Muhtar Said, Moh. Fadli, Aan Eko Widiarto, Dhia Al-Uyun

Between Revelation and Constitution: The Sovereignty Fiqh of Muhammad Yamin’s Sociopolitical Ijtihād

Introduction

Between revelation and constitution: the sovereignty fiqh of muhammad yamin’s sociopolitical ijtihād. Explore Muhammad Yamin's sovereignty fiqh, a sociopolitical ijtihad analyzing the interplay of revelation and constitution in shaping Indonesian state foundations and resisting colonialism.

Abstract

The crucial aspect of studying Indonesian constitutional law that is often overlooked is the dialectic between revelation (religion) and the constitution (state). This interplay significantly influences the foundational thinking of the nation’s architects and shapes constitutional law, as well as critical perspectives on colonialism. This study aims to examine the political-legal thought of Muhammad Yamin by revealing how the interaction between revelation and constitution shaped his ideas regarding the basis and sovereignty of the Indonesian state. Utilizing a textual analysis of historical documents, this research situates Yamin’s thought within the broader context of constitutional formulation as part of an intellectual resistance against colonial hegemony. The findings reveal that Yamin’s concept of sovereignty fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), which is grounded in the Islamic principle of shūrā (deliberation), represents a sociopolitical ijtihād (independent reasoning) that systematically critiques the Netherlands-Indonesia Union. Furthermore, it clearly articulates his idea of a “pembanding” or comparator, a conceptual precursor to judicial review. Theoretically, this study expands the scope of sociopolitical fiqh within contemporary constitutional discourse. [Aspek krusial dalam kajian hukum ketatanegaraan Indonesia yang sering diabaikan adalah dialektika antara wahyu (agama) dan konstitusi (negara). Interaksi ini memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap dasar pemikiran para perumus bangsa dalam membentuk hukum konstitusi, serta memberikan perspektif kritis terhadap kolonialisme. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pemikiran politik-hukum Muhammad Yamin dengan mengungkap bagaimana interaksi antara wahyu dan konstitusi mengonstruksi gagasannya mengenai dasar dan kedaulatan negara Indonesia. Melalui analisis tekstual terhadap dokumen-dokumen historis, penelitian ini menempatkan pemikiran Yamin dalam konteks yang lebih luas dari proses perumusan konstitusi sebagai bagian dari perlawanan intelektual terhadap hegemoni kolonial. Temuan ini mengungkap bahwa konsep fikih kedaulatan Yamin, yang berakar pada prinsip syūrā dalam Islam, merupakan suatu ijtihad sosio-politik yang secara sistematis mengkritik Uni Indonesia-Belanda. Selain itu, konsep tersebut secara jelas mengartikulasikan gagasannya tentang “pembanding”, yang merupakan cikal bakal konseptual dari uji materiil (judicial review). Secara teoretis, studi ini memperluas cakupan fikih sosio-politik dalam wacana ketatanegaraan kontemporer.]

Review

This paper addresses a critically important, yet often neglected, aspect of Indonesian constitutional law: the intricate interplay between religious revelation and state constitutional frameworks. By focusing on the political-legal thought of Muhammad Yamin, a pivotal figure in Indonesia's founding, the research aims to elucidate how this dialectic profoundly shaped his foundational ideas on national sovereignty and state structure. The study's approach, which situates Yamin's work within the broader context of intellectual resistance against colonial hegemony, provides a compelling historical and political lens for understanding the complex development of Indonesian constitutionalism. The methodology, relying on textual analysis of historical documents, appears well-suited for such an in-depth historical and conceptual inquiry. The abstract highlights several significant and original findings. Foremost among these is the revelation of Yamin’s "sovereignty fiqh," a concept deeply rooted in the Islamic principle of *shūrā* (deliberation). This framing positions Yamin's thought as a robust "sociopolitical ijtihād" that offered a systematic and principled critique of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union, thereby demonstrating the dynamic application of Islamic legal reasoning to pressing contemporary political challenges. Furthermore, the identification of Yamin's concept of "pembanding" as a conceptual precursor to modern judicial review is a particularly insightful contribution, offering a novel link between historical constitutional debates and the evolution of current legal mechanisms. Theoretically, the study promises to significantly broaden the scope of sociopolitical fiqh within contemporary constitutional discourse, offering new avenues for understanding the intersection of religion and state in diverse contexts. This study makes a valuable contribution by unearthing and systematically analyzing Muhammad Yamin's nuanced constitutional thought through an interdisciplinary lens, bridging Islamic jurisprudence, political science, and legal history. Its strength lies in spotlighting the intricate and often complex ways religious thought informed the very bedrock of a post-colonial, secular-leaning state, providing a richer understanding of Indonesian nation-building beyond conventional narratives. The findings have profound implications not only for Indonesian constitutional studies but also for comparative constitutional law, particularly concerning the role of religious principles in state formation and the evolution of legal review mechanisms in other post-colonial contexts. This promises to be an essential read for scholars interested in the origins of Indonesian constitutionalism and the enduring dialectic between revelation and state.

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