Islamic Studies as an Object of Religious and Cultural Studies

Abstract

Islamic Studies has often been narrowly understood as a theological and normative field of study centered on sacred texts and religious law. However, as a social phenomenon embedded in society, Islam also manifests as a cultural reality that interacts dialectically with local contexts, historical developments, and the everyday practices of its followers. This article aims to critically examine Islam as a dual object of study: as a religion, representing its normative-theological dimension, and as a culture, representing its historical-empirical dimension. This study employs a qualitative approach using library research and content analysis of contemporary academic literature on Islamic studies methodologies. The findings indicate that the normative and cultural approaches are not opposing perspectives but rather complementary dimensions for understanding Islam comprehensively (kaffah). An integrative-interconnective approach enables researchers to examine Islam not only as a fixed body of doctrine but also as a living practice (Living Islam) that continuously interacts and negotiates with local cultures, as demonstrated by the phenomenon of Nusantara Islam. This article concludes that contemporary Islamic studies require a multidisciplinary framework that integrates classical Islamic sciences with the social sciences and humanities to capture the complexity of Islam as both a religion and a culture.