Jurnal Al-Qurba 1(1): 58-81, 2010 58 Madhhab Ahl Al-Bayt In Nusantara: The Past And Present Umar Faruk Assegaf 1 1 Faculty of Asian Studies Australian National University, Australia. Email: umar.assegaf@anu.edu.au Abstract The existence of Madhhab Ahl Al-Bayt in the archipelago could be traced back to the first time Islam entering Indonesia. Evidently, a number of religious symbols and practices in the country seem to have a close association with the basic tenet of the Shi’i school of thought. Even until today, these practices are still vivid among Muslim community in Indonesia. As an Islamic school of thought, this madhhab was not as popularly acceptable as Sunnism for unknown reason, hence, the developments of this madhhab in Indonesia came into its lowest ebb until it gained the moment when Khomeini led-Islamic revolution toppled Shah Pahlevi of Iran in 1979. However, beside the Iranian revolution, there were other factors impacting the developments of Shi’ism in Indonesia, They are including dynamic domestic socio- economic and political situation in Indonesia. Some dominating aspects in relation with Islamic movement as general in Indonesia which gained its moment within the period of 1980s and 1990s are should be part of the consideration. Keywords : Ahl Bayt, Nusantara, Iran, revolution, Khomeini. Introduction The presence of Shi’ism 1 , the so-called Madhhab Ahl Al- Bait, in Indonesia in the past has always been a contentious issue among historians and scholars of Islam. The main reason is that, 1 In this paper, the term of Shi’ism indicates denomination in contrast with Sunnism while Shi‘I refers to a follower or devotee in singular form and its plural one is Shi’is. The term Shi‘i is used both as adjective and noun.