Title: ISLAM AND MODERNITY An Islamic Reform Movement In Indonesia
Abstract: All praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for the
blessings of His grace, knowledge, guidance,
and inayah in such a way that the author could
finish writing a book entitled “ISLAM AND MODERNITY”, thus
this Islamic reform movement in Indonesia can be presented to the
readers. Salawat and prayers may everlastingly be upon our Great
Great Prophet Muhammad SAW and his family and friends and
followers who have provided a path of enlightenment for mankind
through sincerely fighting for religion, to devote themselves to
Allah SWT.
This book tries to explore further on how Islam and
Modernity, their journey in history. The presence of Islam in the
6th century AD in the Arabian Peninsula brought great and
revolutionary changes to the surrounding Arabs. These changes
can be seen from the terms embedded in the Jahiliyah period in the
pre-Islamic period, and the period of enlightenment in the postarrival
period of Islam. Starting from a period marked by a belief
revolution that offered new values, the Quraish Arab community
succeeded in transforming itself into a respectable nation. In this
context, Islam can be said to carry a reforming mission that offers a
new belief system, a new value order, and a new social system.
During its development in the 19th century AD, Islamic reform
movements emerged in various parts of the Islamic world such as:
in Egypt, India-Pakistan, and Turkey. In Indonesia, the new reform
movement emerged in the 20th century AD which was
spearheaded by Sarikat Islam (Islamic Union or SI), in which at the
same time, it was also a national movement that fought against
colonialism. Later, Boedi Utomo and Muhamamadiyah which were
organizations engaged in education, social affairs, and religious
understanding, joined the movement.
In general, Indonesian Muslims are followers of As’ariyah,
who tend to Jabariyah, or are referred to as “Asy’ariyah-Jabbariyah”.
Referring to this term, humans are described as “puppets” who do
not have the power to desire or act, while the puppet master is the
“puppeteer”. On the other hand, the thinking of Muslims is
confined by established dogmas resulting there is no room for
Muslims to think critically or carry out intellectual ijtihad. Several
factors and conditions led to the claim that the doors
to ijtihad were already closed in the 10th century AD. The
influences have also been felt throughout the Islamic world until
now. As a result, stagnant thinking finds its momentum and keeps
growing on Muslims who thought that they are no longer able to
think critically, who view that the doors to ijtihad are already
closed. Moreover, the confining theological beliefs shackle the
thinking of ummah and the work ethic of Muslims.
The movement and reform of Islamic thought in Indonesia
can generally be categorized into four periods, namely: the Pre-
Independence (1905-1945), the Old Order (1945-1967), the New
Order (1967-1999), and the Reform Era (1999 to present). This
categorization indicates that the reform movement of Islam educational and health institutions as well as da’wah. The
movement of these two organizations was beyond the religious
field. They engaged in the social sector which had not been done
by the Muslim community in general at that time.
Hopefully, this book can contribute to an overview of the
Islamic reform movement in Indonesia. Furthermore, the author
would like to thank all those who have helped and supported the
completion of this book, and more specifically to the publisher
who has helped publish this book. Finally, the author leaves all
endings to Allah SWT as the life determinant of His servants.
Expectantly, the book can be useful and becomes our good deeds
and worship. Amen.
thought cannot be separated from the socio-political situation in
which the movement was born and developed. Sociologically, a
born and developed reform movement always had a socio-political
background as a response to socio-political situations, including
religious understanding which correlates with political life at that
time.
In the Pre-independence period, the Islamic reform was
pioneered by Sarekat Dagang Islam (Islamic Commercial Union) in
1905, which later changed its name to Islamic Union in 1911, and
Muhammadiyah which was founded in 1912. Islamic Union (SI)
operated in the economic and political fields, while Muhamadiyah
was more focused on taking care of socio-religious issues, such as
Publication Year: 2020
Publication Date: 2020-01-01
Language: en
Type: book
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Cited By Count: 2
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