THE INFLUENCE AND DYNAMICS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGO
Abstract
This study examines the dynamics and civilization of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago, focusing on intercultural interactions that shaped the region's social and cultural structures. Islam, which arrived through trade and da'wah (Islamic preaching), played a significant role in shaping civilization in the Indonesian archipelago through the exchange of knowledge and technology, as well as the adaptation of local cultures. The significant contributions of Muslim scholars in mathematics, medicine, and philosophy also influenced the development of science in the Indonesian archipelago. Meanwhile, cultural interactions between Islam and local cultures resulted in acculturation that enriched the Indonesian archipelago's artistic and cultural heritage, such as performing arts and gamelan music. This study uses a qualitative approach using literature study methods and historical analysis to explore how Islamic civilization adapted and developed in the Indonesian archipelago, as well as how it influenced local social, legal, and cultural structures. In conclusion, Islamic civilization in the Indonesian archipelago was not limited to religious aspects but also encompassed the interconnected social, economic, and cultural spheres that shaped the identity of the Indonesian Muslim community.
Full text article
References
Akhir, N. S. M., Ismail, S., & Mohd Yusof, A. S. M. (2025). (Malay Manuscript MSS255 Al-Durr al-Nafis: A Study and Text Analysis of the Sufi Book of the Malay Archipelago). Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 20(1), 321–336. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol20no1.22
Amin, M., Rahman, Y., & Zulkifli, Z. (2025). Reassessing the Originality of Tarjum?n al-Mustaf?d: D??d alR?m?’s Contributions and the Scholarly Significance of the First Tafs?r in The Archipelago. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 26(1), 159–188. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i1.5818
Ardhana, I. K., & Ariyanti, N. M. P. (2023). Bali Smart Island as a Lesson Learnt for the New Capital City Nusantara. In Adv. 21st Century Human Settl.: Part F1137 (pp. 201–213). Springer. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3533-8_14
Ariwibowo, G. A., Fibiona, I., Rostiyati, A., Suyami, S., Tresnasih, R. I., & Harnoko, A. D. (2026). Preserving Cultural Heritage and Social Cohesion: The Tukuder Festival at Al-Muttaqin Mosque, Kendal, Indonesia. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 34, 813–838. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv342026.041
Arosoaie, A., & Mohamed Osman, M. N. (2025). The Violent Trajectory of Islamisation in Malaysia. In Illusions of Democracy: Malaysian Politics and People (pp. 161–180). Taylor and Francis. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5117/9789462989887-11
Astuti, P. A. A., Hardianto, A. W., Romadhon, M. S. S., & Hangsing, R. P. (2024). Marketing religious programs on television as a nonfavorite program: A study in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 15(10), 2439–2460. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-07-2022-0187
Choirin, M., Masuwd, M. A., Bin Yusof, M., Salim, H., & Tanjung, H. B. (2025). Historical Development of Islamization in the Nusantara: Trends and Scholarly Contributions. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 20(2), 301–317. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol20no2.21
Faiz, M. F., Dakhoir, A., Ali, Z. Z., & Amal, M. (2024). Living Ihya and Harmonizing the Spiritual Essence: Syeikh Washil’s Fiqh-Sufistic as the Bedrock of Spiritual-Based Islamic Law in Nusantara. El-Mashlahah, 14(2), 431–450. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.23971/el-mashlahah.v14i2.8551
Frolova, M. V. (2024a). Indonesia, Islam, and Literature: Phenomenal Popularity of Sastra Islami. Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo Universiteta Vostokovedenie i Afrikanistika, 16(2), 440–457. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu13.2024.210
Frolova, M. V. (2024b). METAMODERN IN INDONESIAN LITERATURE: A NIGHT OF 1,000 TRAITORS BY INTAN PARAMADITHA (2023). Studia Litterarum, 9(4), 138–159. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22455/2500-4247-2024-9-4-138-159
Fuadi, M. A., Faishol, A., Rifa’i, A. A., Triana, Y., & Ibrahim, R. (2024). Religious Moderation in the Context of Integration Between Religion and Local Culture in Indonesia. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 19(1), 47–59. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol19no1.4
Goriaeva, L. V. (2023). HADHRAMAUT ARABS IN THE MALAY WORLD: FEATURES OF NATURALIZATION AND SOCIAL STATUS. Vostok (Oriens), 2023(3), 185–192. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31857/S086919080024380-5
Hajar, I. I., Said, I. G., & Maram, A. N. (2025). RESISTING COLONIALISM AND THE FORMATION OF ISLAMIC IDENTITY IN NUSANTARA-INDONESIA. Miqot: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 49(2), 374–399. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.30821/miqot.v49i2.1347
Hanafi, Y., Sae?, M., Ikhsan, M. A., Diyana, T. N., Faizin, N., Ramadhan, M. R., Hanifah, U., & Mubarok, N. (2025). Recontextualisation of religious moderation teaching for strengthening the identity of Islam Nusantara: Lessons learned from faculty in Indonesia. British Journal of Religious Education. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2524040
Hasan, M., Ma’u, D. H., & Sahid, M. M. (2024). Inheritance Property Distribution Models Among the Muslim Community of Borneo-Nusantara. Al-’Adalah, 21(1), 175. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.24042/adalah.v21i1.22310
Hoesterey, J. B. (2023). Indonesian Islam as Model for the World?: Diplomacy, Soft Power, and the Geopolitics of “Moderate Islam.” In The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power: How States Use Religion in Foreign Policy (pp. 169–189). Oxford University Press. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197605806.003.0010
Jafar, N., Lampe, M., Muhammad, M. J., Muhamad, D., Ismail, A. I., & Hasyim, A. (2025). GENDER AND RELIGIOSITY IN INDONESIAN POPULAR MEDIA: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL READING OF CULTURAL REPRESENTATIONS. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 23(2), 667–695. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v23i2.1489
Jufri, M., Aidonojie, P. A., & Arowosaiye, Y. I. (2024). RELIGION AND STATE IN ISLAMIC CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: THE ROLE OF PESANTREN IN STRENGTHENING SYMBIOTIC ISLAM AND THE STATE IN MADURA. Justicia Islamica, 21(2), 221–246. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.21154/justicia.v21i2.9283
Khoiri, N., Muhajir, A., & Bin Rosnon, M. R. (2025). Fiqh Nusantara: Exploring the discourse and complexity of Indonesian Islamic jurisprudence. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(10). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025584
Mahadian, A. B., Hashim, R., & Hustafa, H. (2023). Articulating Islamist Sectarian Group Antagonism Memes on the Indonesian Politics. Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication, 39(3), 124–144. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2023-3903-07
Mauluddin, M., Firdaus, M. F., Munir, M., & Azkiyah, U. M. (2025). Sufi Hermeneutics and Symbolic Tafsir in the Javanese Manuscript Hakikate Bismillah. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 26(2), 413–443. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i2.6315
Meyer, V. H. (2024). Murdering Mangir: Literature and Memories of Violence in Islamic Java. Philological Encounters, 9(1–2), 96–122. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1163/24519197-bja10047
Mokhtar, H. M. N. B. H., & Tajuddin, H. H. A. (2023). THE ISLAMIC LEGAL SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES. IIUM Law Journal, 31(1), 39–68. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v31i1.835
Mukhamdanah, M., Firdaus, W., Hasina Fajrin, F. R., Yulianti, S., & Syamsurizal, n. (2023). Influence of the Arabic Script and Language on Acehnese Manuscript Kitab Tauhid. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 9(1), 24–34. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.901003
Muzammil, M. (2026). Queer visibility and the erotics of resistance in Indonesian gay pornography: Local voices, digital colonialism, and religious politics. Porn Studies. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2025.2602904
Noor, U. M. (2023). ASH’ARISM IN NUSANTARA: Reviewing Traditional Ulama’s Role in Shaping Islamic Creed in Nusantara. Miqot: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 47(1), 36–42. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.30821/miqot.v47i1.1070
Pratama, F. S., Zain, F. M., Ardy, M. S., & Dalela, R. (2023). KELANTAN THE LITTLE MECCA: ITS INFLUENCE ON THE ARCHIPELAGO’S 15th-19th CENTURY ISLAMIC CIVILISATION TO THE PRESENT DAY. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 21(1), 125–156. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v21i1.1110
Roberts, N. P. (2023). Islam in Maritime Southeast Asia (Nusantara). In Religion and World Civilizations: How Faith Shaped Societies from Antiquity to the Present: [3 volumes] (Vol. 3, pp. 248–250). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85209863689&partnerID=40&md5=e0a6567ae7b0886b53b64b211c099d9f
Rodriguez, D. G. (2023). Gender, Sexuality and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: Queer Muslims and their Allies. In Gend., Sexuality and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: Queer Muslims and their Allies (p. 208). Taylor and Francis. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003302490
Rofiq, A., Arifin, J., & Purwanto, P. (2024). ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE NETHERLANDS: THE ADAPTATION STRATEGY OF THE INDONESIAN MUSLIM DIASPORA IN THE NETHERLANDS IN RESPONSE TO THE ANTI-ISLAM ISSUES. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 12(1), 119–146. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v12i1.22466
Rusmini, R., Kustati, M., Samsu, S., Kusnadi, E., Wekke, I. S., Maulana, A. N., & Fitriani, S. R. (2023). Hadrami’s leadership in Islamizing Jambi: Managerial psychology perspective. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2203550
Setiawan, D. E., & Stevanus, K. (2023). Significance of Islam Nusantara Values in an Indonesian Multicultural Society. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 18(1), 203–214. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol18no1.17
Song, X., Paksi, A. K., & Suaedy, A. (2025). Shaping Resemblance in Relational Dynamics: Exploring the Interactions between Indonesian Islamic Organizations and China. China Review, 25(2), 43–81. Scopus.
Suparno, D., Rokhim, M., Chairul, S. F., & Atih, I. (2025). Islam Nusantara in Song: Transitivity Benchmarking on Qasidah Nahdliyah. Studia Islamika, 32(2), 279–311. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v32i2.46438
Tiara, A., Handayani, R., & Ziah, S. (2025). THE CONSTRUCTION OF MUSLIM WOMANHOOD IN A HADHRAMI-INDONESIAN MANUSCRIPT: A PHILOLOGICAL READING OF DAF‘ AL-TURRAH?T ‘AN W?JIB?T AL-UMMAH?T (1939). Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 23(2), 617–666. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v23i2.1417
Ubaedillah, A. (2023). THE MINORITY AND THE STATE: Chinese Muslims in the Modern History of Indonesia. Al-Jami’ah, 61(1), 107–136. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2023.611.107-136
Usman, A. R., Sulaiman, A., Zulyadi, T., Fauzan, A., Salahuddin, A., Putri, N., Jannah, M., & Misra, L. (2024). RELIGIOUS MODERATION THROUGH PERSIA-ACEH INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 24(2), 471–487. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v24i2.17443
van den Boogert, J. W. P. (2026). How Local Is Islam Nusantara? Questions of Tolerance and Authenticity. Religions, 17(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17010065
Wahidi, R., Afwadzi, B., & Rahman, R. (2025). Tawhid and Qur’anic Interpretation in Early 20th-Century Minangkabau: A Philological-Theological Study of Abdul Latif Syakur’s al-Taw??d (1882–1963). Jurnal Studi Ilmu-ilmu al-Qur’an dan Hadis, 26(2), 327–350. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i2.6268
Wardana, A. A., Setiarto, R. H. B., & Wigati, L. P. (2023). “Lepet”: Indonesian traditional food for Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 10(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-023-00197-0
Yusuf, J. M., & Yuslem, N. (2023). Acehnese Dayah Ulama’s Response to the Use of ’Urf in Istinbath of Fiqh Law from Islam Nusantara. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 8(1), 291–306. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v8i1.5732
Zain, F. M. (2025). MANUSCRIPT LEGACIES AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF MINANGKABAU ?ULAMA? TO THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF INDONESIAN ISLAM. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 23(1), 73–108. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v23i1.1256
