Media of Law and Sharia
Vol. 7 No. 1: April 2026

Legitimizing Religious Court Authority: Strengthening Public Confidence in Sharia Economic Dispute Resolution in Indonesia

Asyiqin, Istianah Zainal (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Jul 2026

Abstract

The Religious Court in Indonesia has formal authority to resolve Sharia economic disputes. However, in practice, its role in this field remains limited, as the public still largely associates the institution with family law matters such as divorce, inheritance, child custody, wills, and grants. This condition reflects a broader issue of public trust and awareness regarding the Religious Court’s capacity to handle Sharia economic cases. This study examines the factors that contribute to this limited trust and how they affect the use of the Religious Court as a forum for economic dispute resolution. Using normative legal research, this study analyzes statutory regulations, Religious Court decisions, legal doctrines, academic literature, and relevant institutional reports concerning Sharia economic dispute resolution in Indonesia. The findings show that public trust is weakened by three main factors: historical and regulatory limitations, inadequate court facilities to meet business needs for efficient dispute resolution, and low legal literacy among Sharia economic actors. Strengthening the Religious Court, therefore, requires regulatory reform, institutional improvement, better infrastructure, and sustained legal education. This study also highlights the importance of further research on public perceptions of the Religious Court.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

mlsj

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

The scope of the writings published in the journal Media of law and Sharia covers all aspects of positive law, including sharia law in Indonesia: Criminal Law This scope contains regulations that determine what actions are prohibited and are included in criminal acts, as well as determine what ...