Sunglasses Research Articles

How does religion influence an emerging nationalism? Evidence from the Kurdish context in Turkey

AbstractBased on qualitative interviews with 66 Sunni Muslim Kurdish elites, this study reveals that Kurdish Islamic circles in Turkey are not monolithic, homogeneous or fixed. Some willingly or unwillingly maintain their Islamic identity as a primary reference point for self‐consciousness, motivation for collective action and political aspirations, often at the expense of ethnopolitical mobilization. Others combine Kurdish national claims with an Islamic orientation, pursuing a path of coexistence between the secular and the religious in the expedition towards nationhood. In the competitive interplay between religion and nationalism, Islam acts as a restraining force on the rise of national sentiment among Muslim Kurds. In the symbiotic interplay, Islam no longer serves as an obstacle to delay Kurdish mobilization but rather accommodates secular norms and values in favour of welcoming national zeals.

Transgender Legal Recognition in North Africa: Between the Hammer of Sharia and the Anvil of the Judiciary

Abstract The right to legal gender recognition is integral to transgender rights and is the final step for many transgender people to realise their true gender identity. However, In North Africa, this right is primarily restricted due to the lack of a legislative framework that governs the issue. This legislative vacuum means two things: firstly, principles of Sharīʿah are the de-facto law regulating the matter, and secondly, Courts will have the jurisdiction over reviewing legal gender recognition applications. Sunni Islamic scholars did engage on transgender issues starting in the 1980s when Egypt’s Al-Azhar and Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Fiqh Council issued prominent fatwas, providing a very unfavourable interpretation of transgender people. The fatwas viewed transgender people as mentally ill who should not be allowed access to gender-affirming healthcare and should be provided with mental treatment to ‘return to their true sex’ and fit within the binary. While the fatwas only discussed banning access to gender-affirming healthcare, North African Courts adapted this ban to mean a ban on legal gender recognition for transgender people. Thus, judicial opinions in the region developed to deny legal gender recognition on the grounds of Sharīʿah. However, a 2018 Tunisian Court became an anomaly when it reinterpreted Sharīʿah to allow a transman legal gender recognition in a landmark decision. The impact of this judgment remains limited, as so far, Courts still maintain their ban on legal gender recognition. The paper is conducting the primary scholarly effort to establish a legal theory on legal gender recognition for transgender people in North Africa by investigating the issue by analysing case law from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Sunni Fatwas from Al-Azhar and Islāmic Fiqh Council to theorise the region’s legal and religious discourse on legal gender recognition for transgender people.

A Historian’s View of the Qurʾān

Abstract The Qurʾān, as a sacred text, poses distinctive challenges for the historian. The talk will begin by addressing briefly some of these challenges, in particular the limits of what the historian can say about sacred texts like the Qurʾān. The bulk of the talk will then discuss the challenges historians face in understanding the text’s transmission, as revealed both by Muslim tradition and from the evidence of the material record, and what implications the historian might draw from the Qurʾān’s content.

Enhancing Islamic Moderation in Pesantren: The Role of Kiai Exemplary, Curriculum, and Santri Activities

This research aims to examine the strengthening of Islamic moderation through the exemplary role of Kiai, the educational curriculum, and the daily activities of Santri. Through a qualitative approach, the research was conducted on three Pesantren in Bandar Lampung. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The analysis follows the procedure of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that Kiai as a role model in strengthening Islamic moderation through various approaches, namely emphasizing Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamâ'ah and participatory leadership; integrating spiritual practices with social engagement; and focusing on a balanced interpretation of the Qur'an by emphasizing justice, knowledge, and discipline. Assalafi al-'Aafiyah's curriculum prioritizes traditional methodology and respects multiple interpretations; Al-Hikmah combines traditional with modern teachings; and Darul Hidayah emphasizes character development and ethics in addition to memorizing the Qur'an. Santri's daily routines reflect different approaches, with Assalafi al-'Aafiyah focusing on a structured schedule of activities and community service, Al-Hikmah integrating formal education with community rituals, and Darul Hidayah prioritizing ethical development. This research calls on policy makers to increase support for strengthening Islamic moderation in pesantren.

The Dynamics of Islam in Kazakhstan from an Educational Perspective

This article provides a thorough examination of the past evolution and present conditions of Islamic education in Kazakhstan. It commences with an examination of the influence of the Hanafi school within Sunni Islam and traces the evolution of the Islamic educational system throughout various historical periods until the present day. Particular focus is given to blending Islamic teachings with contemporary educational structures. The researchers heuristically analyzed the current state of the field, identified the main problems, and suggested prospects for Islamic education for further development. In this study, the PRISMA methodology is adopted to systematize the literature, enabling a detailed examination of the characteristics and nuances of Islamic education within the historical and cultural traditions of Kazakhstan. The current study utilizes the historical method, which uses primary and secondary data sources. This method prioritizes historical analysis as a means to assess past occurrences. This paper examines the axiological importance of madrasas and Islamic universities, as well as the pedagogical approaches employed in these educational establishments. We have presented infographics that contribute to a detailed understanding of the field. From the heuristic analyses, we formulated practical recommendations for the government designed to enhance the quality and effectiveness of Islamic education. This paper highlights the importance of Islamic education as an important component of the cultural and scientific space of Kazakhstan, offering strategies for its sustainable development in the context of globalization and the transformation of educational systems. The results of this work are of significant interest to academics, madrasas, colleges, and higher education institutions specializing in Islamic education.

The Ideological Factor Strengthens Political Identity for Increasing Vote in General Elections in Indonesia

Identity politics is a threat to democracy in many countries, including Indonesia. At the same time, in Indonesia, the number of Muslim voters reached 80%. Muslim voters are the majority group and are vulnerable to identity politics, given their character that is easily influenced to follow certain behaviors. This research has an urgency to reveal how big the threat of identity politics is to Muslim voters, especially in Malang Regency, East Java. The choice of Malang Regency, East Java, as the object of the research is attributed to the fact that the majority of the population in that location are traditional Muslims, and Muslim educational institutions, such as Islamic boarding schools and Muslim schools, are the most numerous in East Java. This research uses a qualitative analytical approach to reveal the phenomenon of identity politics among Muslim voters carried out by political parties. The findings of this research revealed that identity politics is strengthening among Muslim voters, driven by three factors: political elites, mass media, and institutions. This is relevant to the theory put forward by Theresia Kuhn. However, there are other factors that strengthen identity politics that are not put forward by Kuhn, namely, ideological factors. The ideology of the party is the same as the ideology of the majority of voters. This is a novelty in this study, which differs from Kuhn’s research and other studies. Keywords: Muslim voters, identity politics in Indonesia, political parties

Transformation of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Values: Between Spiritual Sustainability and the Risk of Commodification

This research aims to look for differences and gaps to find research gaps with previous research. To achieve this goal, the researcher asked the following research questions: first, competition for truth claims and the spread of Ahlusunah wal Jamaah, NU elites and Salafi elites to compete for influence in their preaching to Pasuruan society; secondly, Santri and the community became a source of struggle for influence for the commodification of NU elites. and Salafi elites in the political, economic and educational areas. Questions in the research will be asked of those who really understand and comprehend the themes raised in this research. This type of research uses qualitative research, with Alfred Schutz's phenomenological approach. The data used is primary data or main data. The data obtained comes from interviews with NU and Salafi elites, as well as city residents, as well as information taken from NU and Salafi books. Plus, field notes resulting from the observation process. The main data source is individual interview transcripts with NU and Salafi elites. The results of the research show that the form of commodification of Ahlusunah wal Jamaah Salafi ideology focuses on da'wah, namely returning Islam to the Koran and Hadith and an Islam that is free from heresy, superstition and superstition. The Salafi preaching model is not oriented towards practical politics; it collaborates with the Pasuruan city government.

Rising authoritarianism and changing education policies of 21st century Turkey

This paper conceptualises rising authoritarianism in Turkey under the conservative ruling party, AKP, and its Sunni-Islamist educational policies. It scrutinises the Islamisation of early childhood and primary-secondary school education during the recent authoritarian turn. The discourse of ‘raising a religious generation’ entails reframing the Turkish secular education system into a Sunni Islam model. The article first situates early childhood, primary, and secondary school policies and discusses five major policy alterations during the contemporary authoritarianism of the AKP: restructured Preacher’s Schools (Imam-Hatip Schools), the 4+4+4 system, cooperation with Islamic sects, implementation of values education, and public Islamic kindergartens.

Contesting Power as Political Theology: Traditionalist Islamic Preaching and Post-Secularism in the West

Traditionalist Islamic preaching in the West is not limited to the normative aspects of theology, law, and ethics. In addition, it addresses the most pressing social and political issues that Muslims are currently confronting in the West; it also challenges Western modernity in general and secularism in particular. Two critical sermons of secularism delivered by two of the most well-known traditionalist Muslim preachers in their respective countries—Hamza Yusuf in the USA and Hani Ramadan in Switzerland—are analyzed in this study. First, I shall examine the arguments put up by these preachers against secularism and in support of post-secular society. Next, I will study the rhetorical strategies used in these two sermons. Finally, I will discuss the relevance of these two sermons to the contemporary debates in the West on contesting secularism and multiple secularisms. It is argued here that traditionalist Muslim preachers see secularism as an encroaching power that poses a danger to the figures of authority and norms that control gender, knowledge, and education within Muslim communities and societies.

The Rejection of Prophetic Traditions: Analyzing the Inkar Sunnah Movement in West Sumatra, Indonesia

This article explores the ideological stance of the Inkar Sunnah movement, which rejects the prophetic traditions (Sunnah) as a source of Islamic law, focusing on its development in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Historically, this movement can be traced back to political and sectarian conflicts in early Islamic history, such as those involving the Khawarij, Shia, and Mu'tazilah sects. Over time, skepticism towards hadith, fueled by fabricated traditions and modern Orientalist critiques, gained traction. Prominent figures like Dalimi Lubis and Nazwar Syamsu have continued to propagate Inkar Sunnah beliefs in modern Indonesia, advocating that the Qur’an alone suffices for Islamic jurisprudence. This research adopts a qualitative library approach, analyzing primary texts by these figures and secondary sources on hadith scholarship. The study critically examines their arguments and the socio-political context that allowed their ideas to proliferate, as well as strategies to counter this ideological challenge within Indonesian Islamic discourse. The findings reveal a persistent tension between traditional Sunni orthodoxy and reformist interpretations that seek to minimize or outright reject the role of the Sunnah, posing significant implications for Islamic legal and theological frameworks.

The Rise of Informal Unions in the MENASA Region

Abstract This article examines the nature of informal marriages using data from a 2018 survey of over ten thousand Facebook users in seven Muslim-majority countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Tunisia, and Turkey. The article explores current attitudes toward informal marriages as well as the nature of such unions among the predominantly Sunni and Shiʿi Muslim social-media users who took the survey. First, the article finds that informal marriages have diffused across the Sunni Muslim world. These marriages are not necessarily loveless unions between women of modest means looking for financial support and men seeking legitimate sexual partners. In fact, the survey suggests that women in such unions are less likely to be financially dependent on their partners. Informally married spouses are as likely to say that they love their partners as those who are formally wed. However, this love, whether in formal or informal marriages, does not necessarily entail a deep bond between partners who share their most intimate feelings. Marriage—whether formal or informal—is perceived as fragile, not a lifelong commitment. The rates of divorce in the countries surveyed are approaching those in the West. These informal marriages might therefore be thought of as a new form of cohabitation, a practice increasing throughout the world.

Comparative Study of Circumcision

Background: Male circumcision is a significant practice in Muslim tradition and is widely performed for religious reasons, especially in Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh. Objective: This study aims to compare different surgical techniques of male circumcision in children and highlight the complications arising from procedures performed by non-qualified practitioners Quack (Hazam) in Bangladesh. Method: A comparative study was conducted at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal, from December 2022 to February 2023. Two hundred male children were included, with 100 circumcised by pediatric surgeons using guillotine and dorsal slit techniques, and 100 presented with complications from circumcision performed by non-qualified quacks. Results: Out of 200 children, 50% underwent circumcision by quacks using the guillotine method, resulting in complications such as infection (10%), bleeding (4%), glans injury (1%), urethrocutaneous fistula (1%), and incomplete circumcision (4%). Among the 100 children circumcised by pediatric surgeons, complications were minimal, with 2% minor infections, 2% minor bleeding, 1% respiratory distress, and 1% vomiting. The guillotine and dorsal slit techniques performed in the hospital setting demonstrated significantly lower complication rates compared to procedures conducted by quacks. Conclusion: Circumcision performed by trained medical professionals under aseptic conditions is safe and associated with fewer complications. Public awareness and discouragement of procedures by quacks are essential to prevent circumcision mishaps.

Interfaith Harmony in Faisalabad during Muharram-ul-Haram

This is the survey-based study examines interfaith harmony between Christians and Muslims in Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the significant Islamic Festival of Muharram ul Haram. The results were prepared in SPSS after conduct of survey and the respondents were selected through snow ball sampling, reveal a substantial level of interaction and solidarity between the two communities, with many Christians participating in Muslim traditions, ceremonies, and acts of kindness. The findings indicate mutual respect, inclusivity, emotional support, and positive relationships between Christians and Muslims. While there is room for improvement, the study suggests a heartening level of interfaith harmony in Faisalabad, providing a strong foundation for further growth and development. The research highlights the importance of promoting understanding, respect, and empathy to build a more inclusive and peaceful environment in diverse societies.

Synthetic Human Embryos, Embryo Models and Embryo-like Structures in Islam

ABSTRACT A major breakthrough in developmental biology is the ex vivo generation of synthetic human embryos from stem cells. A comprehensive, in-depth bioethical analysis from a Sunni Islamic perspective reveals that the reproductive applications of synthetic human embryos contravene Islamic precepts of preserving lineage integrity (Hifz al-Nasl) due to disruption and confusion of kinship and familial relationships, similar to human cloning with somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, their non-reproductive applications in generating replacement tissues/organs, serving as in vitro experimental models of human development and disease, and testing platforms for evaluating pharmaceuticals and biomedical devices appear to align with Islamic principles.

Persentuhan Kiai Lokal Dalam Kontestasi Politik Era Reformasi Di Madura: Tinjauan Sejarah

This study explores the role of local Kiai of Madura in the politics of the reform era, examining their contribution to practical political contestation and its impact on the Muslim-majority Madura community. Kiai, who was respected and had great influence, exercised the role of religious figure and public official. The local Kiai here refers to Kiai who are directly involved in the world of practical politics. The purpose of this study is to analyze the contribution of Kiai in Madura politics and its impact on the policy and application of the teachings of Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaah. This research is a literature review using the historical method with four steps. First heuristic (collection of sources), primary and secondary sources used in the form of books, scientific articles, proceedings, the results of the data on votes obtained from the KPU and the writings that are relevant to this research obtained from the National Library of Indonesia, UIN Jakarta Library, Google Scholar, Sinta and observations in the field. Second, source criticism. Third, interpretation and finally historiography. As an analytical knife, the research uses the hegemonic theory of Gramsci. The findings show that Kiai plays an important role in legal and policy politics, fighting for people's rights and grounding religious teachings. This research provides insight into the integration of religious teachings with public interest in the context of reform.

The Rise of Tahfiz Schools in Contemporary Indonesia

This article discusses the rise of tahfiz schools in contemporary Indonesia which were pioneered by the Salafis and PKS-affiliated groups (PAGs). While tahfiz has been preserved for centuries among traditionalist Muslims, the tahfiz schools the Salafis and the PAGS promoted were integrated into school systems that also offer sciences. As a result, tahfiz schools are popular among urban Muslims who expect their children to be able to read the Holy Quran better while at the same time equipping them with sciences. This allows them to enroll at public universities. Even though tahfiz schools are relatively expensive, they never lacked students. Small, middle-size, and large tahfiz schools have been established across the country and exclusive tahfiz schools are equipped with libraries, gyms, computer labs, laundry facilities, cafés, and theatres. These facts have changed the long-established image of madrasa and Islamic schools which were seen as rural and poorly organized. The commodification of Islam is eventually inevitable and tahfiz schools have become an integral part of this process. They have become an important political issue since the 2010s.

KALOM FALSAFASIDA ALLOH SIFATLARINING RATSIONAL TAHLILI

In this article, the emergence of the knowledge of the word, the formation of its discussion topics, and the debates between prominent religious sects of that time: Ahl al-Sunna wal Jama’a, Mu’tazilites, Murji’is, Khawarij and Shi’ites on the issues of the word are philosophically analyzed.

Kajian Dinamika Universitas Al-Azhar dan Reformasi Pendidikan di Mesir serta Pengaruhnya terhadap Dunia Islam

Al-Azhar University is evidence of the oldest Islamic education in the world, which was founded during the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt and functions as a center for Islamic studies and a center for the spread of Isma'ili Shiite teachings. As time went by and changes in Islamic governments, the al-Azhar mosque turned into a madrasa to spread Sunni Islam and has now become a university that has produced many ulama figures who have given birth to new views and ideas for reform, thus influencing the development of education and the Islamic world throughout the world. This research aims to determine the dynamics of universities and educational reform in Egypt which have an impact on Muslims globally, including Indonesia. This research uses library research with references from books, articles and historical analysis of Al-Azhar. The results of this research are knowledge of al-Azhar from the Fatimid dynasty to the present, this motivates Muslims to continue studying and making the mosque prosperous and advancing Islamic education.

Sufi Commentaries on a Quranic Peace Verse

Abstract Qur’ān 41:33–35 instructs that believers should return the greater or greatest good for acts of evil, and the commentators recognize that it is a counsel to nonviolence on the part of individuals. It is one of a series of peace verses in the Muslim scripture. The place of these ethical commandments in Muslim traditions has been little studied in the Western academy. This article focuses on prominent thinkers of Nishapur and Shiraz who laid the foundations for classical Sufism. The indigenous Muslim roots of Sufism and its tie to formal Islamic texts are increasingly underlined by scholars. All three of the figures on which we concentrate authored substantial commentaries on the Qur’ān, and all three found this passage important for their ethical frameworks. For medieval Sufi thinkers Qur’ān 41:33–35 opened up the possibility of peace and reconciliation after conflict in society, whether within Sufi study circles or in wider urban environments, including both elite strata and that of urban artisans and youth.

“I was told that people might hurt me”: Experiences of religious discrimination among Jewish, Christian, and Alevi youth in Turkey

AbstractThis study investigates the experiences of young members of Alevi, Christian, and Jewish religious minorities in Turkey, a secular country with a Sunni Muslim majority. Data was collected through semi structured interviews with 29 participants aged from 17 to 24. A thematic analysis was employed to explore patterns of discrimination and exclusion in their everyday lives. The experiences of Jewish and Christian participants are characterized by ostracism, increased vulnerability to injury, and passing as a member of the majority. Alevi participants report being subjected to intense pressure to become assimilated into majority Sunni practices, as well as frequent exposure to harshly unfavourable stereotypes, and ongoing rejection of Alevi theology as a ‘true’ belief system. The discussion centres on the issue of misrecognition and, particularly, denial of identity, contextualizes the findings into broader dynamics of nation‐state politics, and focuses attention on the agency of minorities and majorities. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research have also been presented. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.