and the importance of critical, non-dogmatic education. This concept is relevant to the challenges of modern Islamic education, particularly in efforts to integrate intellectual and ethical education to build a generation that contributes to the advancement of civilization.

Iṣlāḥ of al-Ghazālī’s Ideas and Movements and their Relevance to Contemporary Islamic Preaching

This study aims to examine the thoughts, movements of iṣlāḥ (reform) and tajdīd (renewal) of Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 1111) and their relevance to the contemporary da‘wah. Based on a descriptively qualitative method and socio-historical approaches, this study shows that Al-Ghazālī prioritized self-reform before societal engagement. Al-Ghazālī emphasized Muslims’ mission to spread Islam and reform society. He identified societal issues, attributing the state of society to the knowledge and credibility of Islamic scholars, and advocated for nurturing new scholars, reforming education, reviving moral values, and promoting social justice. Furthermore, his ideas influenced the emergence of leaders like Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Ayyūbī through educational reforms. In the contemporary context, al-Ghazālī’s thought and movement provide an understanding that the current problems of Muslims need to be resolved from a fundamental problem in the form of “moral reform”. The roles of ‘ulamā’ (scholars) and umarā’ (leaders) are two essential pillars of the ummah (community), and these two aspects must receive necessary attention in Islamic da‘wah.

Muhammad Quthub's Thought and Its Relevance to Contemporary Islamic Education

The abstract should be clear, concise, and descriptive. This Muhammad Quthub is an educational figure in the Islamic world, through his ideas and views he has made a major contribution to the science of Islamic education. He said that education is an effort to make a complete human being, namely education that is able to combine mind and heart, spiritual and physical. This article then wants to explain in more depth the views of Muhammad Qutub and their relevance to contemporary Islamic education today. It will be interesting to see whether Islamic education today is in line with his thoughts or whether it really needs to be evaluated. Furthermore, this research uses a qualitative type of library research, namely by taking sources from published books and journals. The results of this research show that Islamic education is currently relevant to Muhammad Quthub's views, including the meaning of education, educational goals, educators and educational curriculum [Muhammad Quthub merupakan tokoh pendidikan dunia Islam, lewat gagasan dan pandangannya memberikan kontribsi besar dalam keilmuan pendidikan Islam, ia mengatakan bahwa pendidikan adalah upaya untuk menjadikan manusia seutuhnya, yaitu pendidikan yang mampu memadukan antara akal dan hati, rohani dan jasmani. Tulisan ini kemudian ingin menjelaskan lebih dalam tentang pandangan-pandangan Muhammad Qutub dan relevansinya terhadap pendidikan Islam Kontemporer saat ini, akan menjadi menarik ketika apakah pendidikan Islam dewasa ini sejalan dengan pemikirannya atau memang perlu dievaluasi. Selanjutnya, penelitian ini menggunakan jenis kualitatif yang bersifat kepustakaan (library research) yaitu dengan mengambil sumber-sumber buku maupun jurnal yang sudah terbit. Analisis Data yang digunakan adalah adalah analisis isi (content analysis) yaitu penelitian yang bersifat pembahasan mendalam terhadap isi suatu informasi tertulis. Adapun hasil penelitian ini bahwa pendidikan Islam sekarang ini relavan dengan pandangan Muhammad Quthub diantaranya makna Pendidikan, tujuan pendidikan, Pendidik, dan Kuikulum Pendidikan]

Abdelwahab Meddeb and Anour Majid: Revisiting The Muslim Heritage or Celebrating the Diversity of Islamic Tradition

This paper is a celebration of the diversity of Muslim thought and tradition, an invitation to revisit the Islamic legacy and rethink mainstream Muslim scholarship in the light of the plurality , multivoicedness and richness of the Muslim faith. It is incidentally a questioning of the inability of contemporary Islam to establish interfaith dialogue with kin monotheist religions, as well as a deep interrogation of our understanding of the creed and our praxis as believers in the third millenium, compelled as we stand, to adhere to the global spirit and meet the high stakes of modernity. This conandrum interpellates the Muslim community to reconsider the rigidity nay sterility of today’s Islam, championned by the growingly powerful fundamentalist movements thriving in’ Dar Al Islam’. Islam never had a Dante who summoned the intellectual audacity to make his writing address political events as they appeared in the reality of history. I dream of this genius that Islam did not create : he would have constituted the opposite of Ibn Taymiyya. ( Meddeb, 95)

No Compulsion in Religion: Jawdat Saʿīd (d. 2022) and the Jihād of the Prophets

Abstract Freedom of belief and of conscience is well attested in the Qurʾan by the many verses that exhort to tolerance towards “others”, among which Q. 2:256: ‘There is no compulsion in religion’. In contemporary Islam, some intellectuals have endeavoured to reaffirm this principle as an essential goal: among them, the Sunni Syrian thinker Jawdat Saʿīd (d. 2022). In his works, Q. 2:256 is at the core of an anthropocentric and social hermeneutics which emphasises the centrality of non-compulsion, considered as the true jihad that Muslims should undertake. His position is in open polemic with a tendency within Islamic societies not to recognise the legitimacy of those opinions – religious or political – that deviate from the “official” discourse on the one hand, and to combat this discourse with violence on the other. This entails a renegotiation of other key doctrinal concepts, the case of nasḫ, “abrogation”, being a key example.

Gilles Kepel: Impish Like Voltaire

ABSTRACT Highlighting the two most recent books of French political scientist and philologist Gilles Kepel, this article follows the author’s four-decades-long intellectual journey, from his days as a doctoral student excavating Egypt’s Muslim Brothers in the late 1970s, to his early retirement from Paris’s École Normale Supérieure as a seasoned “elder statesman” of Arab and Islamic Studies in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. A gifted Arabist and prolific polyglot, Kepel is a rarity among public intellectuals, able to intelligibly articulate the complexities of our times’ Islam and Islamism with both Voltairean witty erudition,1 and epistemic modesty. As with the bulk of Kepel’s work, the books under consideration in this article probe contemporary Islam, and the challenges it poses to modern Western and Middle Eastern societies, with deliberation and discernment, bringing to bear a world of historical, theological, and philological knowledge, away from our times internet clicks, soundbites, and memes.

Reflections on the Sources of the Contemporary Islamic Revival

ABSTRACT The groups and movements that comprise the Islamic revival of the past half century share an ideology of return to the origins of the faith and strictly following the scriptures. They are habitually divided into Islamist activists, who seek involvement in the political arena; Salafi purists, who censure “deviations” from “true” Islam; and Traditionalist ʽulama, who uphold the living legal, theological, and Sufi tradition. This article offers some reflections on the intricate connections and conflicts among these three large religious trends by reviewing three recently published studies that touch upon the ideational sources on which they draw. It shows the ambiguous stand of Sunni Islamic Modernists, the precursors of Islamism, toward old and new Muslim sects; the lingering exclusivism and militancy of Wahhabis, who form a subset of Salafism, in al-Qaʽida and ISIS; and the versatility of Traditionalists in accommodating to modernity.

Study of Criminal Hadiths and Qishash: Perspectives on Contemporary Islamic Legal Thought

Study of Criminal Hadiths and Qishash: Perspectives on Contemporary Islamic Legal Thought

Ruang Lingkup PAI Kontemporer bagi Pembelajaran Mahasiswa PPG

Contemporary Islamic Education (PAI) plays a pivotal role in shaping the character, morality, and spirituality of individuals, particularly within the learning context for students of the Professional Teacher Education Program (PPG). In the contemporary era marked by globalization dynamics, technological advancements, and cultural pluralism, it is crucial for PPG students to comprehend and apply Islamic concepts within the evolving zeitgeist. The scope of contemporary PAI for PPG students encompasses various aspects, ranging from understanding the Quran and Hadith in modern life contexts to the utilization of technology in religious education. Additionally, topics such as Islamic ethics, character education, and Islamic-based classroom management are pivotal focuses in nurturing quality teaching professionalism. This abstract aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the contemporary PAI scope for PPG students and the significance of integrating Islamic values with the challenges and opportunities posed in modern education. Through a holistic and innovative approach, it is envisaged that PPG students can become agents of change, capable of inspiring future generations with relevant and inclusive Islamic values.

Theistic Democracy Studies Hadith Analysis Deliberations in Contemporary Islamic Political Ethics

Islam is a religion that exists as a religion today, where many universal questions are discussed, one of the main topics of today's big questions is democracy in politics. Although Islam talks about democracy, ironically, Islam itself does not specifically mention the ideal form of a political system. In this context, the discussion about the ideal political formula becomes clearly important among Muslims in modern times, especially against the backdrop of Western civilization which can be said to have destroyed Muslims with its culture. In the midst of this chaotic situation, contemporary Muslim intellectuals present as Muslim thinkers who seek to present the "ideal" concept of modern Islamic politics. In this study, the author tries to emphasize that the substantive principles of Islam must be applied in the country's political system, in this case theistic democracy exists as a legacy from the problematic modern state. Democracy, or deliberation in Islamic nomenclature, is one of the ethical values ​​of constitutional politics in current political life.

The Concept of Islamic Education by Abuddin Nata: Relevance and Application in Contemporary Islamic Education

This research delves into the comprehensive and adaptable concept of Islamic education as articulated by Abuddin Nata. The study aims to explore Abuddin Nata’s biography, his perspectives on Islamic education, and their relevance to contemporary Islamic educational practices. Employing a qualitative approach, specifically library research, this study draws from primary sources—books authored by Abuddin Nata—and secondary sources, including relevant books and journals. The analysis method employed is descriptive-analytical. The findings reveal that Abuddin Nata’s proposed Islamic education aligns with perennialist principles, emphasizing universality, balance, clarity, realism, and dynamism. These principles ensure that Islamic education remains steadfast in its core values, objectives, and distinctive features, despite societal changes. Abuddin Nata’s concept underscores a holistic and comprehensive approach grounded in divine values, making it relevant across different epochs. This study also highlights the alignment of Abuddin Nata's principles with modern educational frameworks, such as character education and competency-based curricula, showcasing their continued relevance.

Contemporary Islamic Thought in Indonesia 2010-2023: Contested Public Sphere

Contemporary Islamic Thought in Indonesia 2010-2023: Contested Public Sphere

Analysis of Contemporary Islamic School System in the Light of Quran and Sunnah

The study aimed to investigate the curricula of the contemporary Islamic school system in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. The research was designed in a qualitative paradigm so that an in-depth vision of the study concepts can be obtained. This was a triangulation study which included document analysis, observations, and interviews. A comprehensive exploration of the integration of religious and secular knowledge in Islamic education. The primary focus of the study was on character development and ethicaleducation. After an in-depth analysis of the qualitative data, key themes and subthemes have emerged. It was recommended that a balanced approach to the integration of Islamic and secular knowledge should be adopted in Islamic schooling. Further, a need for continuous reflective practices is also required in the process.

Hybrid Movements, Digital Technology, and the Rise and Fall of Far-Right Islamist Protest Mobilization in Indonesia

What explains the rise and fall of far-right Islamist protest mobilization in contemporary Indonesia? The 2016-2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election witnessed significant growth in support for and mobilization of the far-right. While far-right Islamist mobilization has occurred regularly since the fall of the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998, its longevity and impact on electoral politics has historically been limited. I maintain that the 2016 far-right Islamist protest mobilization was enabled and disabled by the dynamic relationship between hybrid media and hybrid movement strategies. Hybrid thinking serves as a platform for understanding the increasingly diverse and complex nature of Islamist mobilization, generating new ways of exploring some of the classic concerns of social movement studies and technology. Moreover, previous research on the far-right primarily focuses on electoral and party politics, while studies on social movements and technologies often fall into technological determinism, providing only a limited understanding of one of the most pressing issues of our time. This study proposes an innovative analytic strategy to understand the complexity of contemporary Islamist protest mobilization, creating a hybrid movement that effectively spans different movements, constituencies, and institutions, all coexisting within a hybrid media environment that deftly merges elements of old and newer media logics to influence participation, collaboration, and coordination in the spheres of social movements and protest politics.

The importance of a semantic approach in understanding the texts of the Holy Quran and Sunnah

The relevance of the study is determined by contemporary ideas of modernisation and radicalisation of Islam, the formation of which is directly linked to the problem of interpreting the sacred texts of the Muslim world. Therefore, the aim of the research work is to determine the veracity of applying linguistic and semantic approaches to the interpretation of the Holy Quran in order to find new ways of regulating the socio-cultural space. The research was conducted on the basis of the semantic, cultural, semiotic and formal-logical approaches, using such methods of scientific knowledge as induction, deduction, linguistic analysis, systematisation, comparison, synthesis and generalisation. In the course of the research work, key narratives of contemporary Islam were analysed in terms of their specific understanding of the Holy Quran. The current state of research into the interpretation of the sacred texts of Islam is reviewed. The specifics of understanding the Holy Quran in the context of its metaphorical constructions are explored. The relationship between the linguistic structure of the Arabic language and the interpretations of the texts of the holy injunctions has been established, on the basis of which two ways of investigating the understanding of the Quran have been proposed. A comparative analysis of the research findings with other research findings in the category of modern interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah has been conducted. The trend towards digitalisation of the sacred texts of Islam, as well as the use of artificial intelligence technologies to interpret the ayahs, has been noted. The practical significance of the research work lies in proposing new methodologies for interpreting sacred texts, which can then be qualitatively applied in practice.

Political Loyalty in Contemporary Islamic Ethics: Sunni and Shii Perspectives

Political Loyalty in Contemporary Islamic Ethics: Sunni and Shii Perspectives

Islamism and Globalisation: Unpacking the Dialectics of Ideology and Socio-economic Change in the Middle East

The ascension of Islamism in the Middle East is an articulation of the profound and far-reaching transformations transpiring within the political and cultural spheres. As a construct, Islamism is at the center of the public discourse regarding the interplay between Islam, Muslims and power. Despite disparities among Islamists in their perceptions of extremism, political participation and societal engagement, they hold in common several fundamental ideological tenets. Notwithstanding the enigmatic nature of these tenets, the diversity among Islamists in the extent to which they materialize these principles into action is profound. It is imperative to contextualize Islamism within the historical, social and economic contexts that have exerted an impact on its ideology and practices. In this regard, it is particularly important to situate contemporary Islamism within the context of globalization. The primary objective of this paper is to situate the emergence of Islamism within the framework of political economy and underscore the dialectical relationship between Islamist convictions and socio-economic transformations. The paper argues that by leveraging economic opportunities, Islamism has created alternative methods of existence. Islamism is seen as a confluence of organizations and endeavors that advocate for the diffusion of Islamic principles. Nonetheless, it has identified a battleground in the marketplace, where it can pursue a counter-hegemonic conflict with the dominant narrative of the establishment.

The Presence of the Prophet in Early Modern and Contemporary Islam, edited by Rachida Chih, David Jordan and Stefan Reichmuth

The Presence of the Prophet in Early Modern and Contemporary Islam, edited by Rachida Chih, David Jordan and Stefan Reichmuth

Transformational Leadership of Pesantren as a Role Model for Contemporary Islamic Education Institutions

This study aims to find out about the transformational leadership of Islamic boarding schools as role models in contemporary Islamic educational institutions dan and knowing the characteristics of Islamic boarding school transformational leadership. This research method is library research. Library research is research in which the data or materials needed to complete research come from the library in books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, journals, magazines and so on. The results of this study indicate that the transformational leadership model of pesantren as a role model for contemporary Islamic educational institutions must have four dimensions: charismatic leadership, a leader who can make his followers admire, respect, and trust him. Inspirational motivation leadership, leaders who can articulate clear expectations from all members. Intellectual stimulation leadership is a leader who can develop new ideas from his subordinates. And individualized consideration leadership is a leader who always listens to the aspirations and inputs of others. This research provides practical implications and policy recommendations for Islamic boarding schools and other Islamic educational institutions that wish to adopt transformational leadership strategies. With a better understanding of the role of transformational leadership in Islamic boarding schools, it is hoped that Islamic boarding schools can continue to develop as models of contemporary Islamic education that are relevant and competitive in today's digital era

Contemporary Islamic Politics in Tunisia: The Journey of Islamic Democracy Post-Arab Spring

This study aimed to examine contemporary Islamic politics in Tunisia, specifically the democratic system Post-Arab Spring. The political struggle of Muslim countries triggered the Arab Spring movement, with Tunisia pioneering a Jasmine Revolution from 2010-2011 to obtain global attention. Furthermore, the investigation constitutes a literature review to analyze contemporary Islamic politics in Tunisia, specifically Post-Arab Spring. The influence of Islamic politics is an important issue, specifically in strengthening demands for democracy by analyzing the struggle in Tunisia. Therefore, this study provides the main focus of state democracy, which is a phenomenon of historical studies and political struggles. The analysis process is carried out in four stages, namely source finding, criticism, interpretation, and writing. The results show that there is a harmonious coexistence between Islam and democracy in Tunisia compared to other countries in the Middle East. The principles of democracy are evident in the organization of elections, freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and recognition of gender equality.