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This article elucidates local theology, which encapsulates in the work of shari’a in Acehnese contexts. The argument of this article is grounded in the Acehnese historical epochs in which Acehnese cultural identity were formulated. I argue that Acehnese shari’a is the set of local rituals, beliefs and ideas as the production of local interpretation of Islam, which responds to local cultural identity. That version of Islam works as local theology, which embodies sacred and divine values and is perceived as local identity and ideology. Building on Tibi’s, Salim’s and Nuim’s argument on shari’a and Hall’s perspective on identity and ideology, I examine the work of shari’a in Acehnese historical times, and its relation to Acehnese culture and ideology. There are four indications that shari’a holds central role in formulating the Acehnese theology, where local cultural identity and ideology are seen as part of Islamic religiosity, namely the process of Islamization of Southeast Asia, the function of local Islamic traditional boarding education (dayah), the distribution of local power, and the work of local arts.

This article talks about the ordering of breastfeeding in the Quran through reviewing of Albaqarah verse 233 and then correlated to other supporting verses. In general, breastfeeding is a natural activity of woman who has a child. However, the Qur'an sees it as aprivilege for women, rather than a command of Allah. Breastfeeding is also full of benefits for human being. For advanced discussion, the reasons for the order can be scientifically proven havinga lot of beneficial both psychologically and physically for child and mother. Scientific facts show that the composition of breast milk contains the elements needed by the child that not found in others. Thus, it will physically make the child healthy. The breastfeeding process also helps mothers overcome their psychological problems postpartum, and will strengthen the emotional bond to children (bounding attachment).

This paper aims at looking at the phenomenon of intolerance against Jemaat Ahmadiya in Indonesia that has been occuring since several decades ago. The Jemaat Ahmadiya is continuously accused of blaspheming Islam, and, thus, led to its dissolution by the government. Employing political sociology as an approach, this article frames the plight of Jemaat Ahmadiyya through the lens of Jeremy Menchik’s “godly nationalism”. It then argues that (1) violence against Jemaat Ahmadiya are not only perpetrated by certain elements of intolerance society, but also accommodated by the government thanks to the general consensus regarding the common orthodox theism in Indonesia; (2) the phenomenon of intolerance also shows that Indonesian citizens are still perplexed by the concept of nationalism: on the one hand, Indonesia is deemed to be a secular state, on the other hand, it accommodates religions and their teachings into the state’s life.

Attempts at the implementation of shari’a in Indonesia have always been marked by a tension between political aspirations of the proponents and the opponents of shari’a and by resistance from the secular state. The tension had led to the profound and ongoing legal political dissonance in the formal application of shari’a rules in the country. A continuum between conflicts in meanings and direct contradictions in terms has resulted in a debate of which and whose shari’a to be implemented. This paper looks at the roots as well as the sources of those dissonances. It observes a number of conditions that make the articulation of religious law dissonant. It argues that more direct dissonance is discernible between the aspiration for the formal implementation of shari’a and constitutional rights of religious freedom. Arguing that despite shari’a has been able to seep into scattered legal aspects within Indonesian state and society and that the state has allowed shari’a to be incorporated in many ways into its legal system, nationally and regionally, it concludes that the state continues to control and restrict this dispersion and that shari’a remains tightly confined in Indonesia

This article discusses the history of the establishment of Islamic banking in Indonesia. The author examines the derivers of their establishment and argues that, aside other aspects, political aspects give contribution to the establishment of the Islamic banking. He describes a number of evidences of how politics play an important role in the success of their establishment; one of those proofs is the economic and political Islam interdependence which can be read in the idea of ​​Indonesian Muslims on establishing Islamic banks, which is influenced by political content. At the beginning, the relationship between Muslims and the New Order was covered with suspicions and prejudices. The rulers of the New Order in the 1970's were still suspicious of the idea on the establishment of an Islamic state or the realization of the Jakarta Charter. Until recent days, the idea is still debated.