Towards a Global Ummah and Indonesia’s Contentious Nationalism

From the formation of organizations like Sarekat Islam and Partai Komunis Indonesia in the early twentieth century, to the most recent rallies in Jakarta by Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) calling for the arrest of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Ahok, for blasphemy against Islam, the place of religion in the formation of a national identity has been often violently played out. However, this paper will focus on the history of and contemporary phenomenon surrounding Habib Syech bin Abdul Qadir Assegaf, whose sensuous performances of sholawat bring together Muslims from across ideological lines together in Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. He appeals to those who want shari’a implemented in Indonesia and those who are progressive Muslims arguing for a secular state. His nationalism is rooted in his individual identity that has historical roots in Yemen but champions Indonesia as the only place in the world the government and Islam can work together. This is further complicated by the thousands that follow him who are Malaysian, Chinese, and Taiwanese. The kind of nationalism that Habib Syech performs every night across Southeast Asia calls for an Islamic community that traverses the boundaries of nations while being firmly rooted in Indonesia. This paper indicates the historical events of Habib Syech’s life and Indonesian history that converge to create this form of nationalism that looks towards the global ummah (the Muslim community) for unity without missing the diversity of Indonesian Islamic experience in the emerging phenomenon of sholawat.