Integrative research of Islamic studies in Indonesian Islamic higher education

Approaches to the study of Islam are often conducted from insider or outsider perspectives, two contradictory approaches. This article shows that these two perspectives can be integrated in Islamic studies at Islamic higher education in Indonesia. This article discusses a research model that integrates insider and outsider perspectives at the oldest Islamic university in Indonesia, namely UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study at the Postgraduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Primary sources include documentation data, observations, and interviews with the leadership of the Postgraduate School. The research findings show that the UIN Jakarta Postgraduate School uses an insider (subjective) and outsider (objective) approach, which is referred to as an integrative perspective or also known as an intersubjective perspective. This perspective also combines science and religion. These findings conclude that the integrative/intersubjective study pattern in Islamic studies is an alternative pattern to the two previous study patterns, which are considered dichotomous. This study can contribute to Islamic higher education around the world by integrating objective and subjective perspectives, as well as science and religion in Islamic studies. This study differs from the idea of Islamizing science or Islamic science, which was developed by several Muslim scholars around the world.