Friday Sermon as a Medium of Religious Education for Muslim Society: An Analysis of the Management of Juristic Disagreement in the State of Johor

Abstract

Islam places great importance on knowledge and understanding in the practice of its religious law, known as fiqh. The diversity of fiqh opinions in Islam has become a polemical issue among the general public who do not fully understand the reality of fiqh disagreement (ikhtilaf fiqhi). In the state of Johor, the Shafi‘i school of thought has long served as the official reference in religious practice, particularly in matters related to fiqh al-‘ibadat (jurisprudence of worship). However, the rapid development of information technology and social media has opened space for the dissemination of diverse fiqh opinions without adequate regulation from the state religious authorities. This article aims to analyse the role of the Friday sermon as a significant medium of religious education in addressing conflicts arising from fiqh disagreements in Johor. The study employs a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that the Friday Sermon functions as a mechanism for narrative control, public religious education, and the strengthening of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah identity in managing fiqh disagreements in a wise and institutionalised manner.