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Indonesia: “Born-again” Muslims driving social changes, encouraging Muslim-targeted housing and Sharia banking

Sep 1, 2019 11:00 am By Christine Douglass-Williams

In “moderate” Indonesia, Sharia is fast becoming the center of every aspect of life, thanks to the efforts of so-called “born again Muslims” who are shifting the country’s economy to ground it in “conservative Islam.” One “born again Muslim,” Arie Untung, states: “We have become some sort of like endorsers, the endorsers of Allah.”

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, faced criticism last year for lacking political authority because of the selection, apparently against Widodo’s will, of Ma’ruf Ami, the “highly conservative head of the Indonesian Ulama Council,” as his running mate. Amin is said to wield “unprecedented influence” in Indonesia for a Muslim scholar. In June, when Amin spoke at a seminar organized by the Indonesian Mosque Council in Jakarta, he talked about “moderate Islam” being the solution in moving forward for Indonesia. He went on to define what he meant by “moderate”:

“What ulemas like us must do is build a Muslim brotherhood, a national brotherhood and then a brotherhood of humanity,” Ma’ruf said. The seminar was also “attended by prominent figures from Indonesia’s two biggest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.”

Now, with what looks to be an Islamic revival in Indonesia thanks to “born again Muslims,” Indonesia is seeing a “rapid growth in demand for halal food,” housing developments to give Muslims “the chance to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad,” sharia banking, “Islamic friendly” entertainment, and Muslim prayer festivals, all helped along by online Islamic preachers. The country is also experiencing the impact of Saudi Arabia quietly spreading its “brand of puritanical Islam.”

“Ground shifts in Indonesia’s economy as conservative Islam takes root,” Israel Hayom, August 29, 2019:

Arie Untung, a former video jockey for the Indonesian offshoot of MTV, says he used to drink alcohol regularly and – back then – was a jeans-clad, spiky-haired rocker who was only a nominal Muslim.

But he says his religious fervor was rekindled by online preachers promoting more conservative interpretations of Islam, which are gaining ground in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country and bringing profound changes in its economy.

Untung has now reinvented his career by linking up with other celebrities to run a Shariah (Islamic law)-friendly entertainment business in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, including hosting popular Muslim prayer festivals. They are part of a growing body of “born-again” Muslims driving social changes that are also having an economic impact, encouraging everything from Muslim-targeted housing to Shariah banking.

“We have become some sort of like endorsers, the endorsers of Allah,” said Untung, who now sports a beard and a more restrained hairstyle, referring to his celebrity colleagues.

The celebrities, who jointly have over 20 million followers on Instagram and Twitter, are part of what has become known as the “hijrah” movement in Indonesia and, according to Untung, aim to make an Islamic economy more mainstream.

Hijrah, Arabic for migration, is used to refer to the Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution and represents the beginning of the Muslim era.

Indonesia’s 215 million Muslims have traditionally been moderate and their beliefs often included elements of mysticism and local customs…..

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Filed Under: Indonesia, Islamic supremacism, Sharia, Sharia finance Tagged With: Arie Untung


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Comments

  1. janwog says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 11:06 am

    The evolution of moderate Islam is towards Islamism, because the most motivated wins always. No future for non Muslims in Muslim majority countries.

  2. Buraq says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 11:27 am

    Shariah banking …….. ! Shariah banking has a track record for massive corruption. Anyway, fundamentally, Islamic banking is ‘un-Islamic’. Banks all over the world are bench marked through LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate.) That means so-called Shariah banks are connected to a global system that deals in interest – riba (forbidden in Islam).
    This guy should be stoned to death. He’s a fraud because he supports a fraudulent banking system! Clown!

    • gravenimage says

      Sep 1, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      Yep.

  3. Angemon says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 11:57 am

    Apologists for islam like to tout Indonesia as the place where islam didn’t spread by the sword. Well, how is that peaceful spread of islam treating non-muslims?

  4. FYI says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    “Born again”?

    They surely mean “Bomb again” muslims

    • Trick_or_Treat says

      Sep 2, 2019 at 5:29 am

      ‘Born Again’ muslims – totally absurd and ridiculuous! They are good at appropriating things, hey? I don’t think even the homosexual sodomites and gomorrans (having appropriated the word ‘gay’ and then the rainbow, etc) would rvrn stoop so low as to try and appropriate the term ‘Born Again’.

  5. Infidel says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    Jakarta is sinking, which is why Indonesia is exploring a new capital on Borneo. I just wish climate change or whatever causes all of those islands to sink like Jakarta, so that the will of allah can be attained and the world’s most populous Muslim country is underwater

    • CRUSADER says

      Sep 1, 2019 at 2:12 pm

      Hail the VISEGRAD nations of Asia:

      Taiwan 🇹🇼
      Singapore 🇸🇬

      South Korea 🇰🇷
      Japan 🇯🇵

      • Infidel says

        Sep 1, 2019 at 2:40 pm

        Can we add Philippines and Vietnam to that list?

        • katherine says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

          NO – Philippines practically surrendered Mindanao to the Muslims.

        • commonsense says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 4:51 pm

          The Philippines are under siege by Muslims from Mindanao, a Muslim-majority island in the southern part of the country, which has been agitating for autonomy. This Muslim area of the Philippines has been causing serious problems for a long time…they’re waging a local jihad, which will continue without end unless the Philippine government is able and willing to destroy them. But this seems unlikely.

        • gravenimage says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 8:24 pm

          Sadly, the Philippines have been appeasing Jihadists for a long time.

        • Infidel says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 11:14 pm

          On one hand, Duterte has been lambasted by the rest of the world (except Trump) for his human rights violations, and on the other, we’re critical of him for not wiping out MILF, Abu Sayyaf and ISIS from Mindanao? I think we’re expecting too much

          I would like to see him take Mindanao though, once he’s settled the dispute w/ China

  6. JW_Reader says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 12:26 pm

    What else do you need? The world’s most populous Muslim country is reverting back to 7th century – trying to experience Islam the way Muhammad did. That would be fun. Kaboom! 💣

  7. SemiDave says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 12:41 pm

    “…Saudi Arabia quietly spreading its “brand of puritanical Islam.”

    As the originator of Islam, Arabia, can only be expected to nudge the rest of the Muslim world toward its salafist norms. That’s the step before encouragement through terrorism as is done in so many Muslim countries that begin to stray from salafist ideals. Terrorism is just a general message to all who don’t tow the narrow line of Islam. So odd though, because the House of Saud goes against all Islamic beliefs about empires held outside a caliphate.

    • Infidel says

      Sep 1, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      Is Saudi Arabia still doing that, though? The linked story refers to 1993, when yeah, the Saudis were a major financier of Jihad. But today, they pretty much have their hands full: the war in Yemen, building that fantasy city of Neom, paying for various US led initiatives in the region, including $500 billion in military equipment, and so on. I’d think that they are less capable of being as ‘generous’ as they used to be.

      I’d keep an eye out for Qatar, though, which is trying to replace the Saudis as the go to address of Jihadists. It’s high time CENTCOM pulled out of there

      • gravenimage says

        Sep 1, 2019 at 8:54 pm

        I wouldn’t assume that Saudi Arabia has been defanged. We should *not* consider them an ally.

        • Infidel says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 9:09 pm

          Oh, I certainly don’t consider them an ally. It’s just that in the 2000s, they were considered by the Bushes an ally – closer than countries like Mexico, Russia or Britain. Trump has been flexible w/ them, but to his credit, he’s made them cough up money on any pet project of his in the region – from resettling Syrian refugees to rebuilding Iraq and Syria. And Yemen has caused them to place a $500 billion purchase order of weaponry. When you have a $22 trillion debt, that’s hardly money to sneeze at, so I understand why the president resisted senate moves to sanction Riyadh due to Jamal Khassoggi.

          There’s also that Neom initiative that the Saudis are doing to explore a post oil based economy, where the focus is on AI and other things, and not just building new mosques on the Red Sea. They wouldn’t do that if they didn’t see their sales drop and their cash looking like drying up.

          My point was that Riyadh has a lot less money to spend these days on its favorite Islamic hobbies that it used to as recently as the last decade

        • gravenimage says

          Sep 1, 2019 at 9:19 pm

          Infidel, I did not mean that *you* consider the Saudis an ally–I just meant that no Infidel nation should do so.

          And you may be right about the state of the Saudis finances–i still consider them very dangerous, though.

  8. CRUSADER says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Indos really need to read about the foundation of the modern world….
    since certainly Singapore has a better grip on matters, despite restrictions.

    “The Book that Made Your World:
    How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization”

    by Vishal Mangalwadi

    Understand where we came from.

    Whether you’re an avid student of the Bible or a skeptic of its relevance, “The Book That Made Your World” will transform your perception of its influence on virtually every facet of Western civilization.

    Indian philosopher Vishal Mangalwadi reveals the personal motivation that fueled his own study of the Bible and systematically illustrates how its precepts became the framework for societal structure throughout the last millennium. From politics and science, to academia and technology, the Bible’s sacred copy became the key that unlocked the Western mind.

    Through Mangalwadi’s wide-ranging and fascinating investigation, you’ll discover:

    What triggered the West’s passion for scientific, medical, and technological advancement

    How the biblical notion of human dignity informs the West’s social structure and how it intersects with other worldviews

    How the Bible created a fertile ground for women to find social and economic empowerment

    How the Bible has uniquely equipped the West to cultivate compassion, human rights, prosperity, and strong families

    The role of the Bible in the transformation of education

    How the modern literary notion of a hero has been shaped by the Bible’s archetypal protagonist

    Journey with Mangalwadi as he examines the origins of a civilization’s greatness and the misguided beliefs that threaten to unravel its progress. Learn how the Bible transformed the social, political, and religious institutions that have sustained Western culture for the past millennium, and discover how secular corruption endangers the stability and longevity of Western civilization.

    Endorsements:

    “This is an extremely significant piece of work with huge global implications. Vishal brings a timely message.”

    (Ravi Zacharias, author, Walking from East to West and Beyond Opinion)

    “In polite society, the mere mention of the Bible often introduces a certain measure of anxiety. A serious discussion on the Bible can bring outright contempt. Therefore, it is most refreshing to encounter this engaging and informed assessment of the Bible’s profound impact on the modern world. Where Bloom laments the closing of the American mind, Mangalwadi brings a refreshing optimism.”

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    “Vishal Mangalwadi recounts history in very broad strokes, always using his cross-cultural perspectives for highlighting the many benefits of biblical principles in shaping civilization.”

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  9. somehistory says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    What an insulting use of the Bible phrase and Jesus’ words, “born again.”
    As a believer in Christ, I have been mocked by some (who don’t believe) speaking these words from Jesus in a sneering manner. The true meaning is nothing like what these moslims are doing.

    In my opinion, these creeps are just anxious to get on the jihad bandwagon. They don’t wish to be left behind in the great “migration” of moslims to non mosiim countries in order to commit acts of terror and the goal of total takeover of the earth.

    Becoming more devout moslims will not allow them to “see the Kingdom of God.”

    • gravenimage says

      Sep 1, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Yes–calling these Muslims “born again” is twisted.

  10. gravenimage says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    Indonesia: “Born-again” Muslims driving social changes, encouraging Muslim-targeted housing and Sharia banking
    ……………………….

    Another stretch of the Muslim world fast Ilamizing.

    More:

    Indonesia’s 215 million Muslims have traditionally been moderate and their beliefs often included elements of mysticism and local customs…..
    ……………………….

    Uh…right. Except for Aceh, which flogs victims and has stoning on the books now:

    “Sharia law horror: Women unable to walk after public whipping in Indonesia”

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1096004/sharia-law-public-whipping-indonesia-flogging-bande-aceh-sumatra-islam

  11. elee says

    Sep 1, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Their parents were “moderate.” This is precisely why I keep saying every Muslim is a sleeper, forever.

  12. Tom says

    Sep 3, 2019 at 10:57 am

    When the basic tenets of a religion are inherently violent, the more devout a follower becomes the more violent they become.

    When the basic tenets of a religion are peaceful, the more devout a follower becomes the more peaceful they become.

    Most in Islam and the west have agreed that the radicals who commit acts of terror are those who become fundamental in their devotion to Islam.

    As Churchill said “But the Mahommedan religion increases, instead of lessening, the fury of intolerance. It was originally propagated by the sword, and ever since its votaries have been subject, above the people of all other creeds, to this form of madness.”
    “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apa­thy.”

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