Hassan Hanafi and Islamic Legal Theory:

Islamic legal theory (popularly known as uṣū al-fiqh in Islamic term) runs into difficulties when dealing with social and humanities issues. Religious texts, according to Hassan Hanafi’s perspective, should not only be positioned as a source of law, but also at the same time must be seen as a phenomenological experiences of religiosity. The dialectic of religious text and today's empirical context needs to be reformulated. By using phenomenological as a methodological tool, Hassan Hanafi makes an effort of reepistemification of uṣū al-fiqh reason into three typologies of consciousness; historical, eidetic, and praxis. These three aspects constitute the discursive relationship to present an anthropocentric dimension in uṣū al-fiqh reason. This article uses qualitative research methods with interpretation criticism approach. This article aims to analyze the new formula offered by Hassan Hanafi’s uṣū al-fiqh reason, and to examine it to criticize the slogan “Back to the Qur'an and Sunna” as a phenomenon of religiosity. Keywords: Uṣū al-fiqh, Hassan Hanafi, Phenomenology, Back to the Qur’an and Sunn

Analysis of Patterns for Inheritance Dispute Settlement in the Tradition of Sasak Community in Lombok

There are several ways conducted by Muslims in solving the problem of inheritance division in Lombok. This article aimed at looking at several patterns of inheritance dispute resolution in the Lombok people tradition (Sasak community. It is derived from qualitative field research by using both theoretical and empirical legal approaches. The data was obtained using observation, interview, and documentation techniques. Lombok people often postpone dividing the inheritance, which eventually causes problems. According to Lombok customary law, postponing inheritance is carried out due to several cultural factors, i.e.:  the existence of the parent (either father or mother), the existence of the heirs, and the condition of the heirs. Apart from these factors, several consequences arise including loss of ownership rights, changes in inheritance portion, loss of inheritance rights, vulnerability to manipulation, and triggering family conflicts. The results indicate that: first, the inheritance land division is conducted in different ways such as grants, discussion, and faraid. Second, factors influencing the land dispute cases are greed and lack of information about the inheritance legal system. Third, revitalization is important because it is ruled out in Islamic teachings and is considered absolute for Islam society. This research concludes that the Islamic Inheritance legal system is the proper method to settle land disputes in the Sasak community. Keywords: Islamic inheritance, postponing inheritance, settlement of inheritance disputes

Islamic Legal Modernism and Women's Emancipation in Tunisia

The article aims to analyze the role of modern interpretations of Sharia on women's emancipation in Tunisia. Even though Tunisia is a Muslim country influenced by the Maliki school of thought, its social, cultural, and political conditions are conducive to women's emancipation efforts. This condition was created partly by the government's efforts to adopt Sharia's modern interpretation in Tunisia. Efforts to modernize Islamic law through state law have been going on for a long time and are consistent. Islamic legal modernism is evidenced by the Constitution, which guarantees women's equal rights, manifested in state law and policies. A case in point is family law in Tunisia that prohibits the practice of polygyny, gives equal share of the inheritance, and punishes perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence against women. Modern interpretations of Sharia have resulted in Islamic law that is more gender-friendly and maximizes women's potential in Tunisia's public sector. As a result, women's political participation in Tunisia is very high: they occupy many Parliament seats and high government bureaucracy positions. The condition of equality of women in Tunisia is far different from that of its compatriots in the middle east and north African countries, which are still influenced by conservative Islamic law interpretations.Keywords: Islamic legal modernism, women's Emancipation, polygyny prohibition, sexual harassmen

Moderate Islamic Jurisprudence: Study of Muhammadiyah's Decision on Changes in Criteria for Fajr Prayer Time

This article aims to look at the new criteria decided by Muhammadiyah regarding the beginning of Fajr prayer time, which was seen through the conception of religious moderation (wasatiyah) in Indonesia. This issue relates to the decision regarding the change in the criteria from -20 degrees to -18 degrees due to an 8-minute difference from the common schedule used in Indonesia. This decision resulted in a long process that started from public unrest, discussed in the 27th National Conference of Muhammadiyah. Still, it could not be realized, then Muhammadiyah conducted a comprehensive fiqh study and appointed 3 main institutions to conduct studies astronomically. After the XXXI National Conference on Tarjih, Muhammadiyah finally decided to change this criterion through the principle of wasaṭiyyah; there is nothing wrong with this ijtihad jama`i carried out by Muhammadiyah, but Muhammadiyah does not appear to be balanced and fair in using the research results of the institutions that have been appointed, besides that Muhammadiyah also does not consider other important research outside Muhammadiyah. In the context of wasaṭiyyah, these different principles need to be resolved. The solution to unification itself must be given to the country’s religious authorities. The government is also required to fix criteria and conceptions to maximize that union effort

Unfulfilled Guarantees: Impacts of Law and Regulations Concerning Inter-Religious Relations on Religious Freedom in Indonesia

The condition of interfaith relations in Indonesia faces many challenges as intolerance increasingly occurs in various regions. The action can be seen from various violations of freedom of religion and belief, the prohibition of establishing houses of worship, and violence against minorities. One of the causes of these problems relates to the law and several regulations in interfaith relations in Indonesia. This article tries to look at the regulations and legal aspects of interfaith relations and their impact on the conditions of diversity in Indonesia. Using an empirical-legal approach, this article explores legal materials and phenomena related to the interfaith relation in Indonesia. This article reveals that the Constitution has been firmly guaranteeing and protecting all citizens from expressing their beliefs. Nevertheless, several cases show a contrary of the law objectives on interfaith relations in Indonesia. Moreover, in some particular cases, the state seemed to be absent in the locus of incident and favor of freedom violation victims instead

Maqasid al-Shari’ah in Islamic Law Renewal: The Impact of New Normal Rules on Islamic Law Practices during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The vast and multidimensional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced all countries to establish policies to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, including Indonesia. Not a few countries are not ready to make decisions to find new, more effective ways to prevent Covid-19. In Islamic law, ijtihad is part of lawmaking in the implementation of worship and muamalah, which solves problems that arise and mitigates policy implementation. This article uses a normative juridical approach to the issue because it can showcase the benefit of Islamic law for humans. Moreover, it aims to generate ideas in the renewal of Islamic law, especially in the implementation of worship and muamalah (social transaction/relation), and inform the government to make decisions that intersect with Islamic law during the Covid-19 pandemic. The focus of this research is how does covid-19 affect the practice of Islamic law in worship and mu`amalah? This study finds that government policies and regulations are currently in line with Islamic law. The most critical considerations in determining the compatibility of government policies and rules with shari’a are maintaining the soul’s safety, maintaining the continuity of religion through rukhshah, and maintaining the economy. Also, the Islamic rulings (fatwa) issued by ulama in response to government policies and rules are expected to guide worship and mu`amalah, build awareness and solidarity of Muslims, and relate to the people’s economy today.

Fiqh Across Madhhabs: An Alternative to Pesantren Students’ School of Thought Exclusivism in the Post-Truth Era

The schools of thought (madhhabs) within fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) are one of the ijtihad products explored by qualified Muslim jurists by using a particular methodology to produce Islamic laws, which Muslims then follow. The problem with established madhhabs in Islamic law is when a madhhab follower becomes exclusive and does not want to accept the differences of opinion. Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren) are a medium for developing a deep understanding of Islam and, thus, play an important role in reconstructing the learning of inclusive fiqh. This article aims to explain the meaning of the school of Islamic law exclusivism, solutions, and their impact in the post-truth era. It indicates that the school of Islamic law exclusivism is a form of madhhab fanaticism that only teaches and applies certain madhhab to influence the self-justification of their madhhab and considers those who are different from it are wrong. Hence, this article argues that fiqh-across-madhhab learning is the solution since students are taught all schools of Islamic law, the causes of their differences, and the basis for the arguments used by each eponymous madhhab (Imam). As a result, there will be developed an inclusive understanding in accepting the truth and does not make individuals fanatical and radical in religion

Applying Hirāba in Islamic Criminal Law to Curb Armed Banditry in the Zamfara State of Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges

The paper investigates the armed banditry that engages in the highway robbery attacking villagers and travelers in the Zamfara state of Nigeria. The paper aimed at examines hirāba in Islamic criminal law and the penal code of the state for the possibility of applying the provisions to curb armed banditry in the state. The paper is a Sharia study; thus, the descriptive-analytical method was followed. Opinions of four Sunni schools are relied on in most cases. In addition, academic works of contemporary jurists and thinkers in journals were extensively consulted. The critical studies of jurist’s definitions of hirāba revealed that the crime of hirāba comprises maritime piracy, aircraft hijacking, armed banditry, kidnapping, and any act of destroying society. Zamfara state, which first reintroduced the Islamic criminal system, witnessed maximum security between 2000 and 2009 because there is a political will to enforce Islamic law. Although it is alleged that Sharia was supposed to bring joy but brought bandits to the state, while the study revealed that armed banditry started around 2009, sharia implementation is not responsible for the insecurity. The paper concludes that the practical solution is the enforcement of new Sharia in the region

Safeguarding Women’s Constitutional Rights in the Judicial Reviews of Marriage Law on the Minimum Married Age Limit

The Constitutional Court seems inconsistent when examining the same legal issue, i.e., the constitutionality of the minimum married age limit for women, but with different decisions. In the 2014 decision, the Court rejected the petition, while in the 2017 decision, the Court accepted it. This paper analyzes the considerations of constitutional judges in deciding the case to understand whether women’s constitutional rights have been protected in both decisions. Using the case and statutory approach, this article concludes that the 2014 decision rejecting the petition to increase the minimum married age limit for women does not fulfill women’s constitutional rights. Sixteen years old as the minimum age limit for women and nineteen years for men is discriminatory and deprives girls’ rights to health and education. The judges’ consideration in the 2017 decision, which granted the petition, was that determining the minimum married age limit is a legal policy. Still, if the policy contradicts the 1945 Constitution, citizens can challenge its constitutionality. The Marriage Law is a past product, so it needs to be adapted to developments and the 1945 Constitution’s norms. The difference in the Constitutional Court’s decisions on examining the same issue is due to different interpretations and efforts to protect the constitutional rights of citizens.