A common misconception about Islam Nusantara is viewing it as a “different Islam,” as if it were separate from the broader Islamic faith. This perception, often held by those who disagree with the concept, even goes as far as labeling Islam Nusantara as misguided. Their most frequent argument is that “Islam is simply Islam,” and there’s no such thing as Arab Islam, Nusantara Islam, or any other form of regional Islam.
One Islam, Many Expressions
The statement “Islam is simply Islam” holds some truth, but it also misses an important point.
Islam is indeed one and there is no other Islam in essence. It is a singular teaching revealed by Allah SWT to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). However, as a cultural expression, Islam takes on many forms. The way Muslims practice and interpret these teachings varies greatly, as Islam, like any religion, enters and evolves within the human historical context. In this space, we see a diversity of interpretations and practices, which is why one unified religion manifests in such a variety of expressions.
Among this diversity is Islam Nusantara. In fact, Islam Nusantara itself is highly diverse, as each community within the region has its own distinct Islamic practices. Therefore, to claim that there is no such thing as Islam Nusantara is to ignore the reality of the region’s rich and varied Islamic traditions.
The term Islam Nusantara describes the diversity of Islam as it has developed within the unique context of the Nusantara. Buya Ahmad Syafii Maarif, in his book Islam, Humanity, and the Indonesian Identity, explains this as the interaction between faith and culture. When Islam entered and evolved in the Nusantara, this interaction between religion and culture gave rise to a rich diversity of Islamic practices.