Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia with a large number of Muslims, making it the majority population. One of the most influential and significant phases in the development of Islam is the reform era that occurred at the end of 1998. In this phase, changes in political and social direction have affected the way people understand and apply Islamic values in their daily lives.
At the beginning of the reformation, the journey of Islamic political views began. Some Islamic figures such as Amien Rais and M. Munawir Sjadzali fought for the rights of Muslims. They fought for the right to apply Islamic law in everyday life. They also argued that Islam should be part of the social and political life in Indonesia.
It is not just a religious accessory that is limited to religious celebrations. The changes initiated by these religious leaders did not go smoothly, they went through many conflicts. Islamic groups such as HTI, FPI and MMI argued that Islam should be a single principle in political and social life while other groups that emerged at that time including Muhammadiyan and NU argued that Islam and Indonesia should have a relationship of interdependence and mutual need like symbiotic mutualism, but it does not need to be promoted as a single principle.
However, in recent years, Islamic political thought in Indonesia has developed and grown rapidly. Many Indonesian Islamic leaders have developed ideas that can be applied to political and social life in Indonesia. The conclusion is that they argue that Islam is not only a religion but also a value system that can help Indonesian society achieve justice and prosperity. This opinion is in line with the ideas of Hans Kelsen.Â
Kelsen argued that law, morality, and religion influence each other and must be applied in political and social life. Kelsen also argued that Islam should be applied in Indonesia's political and social life, but not necessarily as the sole principle. In addition to Kelsen, in 2019, President Joko Widodo announced that Indonesia would become more pluralist and inclusive of all its people, and champion the rights of minorities. These changes have affected the way people understand and apply Islamic values in their daily lives.
In this sense, the reform of political thought in the Islamic context has reached its peak. Islam and the Indonesian state are inseparable, at least for now. However, as a consideration, Indonesia must also pay attention to the rights of non-Muslims in social and political life.
