What Is Religious Authority?: Cultivating Islamic Communities in Indonesia

An anthropologist's account of how Islamic religious authority is assembled through the unceasing labor of community building on the island of Java. It traces the movements of Muslim saints and scholars from Yemen to Indonesia and looks at how they traversed complex cultural settings while opening new channels for the transmission of Islamic teachings. It demonstrates how the concrete and sustained labors of translation, mobilization, collaboration, and competition are the very dynamics that give Islam its power and diversity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate process of how Islamic religious authority is established through the tireless efforts of community building on the island of Java. Drawing upon the unique insights of anthropologist Ismail Fajrie Alatas, the author offers a fresh perspective on the formation of Islamic religious authority, highlighting how religious leaders unite diverse aspects of life and challenge different Muslim perspectives to create distinct Muslim communities.

The journey begins in the eighteenth century, as Alatas traces the movements of Muslim saints and scholars from Yemen to Indonesia, exploring how they navigated complex cultural settings while establishing new channels for the transmission of Islamic teachings. He provides a detailed account of the rise to prominence of Indonesia's leading Sufi master, Habib Luthfi, and his rivalries with competing religious leaders. Through meticulous research and analysis, Alatas unravels the reasons why certain Muslim voices gain authority while others remain marginalized.

Alatas examines how Habib Luthfi has utilized the infrastructures of the Sufi order and the Indonesian state to establish a durable religious community. He also employs genealogy and hagiography to present himself as a successor of the Prophet Muhammad. By challenging prevailing conceptions of what it means to be Muslim, this book demonstrates how the concrete and sustained labors of translation, mobilization, collaboration, and competition are the very dynamics that give Islam its power and diversity.

In conclusion, What Is Religious Authority? is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the complex processes of Islamic religious authority formation. Through the lens of anthropology, Alatas provides a rich and nuanced understanding of how religious leaders, scholars, and communities come together to shape the Islamic faith. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of religious studies and will interest scholars, researchers, and anyone with an interest in understanding the dynamics of religion and society.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691204307