Al Wala’ wal Ukhuwwah lil Muslimat al Indunisiyyat

Abstract

The political contestation in the 2014 and 2019 Indonesian presidential elections gave rise to social polarization that reinforced the identity divide between the “us” and “them” groups. This phenomenon also influenced some Indonesian Muslim communities through the development of an understanding of al-walā’ wa al-barā’ (loyalty and disassociation), which is viewed as the foundation of social and religious relationships. This study aims to analyze the forms of loyalty among Indonesian Muslim women toward Islamic symbols, values, and practices, as well as their impact on their social interactions. The study employs a social approach based on the self–other concept, using a survey method involving 40 Indonesian Muslim women from diverse organizational, educational, and religious expression backgrounds. Data were collected via a questionnaire containing 30 questions regarding religious understanding, social interaction, economic choices, consumption, social media, and symbols of Islamic identity. The results indicate that Muslim women’s loyalty to Islamic values is not always manifested in the form of social exclusivity. The majority of respondents continue to interact with the general public, including groups from different religious and social backgrounds, even though some understand al-walā’ wa al-barā’ as part of their religious beliefs. Islamic symbols such as the shari’i hijab, membership in religious groups, and a preference for Sharia-compliant products and services do not automatically reflect political attitudes or radical tendencies. This study concludes that the religious identity and loyalty of Indonesian Muslim women are diverse, contextual, and negotiated in daily life. Therefore, expressions of Islam cannot be reduced solely to visual symbols or affiliations with specific groups but must be understood within the framework of more complex social experiences