Tulisan ini mengangkat tiga permasalahan yaitu: Bagaimana efektifitas mediasi dalam menyelesaikan perkara di Pengadilan Agama wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, Hambatan apa yang mempengaruhi pelaksanaan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, Bagaimana pandangan hukum Islam terhadap penerapan mediasi di wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengungkap efektivitas mediasi dalam penyelesaian perkara secara damai di Pengadilan Agama wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, hambatan yang mempengaruhi pelaksanaan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, serta pandangan hukum Islam terhadap penerapan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama. Pendekatan yang dipergunakan untuk melihat dan memecahkan permasalahan adalah filosofis syar'i, filosofis yuridis, analisis sosiologis sempiris, serta maslahat. Ditemukan fakta bahwa mediasi belum efektif menanggulangi tumpukan perkara di wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, profesionalisme hakim yang menjalankan fungsi mediator sangat lemah dan mempengaruhi keberhasilan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama wilayah Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Makassar, serta penerapan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama tidak bertentangan dengan hukum Islam. Masyarakat pencari keadilan di Pengadilan Agama sangat bermanfaat mempergunakan mediasi dalam menyelesaikan perkaranya sehingga berimplikasi terhadap keutuhan keluarga dan terpeliharanya harta yang dipersengketakan dari kehancuran. Perlunya pelaksanaan pelatihan mediator secara berkesinambungan dengan memperhatikan bakat sebagai mediator, para ahli negosiasi yang ada dilingkungan akademisi diharapkan berpartisipasi dengan mendaftarkan diri di Pengadilan Agama Tingkat Pertama. Implikasi terhadap penerapan mediasi di Pengadilan Agama dikemukakan dua sudut pandang yaitu dari sudut politik ekonomi global dunia dimana Indonesia tidak dapat melepaskan diri dari percaturan politik ekonomi internasional, dari sudut kasus keluarga Islam di Indonesia yang masuk di Pengadilan Agama memerlukan penanganan dan penyelesaian secara konprehensif.ABSTRACTThe article raises three questions; first, how is the effectiveness of mediation in resolving the case in the Religious High Court of Makassar; second, what barriers affect the implementation of mediation in the Religious High Court of Makassar; and third, how to view the application of Islamic law in the Religious High Court of Makassar. This study aims to reveal the effectiveness of mediation to gain peaceful settlement in the Religious High Court of Makassar, to detect barriers that affect the implementation of mediation in the Religious High Court of Makassar, as well as to show the views of Islamic law on the application of mediation in the Religious High Courts. The approach used to answer and solve these problems is philosophical one by considering shar'i, judicial philosophy, empirical sociological analysis, as well as beneficiaries. The result shows that mediation has not effectively tackled piles in the Religious High Court cases. The professionalism of the judges as mediators is very weak and it in turn affects the success of mediation in the Religious High Court of Makassar. Though, the application of mediation in the Religious is not contrary to Islamic law. People seeking justice in the Religious Courts are advised to obtain benefits of using mediation to resolve their cases, so that the implication for the integrity of the family and the preservation of the disputed property from destruction may occur. There is an urgent need for continuous training as mediators with regard to their potentials as mediators and negotiation experts from academicians are expected to participate by enrolling in the Religious Courts. Implications for the application of mediation in the Religious Courts present two perspectives; first, considering the global economy in terms of world politics in which Indonesia cannot escape the politics of international economics; and second, from Muslim family cases in Indonesia, the Religious Courts are required to accurately handle and comprehensively settle the cases.