Qur’ān: Modern Interpretations: Indonesia: Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures : Brill Online http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/uid= 1960/entry?entry= ewic_COM-001411[26.3.12 10:18:42] Article Table Of Contents Indonesian context The development of tafsīr in Indonesia The influence of global Muslim feminism on Indonesian Muslim interpretations of the Qur’ān Brief biography of Indonesian Qur’ānic exegetes Indonesian interpretations of the Qur’ānic verses on gender issues Conclusion Bibliography Product Contents Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures Preliminary Articles Supplement IV Economics: Advertising and Marketing: Egypt Representations: The ^ BACK TO TOP « PREVIOUS NEXT » Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures Qur’ān: Modern Interpretations: Indonesia Indonesian context Islam was brought to the Indonesian archipelago in the seventh century by Middle Eastern traders but large-scale conversions did not happen until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This is the period when Sufi teachers from the Middle East reached the archipelago with a more esoteric form of Islam which appealed to local rulers who converted and encouraged their subjects to do likewise (Azra 1994). By the time the Dutch came to the region in the early seventeenth century, there were many Muslims in the archipelago and their struggle against Dutch colonization lasted for about 350 years. The Dutch colonial period ended in 1942, when Japan took control of the Indonesian archipelago for about three and a half years. Indonesia gained its independence in 1945. Even though Islam was the majority religion of the new nation-state, with about 88 per cent of its population professing Islam, Indonesia is a secular nation state, constitutionally guaranteeing freedom of religion to its citizens. The first president of Indonesia was Sukarno (1945–1966). In 1966, General Suharto took over the presidency and led Indonesia for about 32 years. He coined the term “New Order” to describe his government and to distinguish it from that of his predecessor, which he termed the “Old Order.” Suharto’s regime ended in 1998 and signaled the beginning of the Reform era. Since the Reform era, the following presidents have led Indonesia: Habibie (1998–1999); Abdurrahman Wahid, former leader of the mass religious organization Nahdlatul Ulama, who won the general election in 1999 but was forced to step down by the parliament in 2001; Megawati (2001–2004), the daughter of Sukarno and the former vice-president during Wahid’s Home Content Browse Help Logout All titles This title Advanced Search Search Brill Online Go