Islam in Indonesia

Islam in Indonesia
Name	Islam in Indonesia
Caption	Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta
Adherents	Majority of population
Regions	Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua
Scriptures	Quran
Languages	Arabic, Indonesian

Islam in Indonesia

Islam is the predominant faith of the Republic of Indonesia, with roots reaching back to early Maritime Silk Road, Srivijaya, Majapahit interactions and later expansion through Malacca Sultanate, Aceh Sultanate, Mataram Sultanate. The religion significantly shaped institutions such as Istiqlal Mosque, Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, while influencing figures like Sukarno, Suharto, Abdurrahman Wahid, and events including the Indonesian National Revolution and the Reformation (Indonesia). Trade networks involving Arabian Peninsula, Persia, India, China and maritime hubs such as Samudra Pasai and Banda Islands facilitated the transmission of Quran, Hadith, and legal traditions including Shafi'i school practices.

History

Islam arrived in the Indonesian archipelago via merchants and Sufi missionaries associated with Arabia, Persia, Gujarat Sultanate, Chola dynasty, and Tang dynasty trade routes, impacting courts of Srivijaya, Kediri, Majapahit and later giving rise to sultanates like Malacca Sultanate, Aceh Sultanate, Demak Sultanate. Missionaries and scholars linked to Al-Azhar University, Alim ulama networks and orders such as the Qadiriyya and Naqshbandiyya spread devotional literature including works by Ibn Taymiyyah and commentaries on Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Colonial encounters with Portuguese Empire, Dutch East India Company, Netherlands provoked reform and resistance movements exemplified by leaders like Tuanku Imam Bonjol and uprisings such as the Padri War, while intellectual currents engaged with modernists influenced by Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh and produced organizations like Muhammadiyah and Persatuan Islam. Post-independence dynamics involved state figures Sukarno, Suharto, and constitutional debates culminating in constitutional articles interacting with Islamic groups such as Partai Persatuan Pembangunan and events like the campaign around Jakarta Charter provisions.

Demographics and Distribution

The majority population in provinces such as West Java, Central Java, Aceh, North Sumatra, and South Sulawesi identify with Islam, while regions like Bali and parts of Papua retain Hindu and indigenous beliefs; urban centers including Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar exhibit diverse Islamic expressions. Censuses conducted by Badan Pusat Statistik record adherents distributed across islands including Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, with communities tracing lineage to migrants from Arabian Peninsula, Indian subcontinent, China and local converts in sultanates such as Banten and Ternate. Minority communities including Shia Islam in Indonesia and Ahmadiyya in Indonesia concentrate in specific districts influenced by organizations like Forum Betawi Rempug and local administrations such as Provincial government of Aceh.

Religious Institutions and Organizations

Major organizations include Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, Majelis Ulama Indonesia, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, and universities like UIN Sunan Kalijaga, IAIN Jakarta, and Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta that train clerics and scholars. Mosques such as Istiqlal Mosque, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, and institutions like Pesantren Tebuireng anchor community life, while research centers linked to LIPI and publications associated with Mizan and Paramadina shape discourse. Transnational ties involve networks with Al-Azhar University, King Saud University, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, and NGOs like Islamic Relief that operate alongside local charities such as Dompet Dhuafa.

Schools of Thought and Practices

Sunni Islam predominates, particularly the Shafi'i school within jurisprudence, while Sufi orders including Tarekat Naqshbandiyya and Tarekat Qadiriyya influence devotional life; Islamic modernist thought advanced by Muhammadiyah promotes reformist readings and engagement with reformers like Ahmad Dahlan. Traditionalist practices persist in pesantren communities associated with figures such as Hasyim Asy'ari and institutions like Pesantren Gontor, while minority sects including Shia Islam in Indonesia and Ahmadiyya in Indonesia face contestations involving actors like Komnas HAM and local legislatures. Ritual calendars integrate national holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and local traditions like Maulid celebrations tied to historical courts of Mataram Sultanate and cultural forms including Gamelan, Wayang which intersect with religious expression.

Political and Legal Influence

Islamic organizations and political parties such as Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa and Partai Persatuan Pembangunan have influenced legislation, while constitutional debates involved figures like Sukarno and documents like the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia; regional autonomy in Aceh led to implementation of Sharia (Islamic law) variants administered by the Aceh Sharia Courts and provincial bodies. Nationwide institutions such as Mahkamah Konstitusi adjudicate disputes over religious freedom claims brought by groups including Gus Dur supporters and advocacy networks; public policy areas involving religious education are shaped by ministries like Ministry of Religious Affairs (Indonesia) and directives from bodies such as Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Social and Cultural Impact

Islam has shaped literature, art, and social norms through poets and writers like Hamka, scholars like Nurcholish Madjid, and cultural productions involving Dangdut music, Gamelan, and mosque architecture exemplified by Istiqlal Mosque and historic complexes in Aceh and Maluku. Interactions with Christian communities in regions like North Sulawesi and Papua, and indigenous practices such as those of the Dayak people and Toraja people, have produced syncretic customs and occasional conflict mediated by bodies like Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme and civil society organizations including Nahdlatul Ulama. Contemporary debates over pluralism, secularism, and conservatism involve intellectuals affiliated with Paramadina University, activists like Teten Masduki, and social movements shaped by regional events such as the 1998 riots of Indonesia and the 2002 Bali bombings.

Category:Islam by country