The Revival of the Sunnah: A Case Study of the Interpretation of Zakat Practices by the Muamalah Amirat Nusantara Community in Indonesia

ABSTRACT: This article aims to examine the approach used by the Muamalah Amirat Nusantara Community in interpreting and revitalizing zakat practices derived from traditional Islamic sources in the context of modern economic realities. This study employs a qualitative approach using a case study method, with data collected through in-depth interviews, documentation of Zaim Saidi’s works, and observations of zakat practices within the community. The results of the study indicate that this community has established an alternative economic system based on the use of dinars and dirhams as the primary instruments in zakat transactions. They refer to classical fiqh literature and Nusantara scholars, such as Syekh Muhammad Arsyad Al-Banjari, to justify their rejection of fiat currency. Zakat management is carried out by internal authoritative structures such as amirs and viziers, and distributed through the Muamalah Market scheme. This movement is not only a form of worship, but also an expression of Islamic revivalism aimed at creating a social and economic order that is considered more Islamic and just. These findings confirm the negotiation between tradition and modernity in contemporary religious practice and highlight the dynamics of reinterpreting the Sunnah in the global era.

KEYWORDS: community, dinar, dirham, sunnah, zakat