Islam on the air: the struggle for salafism through radio in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesian Islam has become the point of contestation of ideologies, particularly between the so-called globally-inspired and locally- rooted views of Islam. This article deals with the Salafism struggle in da’wah on the airwaves through the radio as locally rooted in Indonesia with a special reference to the Salafi radio highly popular in Batam of Riau, Hang Radio. It analyzes two main issues, first on the growth of religious thinking in Indonesian Islam and its relationship with media propaganda, and second on the Salafi struggle for Islamic identity by means of broadcasting through radio. It argues that through the radio the Salafists implement their ideology as part of their socio-religious identity in a public sphere. Through a hermeneutical-phenomology analaysis, this article finds thatthe Salafism struggle of Islamic identity by means of radio is fragmented rather than cohesive and solid. Moreover, this struggle is not immune to capitalism. Above all, this struggle is also influenced by transnational and local elements.

Impression Management of the Muslim Preacher in Indonesia

“…As a result, Syafwan Diran's ability to explore preaching methods is influenced by his ability to combine local and global trends. The findings of this research are similar to the results of the study by Masduki, Muzakki, Rosidi, & Hartono (2022), which found that the struggle of Salafi preaching at Hang Radio in Batam was more flexible because transnational and local elements influenced it, besides, Syafwan Diran also commits to preaching. Ustaz Syafwan Diran is constantly striving to improve his methodological competency in preaching autodidactically so that his preaching is readily accepted and practiced by his congregation.…”

Da’wah and Strengthening the Understanding of Religious Moderation at Islamic Universities

“…In short, Islamic populism strengthens group identity politics (Akhmadi, 2019;Arif, 2020;Busro, 2019;Triantoro, 2019). One example of enhancing group identity politics is the da'wah carried out by Hang Radio Batam, Riau Islands (Masduki et al, 2022). This has been shown in research conducted by Akmaliyah & Nadzir (2021) which shows that Islamic populism has a close relationship with the fading attitude of religious moderation in Indonesia.…”

Salafi Movement Post-Conflict Ambon: A Search for Identity in Maluku

“…52 In order to promote Salafism, FKAWJ utilised various media, including mosque pulpits, newsletters, halaqas, Islamic schools, and a radio transmitter named Suara Pembela Muslim Maluku (SPMM), or Voice of the Maluku Muslims' Struggle. 53 In responding to the "propaganda" of disseminating Salafism ideology, eyewitness, M.N. Rahawarin, commented on his experience: … When Laskar Jihad was arrived, we Muslims welcomed them with joy because we considered them as fellow Muslims who came from far away to defend our honour.…”