Cheng Ho Mosque and Islamic Education: Chinese Muslim Ethnic Assimilation Strategy in Contemporary Religious Education in Indonesia

Abstract This article aims to explore how ethnic Chinese Muslims assimilated into Indonesian society from the efforts to build the Cheng Ho Mosque and the establishment of Islamic educational institutions. In the contemporary era, these ethnic minorities can blend in with indigenous Indonesians by engaging in wider Islamic practice activities in the public sphere. The Cheng Ho Mosque and Islamic education are negotiating tools for ethnic Chinese Muslims in establishing a ‘Chinese’ identity in the archipelago’s culture. Focused on three areas: Surabaya City, Banyuwangi Regency, and Pasuruan Regency; this study uses a qualitative as approach and ethnographic as the method. Through Spradley’s analysis, this study finds that the Cheng Ho Mosque is an assimilative strategy of Chinese Muslims in confirming their identity as ‘Indonesian Islam’. Not only as a place of worship for Chinese Muslims, but also as a ‘Islamic Chinese Centre’ and establishing Islamic educational institutions ranging from kindergartens to Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in a ‘Chinese’ style. This study contributes that the Cheng Ho Mosque and Islamic education have inspired moderate religious practices where minority Muslim communities can exist in Indonesia by assimilation of religious culture and Islamic education.