Contesting Fiqh Authority and Religious Bureaucracy: State–Islam Relations and KUA Reform in Contemporary Indonesia

Published: 2026-04-30 Pages: 19–38 DOI: 10.66277/cfs.v1i1.228
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Abstract

This study examines the contestation of fiqh authority between the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) concerning the proposed expansion of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) functions to encompass marriage registration for diverse religious communities in Indonesia. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research explores how MoRA and MUI construct their respective authorities in defining the role of the KUA within contemporary Indonesian society. The data were derived from official documents, policy statements, fatwas, and media coverage related to the debate on KUA reform. The findings indicate that MoRA promotes a discourse of bureaucratic inclusivity by advocating the transformation of the KUA from an institution exclusively serving Muslim marriages into a more inclusive administrative body responsible for facilitating marriage registration across all officially recognized religious communities in Indonesia. In contrast, MUI, emphasizing the historical and juridical foundations of the KUA, argues that such an expansion risks undermining the boundaries of Islamic legal authority and theological authenticity. This study contributes to broader scholarly discussions on fiqh authority, religious bureaucracy, and state-Islam relations in the contemporary global context.

Keywords

Fiqh Authority Religious Bureaucracy State–Islam Relations KUA Reform Indonesia

Copyright

Copyright Holder: Muhammad Ali Magfur

Copyright Year: 2026

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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How to Cite

Contesting Fiqh Authority and Religious Bureaucracy: State–Islam Relations and KUA Reform in Contemporary Indonesia. (2026). Contemporary Fiqh Studies, 1(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.66277/cfs.v1i1.228