ASEAN Journal of Islamic Studies and Civilization (AJISC)

Rationality, Intuition, and Revelation: The Mystical Epistemological Structure of Mulla Ṣadrā in al-Asfār al-Arbaʿah

Zainal Arifin, Eka Laila Fithria Nita, Moh. Fuad Salim — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The epistemological framework of al-Ḥikmah al-Mutaʿāliyah has generally been examined from the perspective of ontology and metaphysics, while its epistemic architecture as an integrated system of knowledge remains comparatively underexplored. This article investigates how Mulla Ṣadrā constructs a mystical epistemology through the dynamic integration of rationality (ʿaql), intuitive unveiling (kashf), and revelation (sharʿ) in al-Asfār al-Arbaʿah. Employing a qualitative library-based approach, the study applies philosophical hermeneutics to reconstruct the internal logic of Ṣadrā's epistemological system and to examine its implications for the formation of the spiritual subject. The analysis demonstrates that knowledge, in Ṣadrā's philosophy, is neither exclusively rational nor solely intuitive, but emerges from the dialectical integration of demonstrative reasoning, spiritual intuition, and revealed truth. This epistemological synthesis culminates in ʿilm ḥuḍūrī (presential knowledge), understood as the highest mode of cognition in which the knower and the known attain existential unity. Furthermore, the framework of the four spiritual journeys (al-asfār al-arbaʿah) reveals that epistemic development is inseparable from ontological transformation, whereby intellectual perfection simultaneously entails ethical refinement and spiritual realization. This study argues that Mulla Ṣadrā's epistemology transcends the conventional dichotomy between philosophy and Sufism by offering a holistic theory of knowledge that integrates metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical dimensions. The findings contribute to contemporary discussions on Islamic philosophy by demonstrating the continuing relevance of Ṣadrā's epistemological paradigm for understanding the relationship between reason, spirituality, and religious knowledge in the modern intellectual context.

Reconstructing Islamic Inheritance Law in Indonesia: Negotiating Classical Fiqh Mawarith and Contemporary Legal Challenges

Ahda Fithriani, Faridah Faridah — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The transformation of family structures and the growing demand for gender justice have generated significant controversy in the application of Islamic inheritance law (fiqh mawarith) across Muslim-majority societies, particularly in Indonesia. Classical Islamic inheritance provisions, while providing a detailed normative framework, often encounter tension when applied to contemporary social realities characterized by legal pluralism and changing familial dynamics. This study examines the reconstruction of Islamic inheritance law in Indonesia through the negotiation between classical fiqh mawarith doctrines and contemporary legal challenges within modern Muslim society. This research employs a normative juridical approach using statutory, conceptual, comparative, and case approaches. Primary legal materials include Qur'anic verses on inheritance (QS. An-Nisa: 7, 11, 12, 176), classical fiqh mawarith literature, the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI), Religious Court decisions, and Indonesian legal regulations related to inheritance disputes. Secondary materials consist of contemporary journal articles and scholarly works discussing Islamic legal reform, maqasid al-shariah, and legal pluralism. The findings reveal that Indonesian Islamic inheritance law has undergone substantial reconstruction through judicial interpretation, particularly in the expansion of wasiat wajibah (mandatory bequest) to non-Muslim heirs and the recognition of substitute heirs. The Indonesian Supreme Court's progressive jurisprudence demonstrates contextual ijtihad that integrates maqasid al-shariah principles with constitutional demands for justice and equality. This research concludes that the reconstruction of Islamic inheritance law in Indonesia represents a dynamic model of contextual Islamic jurisprudence that balances doctrinal fidelity with social responsiveness, offering valuable insights for other Muslim-majority societies navigating similar legal reforms..

Reimagining Islamic Education through Local Wisdom: A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Banjar Cultural Values into Character Education in Southeast Asian Muslim Schools

Najimatul Ilmiyah, Rahmawati Yuliyani, Muhammad Yani, Abdullah Abdullah — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Globalization and digital transformation have accelerated educational standardization, often marginalizing local cultural identities within Islamic education. Existing studies have examined Islamic character education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and local wisdom independently, yet a coherent framework integrating Banjar cultural values into Islamic curriculum development remains absent. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework that positions Banjar local wisdom as a foundation for contextual Islamic character education in Southeast Asia. Employing a qualitative library research design, the study systematically analyzes academic books, Scopus-indexed journal articles, curriculum documents, educational policies, and scholarly works on Banjar culture using thematic content analysis. The findings identify five core dimensions of Banjar cultural wisdom and synthesize them into the Banjar Contextual Character Education Framework, comprising Islamic values, Banjar cultural wisdom, contextual learning processes, character formation, and social responsibility. The framework demonstrates that Banjar local wisdom functions not merely as cultural content but as an epistemological resource that strengthens Islamic educational philosophy and culturally responsive curriculum development. This study contributes a conceptual model that bridges Islamic educational theory with indigenous Muslim knowledge, providing a reference for contextual curriculum development in Southeast Asian Muslim societies.