Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia

Service Description

The course gives insight to the religiosity of Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim majority country. In Indonesia there are five official religions, of which Islam consists by far the largest group, with 87% of the population, which means approximately 250 million people. Islam in Indonesia however is very different than how it is professed in the Middle East. Indonesian Islam is heavily interwoven with pre-Islamic beliefs, coming from local animisms, Hinduism and Buddhism. The course gives insight into the religious syncretism that shapes Indonesian Islam. We will use the historical approach, starting from pre-Islamic times and by going through the centuries we will reach today’s Indonesia. While the focus of this course is on Indonesia, we will get some insight into Malaysian Islam too. While different countries, they are part of the same cultural sphere, and the development of local Islam is connected to both places. Sessions: 1. Introduction, religion before the Islamic age 2. The spread of Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia 3. Nine Saints of Java 4. Early Javanese Islam 5. Mystics of Aceh 6. Ulama of the Malay speaking lands 7. Islamic learning, the pesantren system 8. Developments during the colonial era 9. Islam in independent Indonesia 10. Contemporary religious groups (Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, other groups) Dr. Áron Laki is a Hungarian scholar and lecturer at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) specializing in Arabic, Islamic, and Southeast Asian studies. He holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in Javanese Islam, and focuses his research and teaching on Middle Eastern culture, Asian religions, and Indonesian traditions. * The course starts during the first week of October and concludes in the second week of December, spanning 10 weeks (10 sessions). The exact days and times will be scheduled based on the availability of both the instructor and the learners. * Once learners enroll, Silk Road Academy will coordinate the class schedule, process payments, and manage administrative details. * Silk Road Academy can issue invoices so learners can request reimbursement from their affiliated universities or institutions. * Class days and times may be adjusted in accordance with the request of enrollees. * Registered participants will receive full access to recorded session videos and all course materials.