Journal of Islamic History

The Degradation of The Role of Mamaca Art as a Medium for Proselytizing Moderate Islam

Ahmad Badrus Sholihin — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of the fading of the mamaca art tradition among the Madurese community, especially in Glagahwero Village, Kalisat District, Jember Regency. The art of mamaca, which used to function as a means of cultural Islamic da'wah, has now experienced a significant decline in terms of regeneration of actors, community appreciation, and social relevance. This is exacerbated by the strengthening of scripturalist-textualist da'wah that is less accommodating to local cultural expressions. The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that contribute to the decline of the art of mamaca, examine the responses of religious leaders and artists to these conditions, and explore the implications for moderate Islamic da'wah in the contemporary era. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, utilizing data collection techniques that include observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Informants consisted of religious leaders, artists, and local villagers.The results showed that the decline of mamaca was influenced by the absence of a regeneration system, resistance to innovation, and the dominance of a literalistic religious model. The art of mamaca has the potential to be revived if it is integrated into pesantren education and local cultural programs that are more adaptive to the current context.

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A Different Kind of Political Islam: The Ideas of The Sudanese Scholar Mahmoud Mohamed Taha

Cristi Rusin — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Ustadh Mahmoud Mohamed Taha is one of the least known but most interesting figures in Sudanese history. The movement he led, the Republican Brotherhood, played a significant role in the debates within Sudanese society during the 1950s-1980s. This study presents the life and thought of this figure, analyzing his main work: The Second Message of Islam. This volume forms the foundation of his entire Islamist ideology, a progressive, pacifist, and tolerant Islamism very different from that of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The essential characteristic of his conception is linked to the distinction between the Islamic message revealed in Mecca and that in Medina — more precisely, between the Meccan and Medinan surahs. He believed that the core teachings of the Qur’an with universal and timeless applicability are the Meccan ones, whereas the laws from Medina are temporary. These unique interpretations by Taha brought him into direct conflict with the Sudanese authorities, who accused him of apostasy — a conflict that ultimately culminated in his execution. His movement and ideas, unusual for traditional Islam, remain a relevant example of an attempt to modernize Islam and perhaps could have contributed to preserving Sudan's unity.

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