No abstract

One of the most observable influences of Islam on the Indian-subcontinent, especially in today's Bangladesh, is the spiritual and humane teaching of Sufism during the medieval period. Based primarily on a critical elaboration of Eaton's The Rise of Islam in Bengal Frontier 1204-1760(1993, this article attempts to describe the socio-cultural and religious role of the Sufi sheikhs in the conversion to Islam of the Bengali people during the period of Mughal Empire (1526-1858). The earliest Sufis attempted at Islamic conversion began in the very hostile environment maintained by the local Hindu or Buddhist rulers. However, these Sufis sheikhs or pirs were able to convert most of the local population to Islam by preaching about the great teachings of the new religion about love, brotherhood, and equality. Among other success factors in the Sufi mission in Islamic conversion of the Bengali during the period under discussion were their unconquerable dedication and exceptional piety as well as the common belief among the Bengali people that these pirs could perform incontestable miracles.

Abstract:Gender relations in Islam has been the subject of serious debates among scholars in Egypt for many decades. One of the central questions was whether the status and role of women in Egypt were and are primarily influenced by Islam, or they should also be attributed to other social, economic, cultural and political factors. This study will look at the status and role of women in modern Egypt. It is commonly known that traditions based largely on religion (including Islam) and superstition are strong elements in the Egyptian culture. However, this study will show that the inequity in gender relations in modern Egypt should be more attributed to socioeconomic factors than to those religious or theological beliefs. On the other hand, one cannot overlook the formative influence of Islam on the roles of women and men in the country both in the past and in the present. The study suggests that attempts to reinterpret, reassess and re-actualize Islamic doctrines and practices pertaining to the equal status and roles of women in the context of Egyptian culture should also be considered in order to alter the women and men's perception on gender relations.Islam and its impact on women's status and role in Egypt

Pesantren merupakan Institusi Islam yang paling asli sebagai warisan tradisi pendidikan Islam di Nusantara. Secara internal, pesantren merupakan institusi di mana transmisi keilmuan Islam berlangsung, sementara secara eksternal, ia merupakan isntitusi yang memiliki hubungan sosial yang sangat kuat dengan dunia luar.Karena itu, perlu dilihat peran pesantren dalam mendorong kemandirian dan penguatan masyarakat sipil. Melalui pendekatan sosiologis, artikel ini lebih banyak melihat pesantren sebagai institusi sosial yang harus memiliki peran besar dalam membangun masyarakat sipil. Berdasarkan analisis terhadap peran-peran pesantren dalam masyarakat, ditemukan bahwa peran pesantren sebagai pembentuk watak keagamaan tidak dapat diabaikan. Akan tetapi posisi pesantren sebagai institusi pendidikan Islam di samping institusi pendidikan umum telah mengalami kemunduran yang cukup signifikan dilihat dari menurunnya minat masyarakat untuk menyekolahkan anak-anaknya di pesantren. Karena itu, pesantren perlu mengembalikan peran-peran yang dalam sejarahnya sebagai pelopor kemandirian bangsa dan penguatan masyarakat sipil. Langkah-langkah menuju ke arah itu antara lain melalui revitalisasi pesantren sebagai agen kearifan lokal dan membuka jaringan dengan lembaga-lembaga sosial lainnya seperti NGO, lembaga pemerintah atau lembaga lainnya agar pesantren dapat mengesampingkan predikatnya yang selama ini disandangnya yaitu "ketinggalan zaman'.Keywords: Pesantren, Kyai, Panrita, Anregurutta, Tradisional, Modern