JurnalPost.com - Sometimes, a book title can spark a debate far greater than the content within its pages. This phenomenon is evident in the controversy surrounding the book Islam ala Prabowo: How Prabowo Subianto Practices Islamic Teachings, which returned to the public spotlight in September 2026.
The debate began when several religious figures whose names appeared in the book provided clarifications regarding their involvement. KH Muhammad Abdurrahman Al-Kautsar, or Gus Kautsar, stated that he had only been interviewed and was unaware that the results of the discussion would be used in a book with such a title.
Tuan Guru Bajang (TGB) Muhammad Zainul Majdi also stated that he never submitted any writing for the book, despite being listed as the author of one of its sections.
The issue gained further attention after the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, provided explanations regarding their respective positions.
Yet, the book is not a new publication. According to publishing information listed on Gramedia, its first printing was released in April 2025. The book was subsequently launched during the National Coordination Meeting of the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) on August 26, 2025.
The question is, why did a book that has been in circulation for over a year suddenly trigger widespread debate in September 2026?
To understand this issue, the controversy cannot be viewed solely from a political or publishing perspective. There is a psychological dimension that explains how titles, religious symbols, group identity, and societal cognitive biases can influence responses to an event.
The Power of Titles in Shaping Perception
In public communication, a title is more than just a string of words introducing the content of a work. It is the first gateway that shapes the reader's impressions, expectations, and interpretations.
Research by Ullrich Ecker, Stephan Lewandowsky, Ee Pin Chang, and Rekha Pillai (2014) shows that news headlines can influence memory and how readers draw conclusions, even when the information presented is actually accurate.
These findings provide a framework for understanding the Islam ala Prabowocontroversy, even though the research did not specifically test public response to this particular book.
The use of the word "ala" (in the style of) in the title can lead to diverse interpretations. Some readers might understand it as a discussion of a figure's religious practices. However, others might perceive it as implying a specific form or style of Islam being attached to a political figure.
This difference in interpretation is significant because religion holds a profound position in the social life of Indonesian society.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, in his statement on September 7, 2026, mentioned that he was not involved in determining the book's title. He argued that the title Prabowo and Islam would have been more easily understood as a discussion regarding a figure's relationship with religion.
Yusril's explanation highlights the importance of word choice in political communication.
In a situation where information moves rapidly through social media, many people form opinions based on headlines, short quotes, or snippets of information. Consequently, the understanding of a work's overall content risks lagging behind the perceptions already formed.
Social Identity and Leadership Legitimacy
Why can the inclusion of a cleric's name become a significant issue in a book discussing a political figure?
One explanation can be found through the social identity theory of leadership developed by Michael A. Hogg (2001).
According to this theory, an individual is more likely to gain influence when perceived as representing the character, values, and identity of their group.
In a society that places religion as an important part of social life, the figure of the cleric holds strong moral and symbolic authority. Their views and presence can influence how society evaluates an idea or a figure.
Therefore, including a cleric's name in a book about a political leader can create the impression of closeness, endorsement, or religious legitimacy.
However, ethically, a distinction must be made between someone who gives an interview, contributes writing, approves publication, and provides support for a specific idea.
These four things do not always carry the same meaning.
Someone willing to be interviewed does not necessarily agree with the entire content of a book. Similarly, providing views on a figure cannot automatically be interpreted as political support.
In the context of the Islam ala Prabowocontroversy, the main issue is not merely the presence of religious figures' names, but the clarity regarding the form and limits of their involvement.
Therefore, transparency is a crucial element in maintaining public trust in a work.
Religious Authority and Moral Considerations
This issue can also be read through the moral foundations theory developed by Jesse Graham, Jonathan Haidt, and Brian Nosek (2009).
The research explains that human moral considerations are not only related to justice or care but can also involve loyalty to a group, respect for authority, and values of sanctity.
In the context of a religious society, a cleric's name does not only indicate personal identity but is also related to trust, honor, and moral responsibility.
When a religious figure's name is used in a work without clarity regarding the approval process, some in the public may view the issue as something greater than an administrative error.
Questions arise regarding respect for religious authority and the intellectual responsibility of those who compiled the work.
However, it is important not to conclude that there was intentionality or a specific violation before the publication process and the parties' approvals are clarified.
This principle of caution is also reflected in the stance of the MUI.
Through an official statement on September 10, 2026, the MUI asserted that the book Islam ala Prabowo is not a program, activity, or product of the organization.
The MUI also explained that the presence of the MUI General Chairman, KH M. Anwar Iskandar, at the event that included the book launch was in the context of his duty as a prayer leader at the Baznas National Coordination Meeting.
This explanation simultaneously emphasizes the need to distinguish an individual's presence at an event from institutional support for all activities or products related to that event.
Motivated Reasoning: When Beliefs Precede Facts
Political controversy often develops not just because of differences in information. Issues also arise because everyone has a tendency to interpret information based on beliefs they already hold.
In political psychology, this phenomenon is known as motivated reasoning.
Ziva Kunda (1990) explains that humans do not always process information neutrally. In certain conditions, individuals tend to choose reasons and evidence that support the conclusions they want to believe.
This framework is relevant for understanding how the debate regarding the book Islam ala Prabowo can develop in different directions.
People who have had a positive view of Prabowo from the start may find it easier to accept the explanation that the issue relates to the technical process of publication.
Conversely, those who hold critical views of the government may find it easier to see the controversy as part of a political image-building issue.
These two possibilities are illustrations of psychological tendencies, not conclusions regarding the behavior of all government supporters or critics.
Research by Charles Taber and Milton Lodge (2006) on motivated skepticism also shows that individuals can evaluate information that contradicts their beliefs more critically than information that aligns with their views.
As a result, clarifications from the same figure can receive vastly different responses.
Yusril's statement that his interview portion was presented quite well, for example, may be accepted by some of the public as an adequate explanation. However, other groups may continue to question the publication process and the inclusion of the interviewee's name.
This is where it becomes clear that the availability of the same information does not always produce uniform conclusions.
Affective Polarization in Indonesian Politics
Differences in political views are a natural part of democracy. However, problems can arise when these differences turn into dislike for other political groups.
Shanto Iyengar, Gaurav Sood, and Yphtach Lelkes (2012) explain the phenomenon of affective polarization, which is polarization characterized by the emergence of negative feelings toward opposing political groups.
In such conditions, an event is no longer evaluated solely based on its substance, but also based on the identity of the parties involved.
This phenomenon can explain why religious symbols and statements by religious figures sometimes receive very strong political interpretations.
Indonesia's experience shows that the relationship between religion and politics is not a new issue.
In 2019, the mispronunciation of Prabowo's name in a prayer by KH Maimun Zubair while in the presence of Joko Widodo also sparked public debate.
That event showed how actions or words related to religious figures can take on a broader political meaning than their original context.
In the controversy of the book Islam ala Prabowo, the debate regarding the title and the names of contributors has the potential to undergo a similar process if the public prioritizes political identity over fact-checking.
Islam and Electoral Politics in Indonesia
In the journey of Indonesian democracy, religion has a complex relationship with the formation of identity and political choices.
Marcus Mietzner and Burhanuddin Muhtadi (2018), through a study on the mobilization of Islamic groups in 2016, showed how religious identity, social mobilization, and the responses of political elites are interconnected.
Meanwhile, Diego Fossati (2019) showed that aliran (stream/sectarian) identity still has a relationship with political choices in Indonesia, although its connection to ideological orientation is not always simple.
These findings remind us that religion cannot be understood solely as a political instrument. For the public, religion is a system of beliefs and values that holds a much broader position.
However, religious symbols and identities can also acquire political value when used in the process of image formation, public communication, or electoral contestation.
It is in this sense that Islam can be read as one of the sources of symbolic legitimacy in Indonesian politics.
The point of concern is not the involvement of religion in the public sphere, but how religious symbols and authority are used responsibly.
The use of religious figures' views must be accompanied by clarity regarding the context, approval, and limits of their representation.
Without these principles, the relationship between religion and politics can lead to misunderstandings that damage public trust.
Learning from the Controversy: Transparency and Publication Ethics
The Islam ala Prabowo controversy should be an opportunity to strengthen publishing ethics while increasing public literacy in understanding political information.
For compilers and publishers, there is a responsibility to ensure that every name included has a clear basis for attribution.
If material is obtained through interviews, the status of the interviewee needs to be distinguished from that of an author or contributor who consciously submits a manuscript.
Approval for the use of material, especially when linked to sensitive issues like religion and politics, also needs to be taken seriously.
For public figures, clarification regarding their involvement in a work can help the public understand the issue more proportionally.
Meanwhile, readers have a responsibility not to rush to form conclusions based solely on titles or snippets of information in circulation.
The MUI's call to prioritize tabayyun (verification/clarification) is relevant in this context.
Reading in full, checking sources, distinguishing facts from opinions, and providing space for clarification are important steps to prevent debates from escalating into baseless accusations.
Ultimately, the controversy of the book Islam ala Prabowo is not just a matter of a title or the inclusion of religious figures' names.
This event serves as a mirror of how society interprets the relationship between religion, identity, authority, and power.
Political psychology helps explain why perceptions can form so quickly, why clarifications are not always accepted uniformly, and why religious symbols have a strong influence in public debate.
The most important lesson from this event is the need to maintain intellectual integrity and communication ethics.
Because the freedom to write and publish ideas must go hand in hand with responsibility toward the truth of information and respect for the parties involved.
Religion is too vast to be narrowed down to merely the identity of a political figure. Likewise, democracy is too important to be left trapped in debates that ignore facts and clarity of thought.
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Indonesian Ulema Council. (2026, September 10). MUI Asserts 'Islam Ala Prabowo' Book is Not an MUI Product, Asks Public to Prioritize Tabayyun.
Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs. (2026, September 7). Coordinating Minister Yusril Explains Position on 'Islam ala Prabowo' Book.
DetikJatim. (2026, September 7). Gus Kautsar's Statement After His Name Was Used in 'Islam Ala Prabowo' Book.
Gramedia. (n.d.). Islam ala Prabowo. Book description and publishing information.
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