Indonesian Journal of Research in Islamic Studies

The Salafiyyah Movement in South-Western Nigeria: Contributions, Challenges, and Contemporary Significance

Ibrahim Suberu — 2026-03-09

Background: The Salafiyyah movement has emerged as a significant Islamic reform orientation in South-Western Nigeria, influencing religious thought, education, and inter-group relations. Despite its visibility, scholarly analysis of its historical development, internal dynamics, and societal impact remains limited. Objective: This study investigates the emergence, teachings, activities, contributions, and challenges of the Salafiyyah movement in the region. Method: A qualitative case study design was adopted, integrating library research and fieldwork. Data were collected through oral interviews, questionnaires, and review of published and unpublished materials, drawing on both primary and secondary sources. A multidisciplinary analytical framework combining historical, phenomenological, and sociological approaches was employed. Result: The findings indicate that Salafiyyah has contributed substantially to Islamic scholarship, Qur’anic memorization, the establishment of madāris and mosques, educational development, and structured da‘wah activities. However, the movement also faces factional divisions and sustained debates with other Islamic groups over doctrinal and organizational issues. Conclusion: Salafiyyah remains a dynamic and influential reform movement in South-Western Nigeria. Contribution: This research contributes to existing literature by providing a systematic, context-based analysis of Salafiyyah’s contemporary significance within a pluralistic Muslim society

The Development of Kuttab Institutions within the Cultural Dominance of Traditional Pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools)

Nolis Nursapaah — 2026-03-24

Background: Islamic education in East Java has long been dominated by traditional pesantren affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which has formed a strong socio-religious and cultural foundation. In recent years, however, the re-emergence of Kuttab as a classical Islamic educational model has introduced a new dynamic within this established landscape. Objective: This study aims to analyse the development of Kuttab institutions in East Java, examining their characteristics, challenges, and adaptation strategies within the dominant pesantren culture. The research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, document analysis, and review of relevant scholarly literature. Result: The findings indicate that Kuttab has gained positive acceptance among parents seeking Qur’anic and character-based education for early-age children. Nevertheless, the institutions face challenges related to legal recognition, curriculum standardisation, teacher professionalism, infrastructure, and socio-cultural perception. Conclusion: The study concludes that sustainable development of Kuttab requires regulatory reinforcement, contextual curriculum development, professional capacity building, and institutional collaboration. Contribution: This study contributes to the discourse on contemporary Islamic education by providing contextual insights into the interaction between revitalised classical models and entrenched traditional educational systems in Indonesia.

The Ethics of Community: A Value-Based Exegesis of Surah Al-Hujurat

K M A Ahamed Zubair — 2026-03-22

Background: Surah Al-Hujurat is widely recognised as a foundational chapter of Islamic social ethics, yet many interpretations emphasise legal rulings rather than its underlying moral architecture. Objective: This study aims to construct a value-based exegesis that identifies the core ethical principles embedded in the surah as a framework for community formation. Method: Employing thematic and deductive textual analysis, the study systematically examines the verses by organising them into three relational dimensions: human interaction with divine authority, intra-community relations among believers, and engagement with broader humanity. Results: The findings demonstrate that the surah articulates a coherent ethical system grounded in respectful communication, the verification of information, conflict mediation, the protection of dignity, and the safeguarding of privacy. It further establishes piety as the sole criterion of human worth, transcending lineage, ethnicity, and social status. Conclusion: Surah Al-Hujurat offers a comprehensive and enduring moral blueprint for cultivating just and cohesive societies. Contribution: This study advances a structured model of value-based exegesis that enriches contemporary Islamic ethical theory and communal discourse.

A Dıfferent Perspectıve on “the Challenge of the Qur’an”

Halil Hilmi Sandal — 2026-03-31

Background: The Quranic challenge (Tehaddi) has traditionally been interpreted through linguistic excellence, rhetorical beauty, and semantic depth. However, the visual and structural organisation of the Quranic text has received relatively limited scholarly attention as a potential dimension of its inimitability. Objective: This study aims to explore whether the symmetric and ordered visual structures found across different Mushaf writing traditions offer an additional perspective on the Quranic challenge. Method: The research employs visual symmetry analysis on three Mushaf models: the Alifi Mushaf (K1), the Husrev Mushaf (K2), and the Hunsari Mushaf (K3). Sample pages from Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 164–247, were examined to identify recurring structural patterns. As a comparative, anecdotal test, the literary text A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens was analysed to assess whether a similar symmetry could be reproduced in non-Quranic texts. Results: The findings reveal consistent multi-layered symmetry across the three Mushaf models: line-initial letter symmetry in the Alifi Mushaf, vertical word alignment in the Husrev Mushaf, and mirror-based page symmetry in the Hunsari Mushaf. These patterns persist across hundreds of pages. Conclusion: The Quran can therefore be viewed not only as a linguistic text but also as a visually structured textual system. Contribution: This study introduces a visual-structural perspective that complements traditional discussions of Quranic inimitability.

Hadith Studies in the Indonesian Context: The Integration of Pesantren and Modern Academic Epistemologies

Hanan Asrowi — 2026-03-27

Background: Hadith studies in Indonesia have developed through two parallel epistemological traditions: the pesantren tradition rooted in sanad transmission and turāth literature, and the modern academic tradition within Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKI), which emphasises scientific criticism and interdisciplinary analysis. This dual development reflects society’s need for a locally relevant yet globally standardised understanding of hadith. Objective: This study aims to analyse the epistemological construction of hadith studies in Indonesia by examining their historical development, the epistemological characteristics of pesantren and PTKI traditions, and their integrative model in shaping contemporary hadith scholarship. Method: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed through library research, utilising historical analysis, content analysis, and comparative analysis of relevant literature from both traditions. Results: The integration of hadith epistemology does not occur through formal curriculum unification, but through the intellectual mobility of scholars and academics who transfer pesantren-based sanad methods into modern academic contexts. This process creates a distinctive scholarly pattern that combines the rigour of traditional transmission with critical academic approaches, producing contextual and applicable hadith studies. Conclusion: The epistemology of hadith studies in Indonesia demonstrates a flexible, mutually enriching integrative model that strengthens both moral and intellectual legitimacy at the national and global levels. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of a conceptual framework that can inform curriculum design, educational strategies, and future research in hadith studies and Islamic scholarship.

The Development of Muslim Society during the Ayyubid Dynasty

Rina Rina — 2026-04-10

Background: The development of society during the Ayyubid Dynasty marked a significant phase in the history of Islamic civilisation following the decline of the Fatimid Dynasty. Founded by Salahuddin al-Ayyubi, this dynasty is recognised not only for its success in confronting the Crusades but also for its role in establishing a more stable social, economic, and religious order. Objective: This study aims to analyse the dynamics of societal development and the factors influencing it. Method: The research employs a historical method with a qualitative approach, analysing primary and secondary sources, including chronicles, administrative documents, literary works, travel records, and archaeological and numismatic findings. Results: The findings indicate that political stability contributed to stronger governance and the enforcement of law. In the economic sector, the development of agriculture, trade, and craft industries enhanced public welfare. Support for education through madrasas and bimaristans also promoted intellectual growth. Conclusion: This study concludes that the Ayyubid Dynasty succeeded in shaping a stable and productive society. Contribution: This research serves as a scholarly reference for understanding the socio-economic and intellectual development of Muslim societies during the Ayyubid period, and provides a historical foundation for further studies in Islamic civilisation.