Borneo International Journal of Islamic Studies

Islamic Art and Creative Expression: A Conceptual Analysis of Aesthetic and Religious Values

Selfa Afia — 2026-06-01

Contemporary discussions on Islamic art often raise questions regarding the relationship between artistic freedom and religious commitment. This study examines how art is conceptualized within Islamic thought and explores the extent to which creative expression may coexist with religious values. Employing a qualitative literature review with an interpretive content analysis approach, this study draws upon primary Islamic sources, including the Qur’an and hadith, as well as classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship and academic literature on Islamic aesthetics. The analysis focuses on three dimensions: theological foundations of art, ethical boundaries of artistic expression, and the socio-spiritual functions of art in Islamic traditions. The findings indicate that Islamic perspectives do not reject artistic creativity; rather, art is understood as a meaningful cultural and spiritual practice guided by the principles of tawhid, morality, and social responsibility. The study argues that Islamic art represents a dynamic space in which aesthetic innovation and religious values are continuously negotiated. This research contributes to broader discussions in Islamic Studies by offering a conceptual framework for understanding the interaction between creativity, spirituality, and religious ethics in contemporary Islamic contexts.

Gratitude as Ecological Ethics in Islam: An Ecotheological Reading of the Nyadran Tradition in Temanggung, Indonesia

Arif Wibowo — 2026-06-01

Recent studies on religion and environmental sustainability have highlighted the importance of local religious traditions in fostering ecological responsibility. However, studies of the Javanese Nyadran tradition have primarily focused on its cultural and ritual dimensions, leaving its ecological and theological significance underexplored. This study examines how the Nyadran tradition in Temanggung, Indonesia, embodies ecological ethics through the Islamic concept of gratitude (shukr). Drawing on Al-Ghazali’s theory of gratitude, which integrates al-'ilm (knowledge), al-hal (spiritual disposition), and al-'amal (ethical action), this research develops an ecotheological interpretation of Nyadran and its relationship to environmental stewardship. Using a qualitative approach and cultural hermeneutic analysis, the study interprets the symbolic meanings embedded in Nyadran Kali and Nyadran Makam through observations, interviews, and local cultural narratives. The findings reveal that Nyadran functions not only as a ritual expression of gratitude to God but also as a communal mechanism for cultivating environmental awareness and responsibility. Through practices that honor water sources, agricultural landscapes, and ancestral heritage, local communities express gratitude by preserving the natural environment that sustains their livelihoods. The study argues that Nyadran operationalizes the Islamic principles of khalifah (stewardship) and amanah (trusteeship), transforming gratitude from an individual spiritual virtue into a collective ecological ethic. By demonstrating how local Islamic traditions contribute to environmental sustainability, this research advances contemporary discussions in Islamic ecotheology and offers a culturally grounded framework for faith-based ecological conservation.

Hirabah in the Perspective of the Qur’an and the Indonesian Criminal Code: A Maqasid al-Sharia and Deterrence Theory Analysis

Amalia Husna Islamy — 2026-06-01

This study examines the relationship between the Qur’anic concept of ḥirābah and violent theft under Article 479 of Indonesia’s Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. While previous studies have discussed ḥirābah from doctrinal, comparative, and contextual perspectives, they have not sufficiently clarified the limits of equivalence between ḥirābah and violent theft within Indonesian positive law. This article addresses that gap by employing a qualitative normative method and a functional-comparative framework. The analysis focuses on legal foundations, protected interests, elements of offense, public-security implications, structure of sanctions, and procedural safeguards. The findings show that ḥirābah and Article 479 KUHP overlap in their concern with violence, intimidation, protection of property, and disruption of public security. However, they differ significantly in legal ontology, scope, penal logic, and normative justification. Ḥirābah is framed as a grave offense against public order and social security, whereas Article 479 KUHP remains doctrinally anchored in the offense of theft aggravated by violence. Within maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, the punishment for ḥirābah is understood as a means of protecting life, property, and public security. Drawing on contemporary deterrence theory, the study argues that the effectiveness of punishment depends not merely on severity but also on certainty, consistency, proportionality, and procedural legitimacy. The article also addresses contemporary human rights concerns surrounding ḥudūd punishments, emphasizing due process, evidentiary safeguards, and protection against arbitrary enforcement. The study contributes an integrative model for reading Islamic criminal law and modern criminal law as distinct yet dialogical legal traditions.

Diplomatic Appointments and Competency Standards in Indonesia: A Siyasah Dauliyah Analysis of Meritocracy and Ambassadorial Selection

Marha Awanis Syamlina — 2026-06-02

The appointment of ambassadors is crucial to a state's diplomatic effectiveness and representation in international forums. In Indonesia, the appointment of non-career diplomats to strategic ambassadorial positions has raised concerns regarding compliance with meritocratic governance and competency requirements. This study examines whether Indonesia's regulatory framework governing diplomatic appointments adequately ensures diplomatic competence and aligns with the principles of Siyasah Dauliyah. Employing normative legal research, the study uses statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches to analyze the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 37 of 1999 on Foreign Relations, Law No. 5 of 2014 on State Civil Apparatus, and Presidential Regulation No. 56 of 2021. The findings reveal that the existing framework grants broad discretion over ambassadorial appointments while lacking measurable, enforceable competency standards. This gap weakens the implementation of merit-based governance and may affect diplomatic effectiveness. Drawing on the principles of amanah (trustworthiness), kifayah (competence), and 'adalah (justice), this study proposes an integrated evaluative framework for diplomatic appointments. It argues that legal reform is necessary to establish objective competency benchmarks and transparent selection mechanisms for both career and non-career diplomats.