Harmonizing faith and tradition: the acculturation of customary and Islamic law within the Tengger community of Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18326/ijtihad.v26i1.93-118Keywords:
cultural identity, customary marriage, Tengger tradition, Tengger communityAbstract
This research examines the dynamics of the acculturation of Islamic law within the Walagara marriage tradition among the Tengger community in Wonokitri Village, Pasuruan, Indonesia—a practice that reflects the complex interplay between customary obligations and religious observance. The Tengger community is known for steadfastly upholding ancestral traditions amid a landscape of religious pluralism. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through participatory observation in Wonokitri Village, Pasuruan, Indonesia; document analysis; and in-depth interviews with ten key informants, including traditional leaders, local ulama, or Islamic religious scholars, and practitioners of the tradition—all of whom serve as custodians of cultural and religious values. The research findings reveal that the observance of Walagara is an absolute obligation for the entire Tengger community, including those who are Muslim; failure to observe this ritual results in social sanctions such as ostracism and the invalidation of a marriage under customary law, even if it is valid under religious law (akad). This serves as evidence that legal pluralism is strongly realized, where customary law holds authority that coexists alongside Islamic law, creating a space where social and religious legitimacy are mutually dependent. Despite the potential for theological friction, the Muslim Tengger community negotiates their religious identity while continuing to preserve their traditions. Interpreting Walagara not as a deviation from faith (‘aqīdah), but rather as a form of respect for ancestors that has undergone a harmonization of values, this research affirms that customary law and Islamic sharia in Tengger are not in a mutually exclusive relationship, but rather form a legal hybridity through strategies of cultural adaptation. This research enriches the global body of literature on legal pluralism and cultural studies, illustrating how indigenous communities negotiate religious orthodoxy and cultural heritage to construct a harmonious, layered legal identity.References
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