Indonesian Journal of Research in Islamic Studies

Harmonization of Islamic Law and Local Culture in Indonesia: An Analysis of the Legal Maxim Al Adatu Muhakkamah

Deko Rio Putra — 2026-08-03

Background: Local cultural diversity in Indonesia frequently encounters tension with Islamic teachings, sparking debates regarding the acceptable limits of traditions in social life. Objective: This study aims to analyze the application of the Al-Adatu Muhakkamah legal maxim in evaluating and validating the legitimacy of local cultural practices. Method: The methodology employs a qualitative library research approach through scientific documentation searches and content analysis of authoritative ushul fiqh and Islamic legal literature. Results: The findings demonstrate that custom validation requires a phased evaluation mechanism encompassing compliance testing against nash, general applicability, implementation consistency, and the realization of public interest (maslahah). Cultural practices meeting these criteria are categorized as valid customs ('urf shahih), whereas those contradicting fundamental creed are rejected as corrupt customs ('urf fasid). Conclusion: The Al-Adatu Muhakkamah maxim functions effectively as a selective and adaptive instrument capable of reconciling normative religious doctrines with the sociological realities of a multicultural society. Contribution: This study provides a substantive contribution by proposing an integrated conceptual model featuring practical, stepwise criteria to differentiate valid customs from corrupt ones, while serving as an authoritative scientific reference for academics and practitioners formulating local wisdom–based religious policies.

The Islamic Ethic of “Insāniyyah”: Reimagining Humanism, Brotherhood, and Justice in Contemporary Times

Ibrahim Suberu — 2026-07-30

Background: Contemporary societies face increasing challenges related to social fragmentation, intolerance, injustice, and the erosion of human dignity, highlighting the need for an ethical framework that integrates spiritual, moral, and social values. Although humanism has been widely discussed in secular philosophy, the concept of Insāniyyah in Islam as a divinely grounded model of humanism remains insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aims to systematically examine the Islamic ethic of Insāniyyah by analyzing its foundational principles in the Quran and Sunnah, with particular emphasis on human dignity, universal brotherhood, and moral justice. Method: The study employs a qualitative library research approach using descriptive and analytical methods to evaluate classical and contemporary Islamic literature. Result: The findings demonstrate that Islamic humanism is founded upon divine revelation, integrating moral responsibility, human dignity, and accountability to God within a holistic ethical framework. Unlike secular humanism, which primarily emphasizes human autonomy, the Islamic perspective harmonizes individual rights with social obligations and spiritual values, thereby promoting peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and justice. Conclusion: Insāniyyah provides a comprehensive ethical foundation for addressing contemporary humanitarian challenges. Contribution: This study enriches the discourse on Islamic humanism by offering an integrated conceptual framework that reinforces the relevance of Islamic ethical principles in promoting inclusive, just, and peaceful societies globally.

Al-Ghazzali's Contributions to Sufism: A Comprehensive Analysis of His Spiritual Philosophy and Ethical Framework

K M A Ahamed Zubair — 2026-07-31

Background: Imam Al-Ghazzali (1058–1111 CE), known as "Hujjat al-Islam" (The Proof of Islam), emerged during an era of intense intellectual conflict between rationalist philosophy and religious faith. Despite his profound influence on Islamic thought, a comprehensive analysis of his integrated spiritual and ethical framework remains limited in contemporary scholarship. Objectives: This study examines Imam Al-Ghazzali's contributions to Sufism, analyzing his epistemological framework for spiritual knowledge, his ethical constitution rooted in Sufi psychology, his critique of philosophy, and his integration of Sharia compliance with spiritual purification. Methods: A qualitative historical-analytical research design was employed, utilizing content analysis of primary sources, including Al-Ghazzali's autobiographical Deliverance from Error, his magnum opus The Revival of the Religious Sciences, The Criterion of Action, and The Incoherence of the Philosophers. Results: The findings reveal that Al-Ghazzali established spiritual unveiling (kashf) as a valid source of certainty alongside reason and revelation, developed a comprehensive ethical framework based on refining the psychological powers of reason, desire, and anger, and demonstrated that authentic Sufism requires strict adherence to Islamic law. Conclusion: Al-Ghazzali's synthesis created an enduring framework uniting intellectual rigor with heartfelt devotion, offering a balanced approach to faith that continues to influence Islamic spirituality and ethics. Contributions: This research contributes to Islamic studies scholarship by providing a systematic analysis of Al-Ghazzali's integrated vision of Sufism and its contemporary relevance for discussions on reason, spirituality, and spiritual formation.

The Role of Wali Songo in the Islamization of the Nusantara: A Cultural Da'wah Approach in the History of Indonesian Islam

Irfan Maulana Adnan — 2026-08-05

Background: The Islamization of the Nusantara represents a complex process of socio-cultural transformation that extends beyond religious conversion to deeply engage with existing local traditions. Objective: This study aims to analyze the cultural da'wah strategies employed by the Wali Songo in Java, focusing on their use of cultural media, processes of acculturation, community acceptance, and the contemporary relevance of their peaceful approach. Method: The study utilizes a qualitative library research method by conducting a content analysis of historical literature, authoritative books, and peer-reviewed journal articles concerning Wali Songo's proselytization methods. Results: The findings reveal that Wali Songo's success stemmed from integrating Islamic values into local traditions through cultural adaptation, social negotiation, and community participation. Rather than replacing indigenous customs, they reinterpreted local arts, language, rituals, and educational institutions into media for Islamic teachings, thereby fostering gradual acceptance, cultural continuity, and social cohesion. Conclusion: Wali Songo's cultural da'wah operates as an integrated framework encompassing cultural adaptation, community acceptance, religious communication, educational development, and socio-religious transformation. Contribution: Theoretically, this study advances the literature on Islamic history by conceptualizing cultural acculturation as a model of peaceful Islamization. Practically, it provides a strategic foundation for developing culturally responsive Islamic education, community-based da'wah, and religious moderation in contemporary Indonesia.

The Quran’s Challenge with Abcdexedcba Symmetry: A Study on the Symmetry of Three Different Qur’ans

Halil Hilmi Sandal — 2026-08-12

Background: The Qur’an presents a tahaddī by challenging humanity to produce a text comparable to it. Classical scholarship has primarily interpreted this challenge through the Qur’an’s linguistic excellence, literary inimitability, and depth of meaning. However, the visual and structural dimensions of the Qur’anic text have received limited systematic investigation. Objective; This study aims to examine whether the symmetrical and ordered structures of three Mushaf traditions, namely the Alifī, Husrev, and Hunsarī Mushafs, provide an additional perspective for understanding tahaddī. Method: A qualitative visual structural approach was employed using the K1, K2, and K3 method. The analysis focused on a purposive sample of Surah al Baqarah verses 164 to 247 to identify line symmetry, vertical alignment, and mirror page structures across the three Mushaf models. Result: The findings show that the Alifī Mushaf achieves 99.97%-line symmetry, the Husrev Mushaf demonstrates 99.8%-page internal alignment, and the Hunsarī Mushaf maintains 100% mirror symmetry while preserving the identical Qur’anic text. These results indicate that multiple independent visual structures can coexist without altering the textual sequence. Conclusion: The study concludes that the Qur’an may be understood not only as a text to be read but also as a visually organized text. Contribution: This study contributes a visual symmetry perspective to the discourse of tahaddī and expands contemporary discussions on the relationship between textual preservation, page design, and structural coherence in different Mushaf traditions.

Construction of Evaluative Attitude in the Madīḥ Section of Qasidah Banat Su'ad by Ka'ab bin Zuhair based on Martin and White's Appraisal Theory

Arina Vionarsih — 2026-08-30

Background: Qasidah Banat Su'ad by Ka'ab bin Zuhair is one of the most significant works of classical Arabic literature, representing the poet's transformation in attitude toward Prophet Muhammad after embracing Islam. Although the poem has been extensively examined from the perspectives of literary history, balāghah, and stylistics, studies investigating its evaluative attitude construction through Appraisal Theory remain limited. Objctive: This study aims to identify the types of attitudinal expressions, analyze patterns of evaluative attitudes, and explain how Ka'ab bin Zuhair constructs his evaluation of Prophet Muhammad in the Madīḥ section based on Martin and White's Attitude subsystem. Method: This study employed a qualitative approach using qualitative content analysis of the Arabic text in the Madīḥ section of Qasidah Banat Su'ad. Result: The findings identified 15 attitudinal expressions, consisting of one Affect (6.7%), eleven Judgement (73.3%), and three Appreciation (20.0%). The predominance of Judgement indicates that the poet constructs Prophet Muhammad as an exemplary figure characterized by leadership, courage, and moral integrity, whereas Affect and Appreciation reinforce the poet's emotional transformation and the aesthetic dimension of praise. Conclusion: The study concludes that evaluative attitude construction in the Madīḥ section is predominantly realized through moral judgments of the Prophet's character. Originality/Value: This study offers theoretical and analytical novelty at the intersection of Systemic Functional Linguistics and classical Arabic literature by examining the discursive construction of evaluative stance in madīḥ poetry, an area traditionally dominated by conventional balāghah and literary criticism. By bridging theoretical and methodological gaps through Martin and White’s Appraisal framework, this research provides a strategic contribution toward developing an integrated linguistic model for classical Arabic poetic texts and setting future research agendas in Arabic discourse semantics.