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This article examines three major streams of Islamic political thought in Indonesia through a comparative analysis of the ideas of Mohammad Natsir, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). Mohammad Natsir embodies the constitutional–integralist perspective, which seeks to formalize Islam as the foundation of the state by utilizing democratic mechanisms and constitutional political processes. In contrast, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir reflects a radical–ideological orientation that firmly rejects democracy and advocates the full implementation of Islamic Sharia through extra-constitutional and non-parliamentary movements. Meanwhile, Abdurrahman Wahid represents a substantive–cultural approach, opposing the formal institutionalization of Islam within the state while promoting Islamic values as ethical guidance for building a tolerant and pluralistic nation. The contrasting viewpoints of these three figures highlight the diversity of Islamic political discourse in Indonesia and illustrate the evolving interaction between religion and state. Overall, this study demonstrates how Islamic thought continues to adapt and remain relevant within Indonesia’s multicultural and democratic context.

This article examines the relationship between Islamic politics and democracy in contemporary Indonesia. As the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia presents a distinctive dynamic in the interaction between Islamic values and modern democratic systems. This study aims to analyze how Islamic political actors, including political parties and religious organizations, interact with and adapt to democratic practices in the post-Reform era. The research employs a qualitative method through a literature review of Indonesian academic journals published within the last five years. The findings indicate that Islamic politics in Indonesia is plural and dynamic, showing an adaptive tendency toward democratic principles. Islamic values such as deliberation (shura), justice, and equality are considered compatible with democratic ideals. However, Islamic politics also faces contemporary challenges, including the politicization of religion, identity politics, and social polarization. The article concludes that the relationship between Islamic politics and democracy in Indonesia is dynamic and largely adaptive within the framework of the Pancasila state.

This study discusses the judge’s considerations in granting permission for polygamy to a husband who had committed adultery, as stated in the Religious Court Decision of Tanjung Karang Number: 737/Pdt.G/2024/PA.Tnk. Generally, Law No. 1 of 1974 in conjunction with Law No. 16 of 2019 on Marriage upholds the principle of monogamy but allows polygamy under certain conditions with court approval. This case is particularly interesting because the court granted permission for polygamy to a husband who was proven to have engaged in an affair and committed adultery resulting in a child born out of wedlock. The study aims to identify the legal considerations of the judge and the legal implications regarding the marriage and joint property. The research employs an applied normative legal method with a qualitative approach, using primary data from interviews and secondary data from legislation and legal literature. The results show that the judge considered granting permission for polygamy as a means of legalizing the existing relationship to maintain public morality and prevent continuous sinful behavior, although it conflicts with moral values. Legally, the second wife has no rights over the joint property acquired before the polygamous marriage, as stipulated in Article 65 paragraph (1) letter b of the Marriage Law

This study discusses the judge’s considerations in granting child custody of a non-mumayyiz (underage) child to the biological father in the Religious Court Decision of Tanjung Karang Number: 1379/Pdt.G/2024/PA.Tnk. Generally, according to Islamic law and the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI), custody of a non-mumayyiz child is granted to the biological mother. However, in this case, the panel of judges decided to grant custody to the biological father. The purpose of this research is to identify the legal reasoning behind the judge’s decision and the legal implications of such a ruling. The study employs a normative juridical method with a descriptive-analytical approach, supported by primary data obtained through interviews and secondary data from legislation and legal literature. The results show that the judge’s consideration was based on the best interest of the child principle, as the mother had remarried a non-Muslim man and converted to another religion, which made her ineligible to be the custodian under Islamic law. The legal implication of this decision reinforces the authority of judges to interpret hadhanah provisions contextually, ensuring the protection of the child’s rights and supporting their growth in accordance with religious teachings and prevailing social norms.

This study examines Banten Lama as a political symbol that shapes regional identity in Banten Province. As the former center of the Banten Sultanate from the 16th to the 18th century, the site holds not only historical and religious significance but also functions as a symbolic space influencing political legitimacy and the construction of collective identity in contemporary Banten society. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, this research analyzes how local government, political elites, and communities negotiate the symbolic meanings of Banten Lama through ritual practices, public discourse, and revitalization policies. Data were collected through literature review, non-participatory observation, visual documentation, and examination of policy documents. The findings reveal that Banten Lama operates as a symbolic arena that intertwines historical narratives, Islamic spirituality, and political interests. The government employs symbols of the former sultanate to construct moral legitimacy and a religious political image, while local communities interpret Banten Lama as a spiritual space and a source of economic livelihood. Although the use of historical symbols strengthens regional identity, it also gives rise to symbolic politics that often dominate public space without being accompanied by substantive policy outcomes. This study concludes that the governance of Banten Lama requires participatory and culturally grounded approaches to ensure the sustainable preservation of its historical and social values.

This study stems from a classic question in the study of political hadith regarding leadership, specifically the hadith "The Imams are from Quraysh," which is often understood textually as requiring leaders to be from the Quraysh tribe. This kind of understanding often stops at the normative and historical level, without considering the socio-political context of modern society, which is fundamentally different from the early Islamic era. As a result, a gap emerged between the moral message of the hadith and the reality of the leadership system in democratic countries like Indonesia. This research aims to reanalyse the meaning of hadiths about Quraysh and non-Quraysh leadership, and to trace their relevance to the concept of state leadership in the Indonesian constitutional system, placing Islamic political theory and modern leadership theory on an equal footing (theory = theory). This research employs a qualitative approach based on library research, with the primary sources being political hadiths and classical references such as al-Ahkam al-Sulthaniyyah by al-Mawardi, supplemented by contemporary literature on the modern Indonesian government system. The analysis was conducted using comparative methods and content analysis to explore the commonalities and differences between the concept of Imamah in Islam and leadership in modern democratic systems. The research findings indicate that the hadith about Quraysh leadership cannot be understood rigidly as a limitation of lineage, but rather as an ethical guideline emphasising the principles of justice, trust, responsibility, and public interest. The ethical values in the hadith align with the basic principles of the presidential system in Indonesia, such as public accountability, limitation of power, and popular sovereignty, as regulated in the 1945 Constitution. Despite challenges such as corruption, the politicisation of religion, and weak leadership morality, the values of the hadith remain relevant if translated into public norms and modern governance practices. This research confirms that leadership in Islam and Indonesian democracy can complement each other, with Islam providing a moral and spiritual foundation, while democracy offers the legal and political structure to realise it.

This study delves into the philosophical foundations of natural law, contrasting the irrational theories of Thomas Aquinas with the rational perspectives of Hugo Grotius and Immanuel Kant, examining their relevance within Indonesia’s deeply religious and pluralistic context. Aquinas argues that natural law is divinely ordained and serves as a universal moral guide, where law and morality are intrinsically linked. On the other hand, Grotius proposes that while natural law originates from divine will, human reason enables individuals to comprehend it, even without divine revelation. Kant’s philosophy shifts the focus to moral autonomy and the freedom of individuals, emphasizing that legitimate law must be based on principles of universal morality that respect human dignity. In the context of Indonesia, with its diverse religious landscape, integrating these philosophical ideas provides a balanced approach to the interaction between secular law, religious teachings, and moral values. The research adopts a juridical-normative methodology with a conceptual and legislative approach, analyzing secondary legal sources to explore how natural law influences Indonesia's legal system. The findings indicate that while Indonesia's legal system primarily follows positive law, it would benefit from incorporating the moral and spiritual aspects derived from natural law theory. The study concludes that Indonesia’s legal system can achieve a more substantive form of justice by integrating the principles of Aquinas, Grotius, and Kant, thus ensuring a more harmonious blend of legal certainty, moral integrity, and religious principles in the country’s laws.  

The phenomenon of the “Sandwich Generation” (SG) in Indonesia, where individuals of productive age (30-40 years old) bear a double financial burden—supporting the needs of their children and immediate family (furu') while also supporting their elderly parents (ushul)—has become a widespread social and financial challenge. This pressure, exacerbated by inadequate income and low financial literacy, forces 94% of SG respondents to set aside their personal interests. This dilemma calls for a clear Sharia analysis of the priority scale of financial support. This article aims to analyze the SG maintenance dilemma through the Qawa'id Fiqhiyyah (Fiqh Principles) framework to establish a hierarchy of financial obligations. The two main principles used are Al-Farḍu afḍalu mina an-Nafli (Absolute Obligation takes precedence over Sunnah) and Al-Wājib lā yutrak illā liwājibin (An Obligation cannot be abandoned except for another Obligation). Fiqh analysis shows that the resolution of priority conflicts is based on the classification of the legal status of the recipient of alms, distinguishing between absolute obligations (Adami rights, contractual) and conditional obligations (wajib zhanni, Allah's rights). Key findings establish Sharia priorities in conditions of limitation: Self, Wife and Children (Absolute Obligations), Parents (Conditional Obligations), Siblings/Relatives (Sunnah/Nafl). This priority is established to protect the nuclear family unit as the foundation of society, in line with Maqāṣid ash-Sharīʿah (Sharia Objectives).

The Great Mosque of Banten is a historical heritage that reflects cultural acculturation and the glory of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago. This study aims to analyze the forms of collaboration between the government, local communities, and site managers in preserving the Great Mosque of Banten using the Collaborative Governance theory by Ansell and Gash (2007). A descriptive qualitative approach was applied through interviews, field observations, and document studies conducted in the Great Mosque area. The findings reveal that collaboration among stakeholders has not yet reached optimal levels due to limited communication, trust gaps, and conflicting interests. Nevertheless, functional cooperation has emerged through joint activities in sanitation, security, and tour guide training. Based on the five indicators of the collaborative process, direct communication (face to face dialogue) and trust building remain major challenges, while shared understanding between government agencies, the foundation, and the community has begun to develop. This study highlights the importance of sustainable collaborative governance in preserving the religious, historical, and social values of the Great Mosque of Banten while supporting the welfare of the surrounding community.  

This study aims to analyze the meaning of interfaith marriage in the film Komang using Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic theory. This theory emphasizes the relationship between signifier and signified as well as the concepts of langue and parole to explain the interaction between social systems and individual expression. The results of the analysis show that the visual, verbal, and symbolic signs in the film represent the clash between love and belief. Scenes such as the initial meeting at a cultural festival, family rejection, and symbolic marriage become a form of negotiation between social values and personal freedom. This film affirms that interfaith marriage in Indonesia can only be accepted through compromise with the religious norms of the majority, but still presents a message of tolerance through symbols of cultural harmony. Therefore, the film Komang is not just a romantic narrative, but a social reflection on the relationship between religion, culture, and love in a pluralistic society.

The development of Islamic political thought cannot be separated from the historical context and social dynamics surrounding it. One significant period that influenced the direction of this thought is the era of Western colonialism in the 19th to early 20th centuries. During this period, much of the Islamic world was under Western colonial rule, which had a profound impact on the social, political, and intellectual conditions of Muslims. Within the Muslim community itself, various internal issues related to religious understanding arose, causing difficulties in facing the dominance and hegemony of the West. Islamic political thought became one of the fields of study in political science, which is not only relevant today but also gained attention during the classical Islamic period. This study is highly significant, both in the development of knowledge and as a framework for political practice. Therefore, it is important to study Islamic political thought, as it provides deep insights into political dynamics and Islam’s contribution to shaping existing political systems, as well as offering perspectives that are useful in facing contemporary global challenges.