Civil society with democracy as its pillar is the concept of an ideal society in modern times. Including in Indonesia has declared itself adhere to the democratic system. But in fact, with the aim of state originally created for public beneficiaries, instead, to borrow a phrase Gramci, Indonesia has hegemony and exploits the country for the sake of personal interest or a specific group. It can be seen from a variety of irregularities committed by the government, not only in the New Order government, but also in nowadays, the corruption is still deeply entrenched in the bureaucracy. Poverty and ignorance is another factor that triggers the development of civil society to be container aspirations of the people for the sake of their interests which include health, education, economic, cultural and political rights. Many Indonesian intelectual pay attention to the development of civil society in this biggest in this biggest muslim country in the world.
One of them is Kiai Sahal, is also the influential Muslim figures in the life of religion and state in Indonesia. Thus, discussing the ideas Kiai Sahal related to the concept of civil society is very important. This research tries to study the concept of civil society of Kiai Sahal. The methode of this research are as follow: (1) how the concept of civil Society Kiai Sahal, (2) how is the role of Islam in the development of civil society in Indonesia according to Kiai Sahal.
This study used a qualitative research method that emphasizes the study of literature data Kiai Sahal’ thought and research or literature related. The method used is Concept Analysis, which is a method to assess the various statements and understand the components of the concept so that it can be read as a whole.
From the analysis, the researchers concluded: first, civil society according to Kiai Sahal is the unity of the nation and civilized country, prioritizing universal values, democratic, egalitarian, and especially upholding human rights, both among the nation and the state. This means that it is integrated in carrying out its functions, the first state policy should be oriented both public and there should be community involvement in the preparation of any policy of the authority in addition also control functions to be performed by the public to oversee and monitor the wheels of government by basing his ideas on Islam as inspiration value.
And to build strong civil society, at least there are four things should be paid attention. (1) The substance of democracy must be the everyday behavior in concrete. (2) Upholding the moral dimension in the life of the nation. (3) Democracy education should start from the family as the smallest part of the community. And (4) society empowerment.
Second, the role of Islam in building civil society in Indonesia is the efforts to internalize Islamic values directly into the views of society life that starts from the family. This role became tradition and culture as expected to support the life of the nation more independently and prosperously.