Islam Nusantara

This term was introduced and promoted by the Indonesian Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in 2015, as a rejection of Wahhabism.

The traditional Islam in Indonesia mainly belongs to the Sunni branch, taught by revered clerics called kyai in pesantren boarding school, especially in Java.

Several traditions, such as revering and recognizing the authority of kyai, honoring prominent Islamic figures such as the Wali Songo, and also taking part in Islamic traditions such as ziarah kubur (tomb pilgrimage), tahlilan (selamatan ceremony to send the spirit of deceased one to the afterworld), and maulid nabi (commemorating the prophet Muhammad's birthday) including Javanese sekaten ceremony, were observed diligently by traditionalist Muslims in Indonesia.

This condition has led to the ongoing religious dispute, uneasy coexistence and somewhat a spiritual rivalry, between traditionalist Nahdlatul Ulama and modernist puritan Muhammadiyah.

[7] The ultra conservative doctrine of Salafi and Wahhabi followed and promoted by the state of Saudi Arabia has dominated the global discourse of Islam for decades.

[9] Internally, some of foreign and local Islamist organizations, such as Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Front Pembela Islam (FPI), and also Islamist political parties such as Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) have been actively involved in Indonesian politics in recent years, undermining the traditionalist Islamic institution especially Nahdlatul Ulama.

Those Islamist elements in Indonesian politics are suspiciously regarded as weakening and harming the secular state ideology Pancasila.

As the result, it is based on traditional eastern notions of decorum and mannerism; it emphasizes honoring the status and authority of kyai or ulama (religious teacher).

The students require the on-going guidance of their religious teacher, in order not to go astray or develop false or radical ideas.