‘Urf, Gender, and Customary Law: Negotiating Women’s Participation in Boar Hunting in Minangkabau, Indonesia

Abstract

This research examines the involvement of Minangkabau women in wild boar hunting, a practice that challenges the philosophical foundation of Minangkabau society, “Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah” (Custom is based on Islamic law, and Islamic law is based on the Qur’an). Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through direct observation at hunting sites and in-depth interviews with female hunters, administrators of the Indonesian Boar Hunting Sports Association (Persatuan Olahraga Buru Babi Indonesia [PORBBI]) in Indonesia, traditional leaders, and members of Bundo Kanduang, who serve as guardians of customary values. The study reveals that women’s participation in hunting contradicts Minangkabau customary law and Islamic legal principles, as hunting is traditionally regarded as a male domain and its prohibition reflects the harmonisation between adat and Islamic law. This is illustrated by the application of ‘urf shahih (valid custom), which deems practices that deviate from established norms as inappropriate, and sadd al-dhara’i (blocking harmful means), which views women’s involvement as generating more harm than benefit. Despite these limitations, women negotiate their roles in activities previously exclusive to men, transforming hunting into a space where they challenge gender binaries, engage in socially meaningful actions, and construct more flexible identities. The study confirms that customary law and Islamic principles, while regulating norms, adapt to evolving social dynamics through women’s strategies to renegotiate. This research contributes to global discussions on legal pluralism, cultural change, and gendered agency in Muslim societies, providing insights into the shifting gender roles within a matrilineal system.