Darulfunun Institute

Institute for Development, Research and Initiatives (IDRIS)

Tag: civil society

  • Constructing Civil Society in Surah Al-Baqarah: A Comparative Study of Tafsir al-Basith and Fi Zhilal al-Qur’an

    » AL-IMAM: Journal on Islamic Studies, Civilization and Learning Societies

    This study analyses the construction of civil society in Surah Al-Baqarah by comparing al-W??id?’s Tafs?r al-Bas?? and Sayyid Qutb’s F? ?il?l al-Qur’?n. It also identifies their convergences and divergences, the factors shaping their interpretations, and the relevance of the resulting framework to contemporary Muslim society. The study employs qualitative library research, comparative Qur’anic interpretation (muq?ran), and thematic grouping. The primary data comprise the two exegetes’ interpretations of verses in Surah Al-Baqarah related to social formation; the analysis proceeds through thematic classification, description, comparison, synthesis, and contextualisation. The findings identify seven clusters of principles: faith as the foundation, the mandate of stewardship, the civilisational critique of the Children of Israel, monotheism-based leadership, communal identity, social and legal regulation, and socio-economic solidarity and justice. Al-W??id? foregrounds normative and linguistic precision, whereas Sayyid Qutb emphasises social formation and civilisational transformation. The study’s originality lies in synthesising these two interpretive orientations into a model of civil society that combines normative certainty with transformative capacity. This framework is relevant to strengthening Muslim identity, social cohesion, accountable governance, justice, and collective welfare in contemporary contexts.

  • Waqf, Shared Value and the Rise of Society Governance

    » Perwakilan: Journal of Good Governance, Diplomacy, Customary Institutionalization and Social Networks

    This article advances the argument that waqf (Islamic endowment) constitutes a foundational model of society governance, in which communities institutionalize moral responsibility into durable public capacity. Rather than viewing waqf solely as a charitable or financial instrument, the study conceptualizes it as a governance architecture that enables societies to mobilize, preserve, and deploy resources for collective welfare independent of fluctuating political regimes. Through a narrative-historical analysis, the article traces waqf’s evolution from the Prophetic model of trust-based stewardship and the institutional consolidation under the early caliphs, to its resilience during dynastic centralization, its fiscal institutionalization in the Ottoman period, and its contemporary transformation within modern regulatory frameworks. Central to the analysis is the proposition that waqf embodies an early and enduring form of shared value creation. By preserving endowed capital while continuously generating social returns, waqf integrates economic sustainability with public benefit. This dual function positions waqf as a bridge between moral economy and modern governance theory, aligning closely with contemporary debates on stakeholder capitalism, sustainable development, and civil society resilience. The article further argues that waqf is more than its challenges. While issues of governance reform, transparency, and asset optimization remain significant, these represent transitional adjustments rather than structural weaknesses. Properly institutionalized, waqf strengthens community autonomy, enhances accountability through trusteeship, and sustains intergenerational responsibility. In an era marked by fiscal strain and institutional distrust, waqf offers a society-centered governance paradigm capable of generating shared value and reinforcing collective capacity beyond the limits of state and market mechanisms.

  • Humanitarian and Beyond States Diplomacy: Society as an Emerging Global Actor

    » Perwakilan: Journal of Good Governance, Diplomacy, Customary Institutionalization and Social Networks

    The evolution of global interaction in the 21st century reveals a widening gap between the complexity of contemporary crises and the capacity of traditional political diplomacy to address them. Geopolitical rivalries, institutional stagnation, and resource-extractive economic models have created a climate of diplomatic fatigue, where state-centered responses often fall short of delivering timely or humane solutions. Within this vacuum, civil society has emerged as a dynamic and influential actor capable of reshaping global engagement. Humanitarian organizations, volunteer networks, faith-based groups, and transnational advocacy coalitions now mobilize across borders to address urgent human needs, challenge injustices, and promote shared ethical norms. This paper conceptualizes “humanitarian and beyond-states diplomacy” as an alternative paradigm in which diplomatic influence is exercised not only through formal institutions but through societal initiative, moral persuasion, and collective action. It examines how civil society has moved from the periphery to the center of global affairs by negotiating humanitarian access, advocating for vulnerable populations, and generating new norms of solidarity and responsibility. Rather than operating within the limits of state sovereignty or economic interest, these actors draw legitimacy from empathy, global citizenship, and the moral urgency of human protection. The study argues that humanitarian diplomacy from below offers a transformative approach to international cooperation, one capable of renewing compassion, rebuilding trust, and addressing crises that have outpaced traditional diplomatic mechanisms. By analyzing this shift, the paper underscores the rising significance of society as an emerging global actor and highlights the potential of humanitarian engagement to redefine the future of diplomacy.

  • Religious Moderation: Countering Islamophobia Through Social Media Revitalization

    » AL-IMAM: Journal on Islamic Studies, Civilization and Learning Societies

    Islamophobia has recently become more prevalent, both in the West and in Muslim nations. Social media contributes to the dissemination of anti-Islamic material. Religious moderation needs to find a way to moderate arising issues in society to avoid extremism, especially Islamophobia. This essay will look at ways to rejuvenate social media in an effort to combat Islamophobia. Using a qualitative methodology and analytical descriptive approaches, the core reasons for Islamophobia’s growth and the ability of social media to combat it are investigated. According to the study’s findings, Islamophobia is mostly caused by a misunderstanding of Islam and Muslim culture. Social media, when utilized wisely, has the ability to serve as a tool for public education about Islam, recovering its image as a religion of peace and salvation. The strategies that can be implemented include being moderate, critical, and responsive to Islamophobic content and educating about the wise use of social media. Active participation from all elements of society is needed to revitalize the role of social media in countering the negative impacts of Islamophobia and creating a better understanding in the middle of the community.