Mizan: Journal of Islamic Law
Vol 14 No 1 (2026): Mizan: Journal of Islamic Law

Money Politics As A Form Of Risywah: Perspective Of The 2012 Munas-Konbes Bahtsul Masail Of Nahdlatul Ulama

Putra Kurniawan (Universitas Islam Tribakti Lirboyo Kediri)
Fatmah (Tribakti Islamic University, Lirboyo, Kediri)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Aug 2026

Abstract

The practice of money politics in village head elections remains a problem that threatens the quality of democracy and also raises debate from an Islamic legal perspective, as it bears similarities to the concept of risywah (bribery). This study aims to analyze the practice of money politics in village head elections in Indonesia and examine its position as a form of risywah based on the ruling issued by the Bahtsul Masail Diniyyah al-Waqi'iyyah commission at the 2012 Musyawarah Nasional (Munas) Alim Ulama and Konferensi Besar (Konbes) Nahdlatul Ulama, held 14–17 September 2012 at Pondok Pesantren Kempek, Cirebon. The study employs a normative legal research method, a conceptual approach, and an explicit literature-selection procedure. Data were obtained through a library study of Islamic legal literature, laws and regulations, the views of the ulama, and the published proceedings of the 2012 Munas-Konbes, and were then analyzed descriptively and analytically. The results, understood as a literature-derived typology rather than original field findings, indicate that money politics in village head elections is described in the literature through various forms of material gifts, such as money, personal assistance, and certain facilities aimed at influencing voter choices. The 2012 Munas-Konbes ruling, read together with subsequent scholarly analysis of its reasoning, emphasized that this practice falls into the category of risywah, prohibited when aimed at securing political support, while distinguishing this from giving intended to help a reform-minded candidate defeat a corrupt one, and addressing not only the giving candidate's liability but also the legal position of the receiving voter. This study concludes that money politics is a form of electoral corruption that not only damages local democracy but also violates sharia values, so that strengthening political education, religious awareness, and effective supervision are needed to prevent this practice. Keywords: Risywah; Money Politics; 2012 Munas-Konbes Bahtsul Masail; Nahdlatul Ulama.  

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Journal Info

Abbrev

MIZAN

Publisher

Subject

Religion Education Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Mizan: Journal of Islamic Law is a peer-reviewed journal on Islamic Family Law, Syari’ah, and Islamic Studies. This journal is published by the Islamic Faculty, Ibn Khaldun University of Bogor, in partnership with APSI (Association of Islamic Indonesian Lawyers). Editors welcome scholars, ...