Awliya’ in The Class of Islamic Political Symbolism: A Semiotic Approach

Why QS. al-Maidah 51 is often used as a reference in determining the legitimacy and justification of the leadership of government elections? How to understand the symbolic (semiotic) meaning of using the awliya word in al-Maidah 51 in the context of leadership politics in Indonesia? To answer that question, this study uses literature (library research) by asking for semiotics. The results of the study state that the meaning of awliya is QS. Special Al-Maidah 51 in a semiotik manner is tentative, open, and plural because of the nature of language that is not always arbitrary and universal (multiplicity meaning). Signifiers are very influenced by the background of institutional structure, paradigm, and the basis of political stretcher or their support. At the paradigmatic level, both symbolic (textual and contextual) meanings of awliya have a basis for scientific epistemology. While the aspects of his semiotic pragmatism (Peirce) can be measured determine to what extent Awliya's symbolic meanings is effective and followed by Muslims as part of citizenship; and how far awliya is accommodated in the instruments of the state legal system (legislation). Mengapa QS. al-Maidah 51 kerap dijadikan referensi menentukan legitimasi dan justifikasi kepemimpinan jabatan Pemerintahan? Bagaimana memahami makna simbolik (semiotik) penggunaan kata awliya’ dalam al-Maidah 51 itu dalam konteks politik kepemimpinan di Indonesia? Untuk menjawab pertanyaan itu, kajian ini menggunakan kajian pustaka (library research) dengan pendekatan semiotik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemaknaan awliya’ QS. al-Maidah 51 secara semiotik bersifat tentatif, terbuka, dan plural karena sifat langue yang tidak slalu arbitrer dan universal (multiplicity meaning). Pemberi makna (signified) sangat dipengaruhi oleh latar struktur institusi, paradigma, dan basis politik usungan atau dukungannya. Pada level paradigmatik, kedua makna simbolik (tekstual dan kontekstual) awliya’ memiliki basis epistemologi keilmuan. Sementara aspek pragmatisme semiotiknya (Peirce) dapat diukur sejauhmana pemaknaan simbolik awliya’ itu berlaku efektif dan diikuti oleh umat Islam sebagai bagian dari kewarganegaraan; dan sejauhmana awliya’ itu diakomodir dalam instrumen sistem hukum negara.