Tebuireng: Journal of Islamic Studies and Society
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Tebuireng: Journal of Islamic Studies and Society

From Cosmopolitanism Islam to Colonial Hegemony: Rereading the Social History of the Aru Islands as the Economic Base of Eastern Indonesia

Sahradad, Herdi (Unknown)
Wing Artha, Gratia (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
24 Dec 2025

Abstract

This article explores the traces of cosmopolitanism and Islamic colonialism in the Aru Islands, Maluku (Moluccas) which took place several centuries ago. Also depicts the social history of the Aru Islands, Maluku, in the map of Indonesia's national history. In the era of Southeast Asian trade, the Aru Islands have long been fostered under a very open, cosmopolitan and dynamic Islamic authority where trade and migration are the daily dynamics of the people in this very exotic and rich archipelago. Islam continues to spread to Papua from the Aru Islands, which proves how strong the resilience of the island's people is. Changes occurred when the West colonial powers entered the islands until finally there was a physical conflict in the form of war. Because they did not prepare themselves, the Muslims here lost and were thrown to other islands while continuing to struggle against the West colonial powers. Colonialism increasingly instilled its power and spread a religion (Christian) that was different from Islam (the general belief) held in the Aru Islands. This Western colonialism created complex dynamics, where trade on the one hand was increasingly bustling, but colonial hegemony over the Aru islands was also very real and sharp and shrouded in physical conflict between the Aru Islands Muslims and European colonialists.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

TJISS

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education Social Sciences

Description

This journal is devoted to publishing articles dealing with issues and developments in Islamic studies in general, and the relation of Islam and the society in Indonesia from all disciplines: anthropology, culture, education, economy, history, law, sociology, and politics. The journal is published ...