The necessities of contextualizing islamic teachings: examining Islam nusantara, revitalizing ijtihad

Ijtihad as a means of contextualizing religious teachings into life emerged almost simultaneously with the presence of Islam itself. From time to time, the contextualization continues to develop. In the hands of al-Shafi’i, the contextualization of religion finds itsstrong point of interest through the proposed methodology of systematic interpretation ofIslamic teachings. History goes on, so does the effort of contextualization of Islam continues to develop from time to time, and from one place to another. All of it shows that Islam -or any religion -cannot be perceived as a model of reality. Islam as a religion which is transmitted solely for the creation of good life is necessarily understood as a model for reality, a teaching that is abstract and general to be contextualized and developed in the reality of life, where between doctrine and reality are not always in structural conformity or similarity. The doctrine as the source and foundation of life needs to be interpreted based on space and time by maintaining itsprinciples and values. The contextualization that needs to be developed has to be aresponsible one based on the benefit of life and the human interest as a whole. Maqashid as-syari'ah and al-mashlahah are benchmarks that cannot be bargained for any personal interest