A Survey into Historical and Culthral Role of Shiism as well as Contemporary Challenges Facing Shiism in Indonesia

Shia historical and cultural heritage in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, which is manifested in the form of ritual traditions, social beliefs, mysticism and Sufism, literature, philosophy, sciences, art and civilizational parades, today is still considered as Shia historical and cultural opportunity in Indonesia as well as the meeting point of Shiism with Indonesian Sunnites. Anti-Shiite radicals, by denying and questioning the relationship between Indonesian contemporary Shiism and religious and cultural identity of its Sunni community as well as ignoring the historical and cultural role of Shiism in this region, consider the contemporary Shiism as a creation of political developments in post-revolutionary Iran and as a new, external and deviant phenomenon which has nothing to do with religious and cultural values of Indonesian Sunni community. Considering and calling Shiism as an external phenomenon in Indonesia is of great importance because by alienating Shia minority and creating historical, cultural and religious breakthrough between Shia minority and Sunni majority, has been able to provoke and apply restrictions against Shias. Furthermore, it has deprived the Shia community of legitimacy and the support of Sunni majority by separating them from Islamic social, cultural, historical and civilizational structures and grounds in the region. Examining various viewpoints on the contribution of Shiism to Islamization of the region as well as historical, cultural and social reflections and effects of Shia presence in Indonesia, this study is an attempt to regard Shiism as a continuous process, in order to answer the question about the historical role of Shiism in Indonesian Islamic culture by referring to historical and research evidences and documentations. Finally, this study by addressing current conditions and situation of Shia minority and challenges faced by them, tries to suggest solutions for removing these challenges.