The Dynamics of Islamic Sharia Implementation in Aceh: A Socio-Legal Study on the Interaction between Islamic Sharia, Customary Law, and National Positive Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56593/khuluqiyya.v8i2.251Keywords:
Islamic Sharia, Legal Pluralism, Socio-legal Approach, Customary LawAbstract
The implementation of Islamic Sharia in Aceh constitutes a distinctive legal phenomenon within Indonesia's constitutional framework. Special autonomy granted through Law Number 44 of 1999 and Law Number 11 of 2006 provides the legal basis for the formal enforcement of Islamic Sharia through regional regulations (qanun). Rather than operating independently, Sharia implementation interacts continuously with Acehnese customary law (adat) and Indonesia's national legal system, creating a complex landscape of legal pluralism. This study examines the dynamics of these interactions, identifies the challenges of harmonizing the three legal systems, and analyzes the roles of social actors in the implementation process. Employing a qualitative socio-legal approach supported by a comprehensive literature review, the study finds that Islamic Sharia in Aceh is implemented through ongoing processes of negotiation, adaptation, and contestation among religious, customary, and state legal norms. Customary law functions as a mechanism of social mediation that complements the enforcement of qanun, while national law provides the constitutional framework that both legitimizes and constrains Sharia implementation. Major challenges include regulatory inconsistencies, competing legal interpretations, human rights concerns, and local political dynamics. The study concludes that the effective implementation of Islamic Sharia depends on the ability of the regional government and society to harmonize Islamic principles, Acehnese customary traditions, and the values of a democratic rule-of-law state while ensuring legal certainty, social legitimacy, and sustainable governance.
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