AL-ADABIYA: Jurnal Kebudayaan dan Keagamaan
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2026): Al-Adabiya: Jurnal Kebudayaan dan Keagamaan

Revisiting Wujudiyyah and the Politics of Religious Orthodoxy in the Seventeenth-Century Aceh Sultanate

Sangidu (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia)
Eva Farhah (Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia)
Imam Wicaksono (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia)
Shawy Shawy Ahmed Abdurrahem (Benha University, Egypt)



Article Info

Publish Date
19 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study examines the theological polemic between Wujudiyyah and the orthodox interpretations of Nuruddin ar-Raniri in the seventeenth-century Aceh Sultanate, which extended beyond differences in Sufi doctrine to exert direct influence on political power through takfīr edicts, book burnings, and executions. The novelty of this research lies in its integrative approach, employing Ibn ʿArabī’s theory of ontological pluralism to elucidate the dialectic between spiritual diversity and theological exclusion. The research adopts a qualitative-historical case study design, drawing on primary sources such as the Sufi manuscripts of Hamzah Fansuri and Syamsuddin al-Sumatrani, as well as the legal texts of Nuruddin ar-Raniri. Data were collected through document analysis, critical manuscript verification, and historiographical triangulation. The analysis was conducted using thematic classification grounded in the concepts of the transimmanence of the real and the unity of being. The findings demonstrate that the conceptual distinction between wahdat al-wujūd and wahdat al-shuhūd shaped the epistemological legitimacy of religious authority, while takfīr rulings and executions functioned as politico-religious instruments. The principal contribution of this study is the formulation of a contextual ontological pluralism that extends Ibn ʿArabī’s theoretical framework, while also revealing how texts, edicts, and repressive practices operated as hegemonic tools in the enforcement of orthodoxy. Its broader implication underscores the significance of Islam Nusantara studies as a model for understanding the dialectics of Sufism, orthodoxy, and political power, offering valuable insights into contemporary religion–politics relations.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

adabiya

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education Other

Description

Al-Adabiya merupakan jurnal ilmiah lintas tema sebagai integrasi pendidikan, persoalan kebudayaan dan keagamaan yang terbit dua kali dalam setahun. Jurnal Al - Adabiya merupakan media pemikiran kritis intelektual para civitas akademika yang menggali, meneliti dan mempublisikasi sebagai karya yang ...