The Politicization of Religion in Indonesia (The Use of Hadith on Jihad and Hijra in General Election in Indonesia)

Abstract

Religion was often used as a political media to win the battle for power, including politics in Indonesia. The terms "Jihad" and "Hijrah" contained in the Qur'an and Hadith are also used by Islamist groups as a campaign tool to win the presidential or governorial elections, as happened on Jakarta’s governorial election 2017 and Indonesia’s presidential election 2019. Jihad which was originally meaningful generally interpreted by this group only as a hard effort to defeat the party or potential leader of the opponents who was considered un-Islamic or not in favor of Islamic interests. Hijrah is also interpreted as a move from a lifestyle that have not been "shar'i" to "shar'i life", Islamic, halal, and good life. The concept of understanding and practice like this will certainly have an impact on the life of the nation and religion  in  the pluralistic Indonesia.  This  study  used    qualitative research,    the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) theory to be developed in critical hermeneutics. The finding is that the concepts  of  jihad  and  Hijrah  were misused  on  the presidential and  governorial elections in Indonesia, especially on 2017 and 2019. The motive is to win the group and defeat opponents who are considered un-Islamic,  shar'i,  and siding  with  the interests of Muslims. Identity politics based on narrow and one-sided perceptions has proven to cause unrest and endanger the life of the nation and religion, because it will be cause disharmony and disintegration.