Power-knowledge Relations of The Elder and The Younger Madurese Muslim Scholars in Propagating Islamism in Madura: A Counter-narrative

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between religion-politics and knowledge developed by the Kiai Tua and the Kiai Muda in Madura. The Kiai Tua, represented by Aliansi Ulama Madura (AUMA/The Alliance of Madurese Ulema), and the Kiai Muda, represented by Forum Kiai Muda (FKM/The Forum of Young Ulema), have actively propagated the idea of Islamism in Madura. Employing Foucault’s theory of power relations, this article finds that the relation of power and knowledge, which has been constructed by the AUMA, the FKM, and their organizational networks, seems to put Madura in a risk as this idea will bring about the intolerant and exclusive view. Their religious understanding and publicity have a militant and robust desire to make their ideological narratives, mainly the ideology of Islamic revival, along with the aspiration to establish a global Islamic leadership system, come into existence. This resistant attitude subsequently makes this ideology goes into an extreme, radical, and intolerant movement. For this reason, several moderate groups such as Pengurus Cabang Nahdlatul Ulama (PCNU) Pamekasan, along with its autonomous bodies, have actively voiced moderate and peaceful religious narratives as a counterbalance against intolerant and exclusive religious narratives proclaimed by two aforementioned Islamist groups.