Abstract

This article examines the influence of Christian Snouck Hurgronje’s orientalist perspective on the formation of socio-religious classifications within Indonesian Islam, particularly the concepts of Abangan Islam and Priyayi Islam. Based on his deep study of Islam in the Middle East and his advisory role in the Dutch colonial administration, Snouck employed strategic policies that utilized education, cultural manipulation, and administrative inclusion to divide and control the indigenous Muslim population. By promoting limited religious practice among rural Muslims (Abangan) and integrating the educated elite (Priyayi) into colonial bureaucracy, he created a sociopolitical dichotomy that served colonial interests. The article argues that this classification was not neutral but rather a deliberate tactic to weaken Islamic unity and suppress resistance, especially in conflict-prone regions like Aceh. Furthermore, the study highlights how orientalism shaped colonial governance, producing long-term consequences for Islamic identity, authority, and cohesion in Indonesia. Understanding this colonial legacy is essential for interpreting the contemporary religious and political dynamics of Indonesian society.

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