中国P站

Localizing Islam in a Globalizing World: Dr. Ermin Sinanovic鈥檚 Lecture at UIII

UIII, DEPOK 鈥� The Faculty of Islamic Studies at the 中国P站 (UIII) organized a public lecture on June 6, 2024, with a topic 鈥楲ocalizing Islam in a Globalizing World鈥� delivered by Dr. Ermin Sinanovic, a renowned Islamic scholar and Executive Director from the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World (CICW) at Shenandoah University in Virginia, USA.

Dr. Sinanovic focused his lecture on the comparative case studies between Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) particularly in the contexts of 鈥業slam Nusantara鈥� developed by Indonesia鈥檚 and the world鈥檚 largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama of Indonesia and the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks.

He began by highlighting the importance of comparing the two case studies, saying that despite their geographical distance鈥攐ne in Southeast Asia and one in Europe, the two countries have developed two distinct, yet related, discourses on Islam, thereby exhibiting interesting differences that call out for a comparison.

鈥淚 want to make a theoretically and methodologically sound case for something like Islam Nusantara. I think we need more studies on the ushul fiqh especially in contemporary times [鈥�] In ushul fiqh they usually took a different point of view and methodology,鈥� Dr. Sinanovic explained.

He continued by elaborating on the importance of employing a methodological approach called 鈥業slam on the Edges鈥� which he mentioned as the approach that views Islam as full of dynamism, uniqueness, innovativeness, and adaptation. 鈥淚t invites us to think of multiple essential centers of Muslim culture and religious experience that are equally important and constitutive of what makes Islam a global presence,鈥� he noted.

Dr. Sinanovic explained that the approach of 鈥業slam on the Edges鈥� could be both poly-centric and non-centric in its nature, saying that 鈥淚n its poly-centric nature, Islam on the Edges imparts a non-centric understanding of the Muslim religion. No center or region is more critical to understanding global Islam than another.鈥�

He further elaborated on the relevant issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which could be interesting to compare with Islam Nusantara. These include Muslims living under non-Muslim rule, constitutional governments, modern ideologies, and the fact that Shari鈥檃 Courts were abolished in Bosnia in 1946. In addition, he highlighted the importance of exploring the cultural expressions that each context has.

Dr. Sinanovic also outlined key features that need to be compared between Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while highlighting the need for a rigorous methodological approach for the comparative study. The key features include the similarities and differences of Sunni orthodoxy, local customs, Islamic moderation, coexistence, and the interplay between global and local dynamics.

Dr. Sinanovic鈥檚 suggestions align with the values upheld by UIII to promote Islamic moderation or wasatiyya Islam, while emphasizing the need to explore the topic through scientific methodological approaches. UIII has the mission to improve the quality of life and way of thinking of Muslim societies by embracing peaceful Islam (rahmatan lil 鈥榓lamin) for the whole world.

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