This article discusses an Indonesian interpretation of Islam, focusing on the popular concept of Islam Nusantara, the archipelagic Islam. It delves into the account what is Islam Nusantara and the underlying characteristic of the concept. As this article argues, Islam Nusantara reserves as a particular Islamic thought and method. Islam Nusantara is indeed an Indonesian interpretation of Islam that emphasizes on Islam as a cultural phenomenon thus inviting the understanding of religion through a cultural approach. This cultural approach demands pluralities (...) and wasathiyah as a main reference for understanding religion. To do so, Islam Nusantara begs inclusive, tolerance and friendly Islamic interpretation and respects differences in terms of cultures and religions. It takes its roots at the Islamic principles of tasamuh, tawazun and i’tidal. Historically speaking, the Javanese nine saints, the Walisongo, is a paradigmatic example in the early Islamic proselytization as translating Islam through cultural. (shrink)

Islam Nusantara is not a new religion, a rival of Islam, sect, or a usual mazhab, but actually is a character of thoughtful mazhab or manhaj Islam. Islam Nusantara is just an approach in practicing Islamic teachings, namely cultural approaches. This Islam has the most prominent character which is called as wasathiyah that is reflected in some attitude such as, inclusive, tolerant, friendly, respect other parties, friendly with diverse cultures and religions, tasamuh, tawazun, and i’tidal. Islam Nusantara sees local cultures (...) as “oxygen”; filters and then respect good culture and tradition so it can have a dialogue with the environment around it positively. This cultural approach has been successfully used by the Walisongo in preaching using tembang, Wayang Kulit, socializing key terms, and so on. In the faith, Islam Nusantara is manifested in some rituals, tahlilan, istighasah, haul akbar, and selametan. Furthermore, in fiqh it’s such as imsak, zakat, halal-bihalal, marriage registration, marriage book, and the reading of ta’liq talaq. Islam Nusantara successfully consolidate Islam with nationalism so both of them are harmonious, and bring the tradition together with modernization through slogan a l-muhafadzah ‘ala al-qadîm al-salih wa al-akhdz bi al-jadîdal-aslah [keep the old good tradition and take a new and better tradition]. (shrink)