Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Contemporary Islam 2-3/2022

12-11-2022

Nasionalis-cum-Nahdliyin: a new identity for nominal Javanese Muslims

Author: Akhmad Rizqon Khamami

Published in: Contemporary Islam | Issue 2-3/2022

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This article discusses contemporary developments in Islam in Indonesia by specifically looking at Muslims living in rural Java. Whereas most studies examine urban Muslims and mostly define Islamization that leads to the emergence of the middle class and the so-called “conservative turn,” this article offers a brief discussion of the transformation of non-practicing Muslims or abangan. Through fieldwork in a remote village in Tulungagung, East Java, the article argues that the massive Islamization in contemporary Java has invited the abangan to construct their new identity of Nasionalis-cum-Nahdliyin. While the term “Nasionalis” refers to a modern ideological category, “Nahdliyin” represents a mode of religiosity that confirms local customs and traditions. Looking at their communal ceremonies, such as yasinan-tahlilan, this new identity has given the abangan a means to maintain their communal bond with their ancestral spirits on the one hand and community cohesion on the other. These communal activities are an amalgam of santri and abangan traditions with which the latter exercise their communal piety in the public space.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
Hadrami is of historical and contemporary importance in Indonesia. Hadrami (Yemeni) Arab communities have been residing in Southeast Asia for centuries. Their type of Islamic practice resembles that of traditional Indonesian Muslims, especially Nahdlatul Ulama, such as the veneration of wali (pl. awliya’; saints) and visits to their tombs. Some seminal Hadrami figures lead social movements that draws on the religious capital of their sayyid genealogy, with which attracted a sheer number of followings. Many Indonesians revere Hadramis because of their assumedly descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. It is estimated that there are more than 1 million Indonesian Hadramis. They are prominent in business, politics, intellectual, and religious life in the country. It indicates the increasing significance of Hadrami sayyids in contemporary Indonesia (see Woodward et al., 2012; Ho 2006; Alatas 2021).
 
2
None of the many Islamist parties that were founded in the Reform era has had a significant impact on elections. The PKS, for an instance, has abandoned much of its Islamist agenda (at least in public) due to lack of votes in elections. It turns out that the party has tried to embrace, rather than reject, local cultures (see Woodward et al., 2013), and now its leaders even participate in yasinan-tahlilan rituals which they once said were unacceptable and sinful un-Islamic innovations.
 
3
Muslim/Christian violence in Ambon in eastern Indonesia lasted from 1999 until 2002 (see Hasan 2006; Al Qurtuby 2016; Lukens-Bull and Woodward 2021).
 
4
For more discussion on the harmony between man, God, and nature, see Maarif (2014).
 
5
Langgar is a site for holding prayers, usually small in size, while a masjid is a larger one in which the Friday prayers are regularly performed.
 
6
As a local religious leader, a modin deals with the religious affairs of the community, leads religious rituals (see Arifin 2017:268–69), and serves as an informal marriage functionary at the village level (see Fauzi 2019:408).
 
7
There is a similar story of the massacre that took place in Klaten, Central Java (see Wildan 2013:195).
 
8
For a further discussion on the massacre of 1965 and its impacts, see McGregor et al. (2018).
 
9
On the massacres in 1965 and the wiping out of the Communist remnants in South Blitar, East Java, in the following years, whereabouts Tanggunggunung locates, see Hearman (2010; 2012).
 
10
On how the New Order regime constructed myths justifying politicide and legitimizing the military domination of Indonesian life, see Woodward (2011b).
 
11
The Indonesian army assumedly encouraged, shaped, directed, and facilitated militia groups and death squads to kill PKI members (see Melvin 2017; Robinson 2017; and Melvin 2018).
 
12
For a comparison with other killings in East Java, particularly in Kediri and Bangil, see Hearman (2018, 68–111).
 
13
Similar events occurred in other parts of Indonesia (see Robinson 2018).
 
14
On the New Order’s propaganda as a political tool through defaming the Communist Party of Indonesia, see Wieringa and Katjasungkana (2019).
 
15
In the aftermath of the 1965 event, the rise of mosque attendance similarly occurred in other parts of Java (see Hefner 1987, 541).
 
16
Priyayi are Javanese aristocrats; santri are practicing Muslims; and abangan are nominal or non-practicing Muslims.
 
17
For a discussion on the proselytization of the Christian missionaries in the Dutch East Indies, currently Indonesia, see Kruithof (2014).
 
18
Pak Marjono is the current lurah of Tanggunggunung.
 
19
For polarization in Java, see Ricklefs (2007; 2008).
 
20
A slametan is a communal meal usually with the aims to reach well-being, prosperity, and safety in life (see van den Boogert 2017). For further reading on slametan among Suriname Javanese, see Khusen (2005).
 
21
The shift from slametan to yasinan-tahlilan ritual is in line with a new development in Java, in which the relation between culture and religion was conceptualized. Slametan underwent a significant shift. It was formerly known as part of agama (religion) and is currently referred to as belonging to kebudayaan (culture) (see Woodward 2011a, 2011b, 2011c).
 
22
A similar characteristic persists in a community in Kotagede, a Javanese old city in Yogyakarta (see Sirait 2016).
 
23
On information on a wide range of the massacre, see Robinson (2018).
 
24
For further reading on NU and local traditions, see Feillard (2011).
 
25
A number of Indonesians have experienced transcendental communication with ancestor spirits through pilgrimages to shrine and graves (see Hellman 2013). Indonesian Muslims have even invented saintly tombs, some of which are the graves of seven Muslim saints (Wali Pitu) in Bali (see Zuhri 2013a, 2013b; 2022) and several saintly tombs in Central Java (see Alatas 2020).
 
26
For a general notion of nationalism, see Anderson (2006).
 
27
A similar situation has appeared in the Muslim community of Madura, in which blater (abangan-like) and santri keep a harmonious life by avoiding attacking each other’s traditions (see Pribadi 2018, particularly chapter 4 and 7, and Pribadi 2014).
 
28
It is also important to note that many Muslims strongly oppose aliran penghayat kepercayaan, or simply penghayat/kebatinan movements partly because it may cause contestation and challenge existing religious power (see Smith 2014). This is the case with Sapta Dharma which was regarded as heretical and considered to be “un-Islamic” by most Javanese Muslims and its headquarters was attacked in October of 2008 (see Woodward 2011a).
 
29
Yatno is a member of Jawa Dipa.
 
30
For more about the harrowing massacres, see Cribb (2002), Robinson (2018), and Pohlman (2017).
 
Literature
go back to reference Alatas, I. F. (2021). What is religious authority?: Cultivating Islamic communities in Indonesia. Princeton University Press.CrossRef Alatas, I. F. (2021). What is religious authority?: Cultivating Islamic communities in Indonesia. Princeton University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso. Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso.
go back to reference Azra, A. (2002). Islam Nusantara: Jaringan Global dan Lokal. Mizan. Azra, A. (2002). Islam Nusantara: Jaringan Global dan Lokal. Mizan.
go back to reference Bachtiar, H. W. (2014). “Lampiran.” In Agama Jawa: Abangan, Santri, Priyayi dalam Kebudayaan Jawa, translated from Clifford Geertz's Religion of Java. Cetakan II, 569–600. Komunitas Bambu. Bachtiar, H. W. (2014). “Lampiran.” In Agama Jawa: Abangan, Santri, Priyayi dalam Kebudayaan Jawa, translated from Clifford Geertz's Religion of Java. Cetakan II, 569–600. Komunitas Bambu.
go back to reference Barton, G. (2001). “The prospects for Islam.” In Indonesia today: Challenges of history, edited by Grayson J. Lloyd and Shannon L. Smith. ISEAS Publishing. Barton, G. (2001). “The prospects for Islam.” In Indonesia today: Challenges of history, edited by Grayson J. Lloyd and Shannon L. Smith. ISEAS Publishing.
go back to reference Beatty, A. (2004). Varieties of Javanese religion. Cambridge University Press. Beatty, A. (2004). Varieties of Javanese religion. Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Cribb, R. (2009). The Indonesian massacres. In S. Totten & W. S. Parsons (Eds.), Century of genocide: Critical essays and eyewitness accounts (pp. 193–217). Routledge. Cribb, R. (2009). The Indonesian massacres. In S. Totten & W. S. Parsons (Eds.), Century of genocide: Critical essays and eyewitness accounts (pp. 193–217). Routledge.
go back to reference Fealy, G. (2003). Divided majority: Limits of Indonesian political Islam. In S. Akbarzadeh & A. Saeed (Eds.), Islam and political legitimacy (pp. 150–168). RoutledgeCurzon. Fealy, G. (2003). Divided majority: Limits of Indonesian political Islam. In S. Akbarzadeh & A. Saeed (Eds.), Islam and political legitimacy (pp. 150–168). RoutledgeCurzon.
go back to reference Feillard, A. (2011). The constrained place of local tradition: The discourse of Indonesian traditionalist ulama in the 1930s. In M. Picard & R. Madinier (Eds.), The Politics of Religion in Indonesia (pp. 47–70). Routledge. Feillard, A. (2011). The constrained place of local tradition: The discourse of Indonesian traditionalist ulama in the 1930s. In M. Picard & R. Madinier (Eds.), The Politics of Religion in Indonesia (pp. 47–70). Routledge.
go back to reference Geertz, C. (1976). The religion of Java. The University of Chicago Press. Geertz, C. (1976). The religion of Java. The University of Chicago Press.
go back to reference Hasan, N. (2006). Laskar Jihad: Islam, militancy, and the quest for identity in post-New Order Indonesia. SEAP Publications.CrossRef Hasan, N. (2006). Laskar Jihad: Islam, militancy, and the quest for identity in post-New Order Indonesia. SEAP Publications.CrossRef
go back to reference Hasan, N. (2008). The Salafi madrasas of Indonesia. In F. A. Noor, Y. Sikand, & M. van Bruinessen (Eds.), The Madrasa in Asia: Political Activism and Transnational Linkages (pp. 247–274). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef Hasan, N. (2008). The Salafi madrasas of Indonesia. In F. A. Noor, Y. Sikand, & M. van Bruinessen (Eds.), The Madrasa in Asia: Political Activism and Transnational Linkages (pp. 247–274). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Hasan, N. (2011). Salafi madrasas and Islamic radicalism in post-New Order Indonesia. In Islamic studies and Islamic education in Contemporary Southeast Asia, edited by Kamaruzzaman Bustaman-Ahmad and Patrick Jory. Yayasan Ilmuwan. Hasan, N. (2011). Salafi madrasas and Islamic radicalism in post-New Order Indonesia. In Islamic studies and Islamic education in Contemporary Southeast Asia, edited by Kamaruzzaman Bustaman-Ahmad and Patrick Jory. Yayasan Ilmuwan.
go back to reference Hearman, V. (2012). South Blitar and the PKI bases: Refuge, resistance and repression. In The contours of mass violence in Indonesia, 1965–68, edited by Douglas Kammen and Katharine McGregor, 182–207. NUS Press. Hearman, V. (2012). South Blitar and the PKI bases: Refuge, resistance and repression. In The contours of mass violence in Indonesia, 1965–68, edited by Douglas Kammen and Katharine McGregor, 182–207. NUS Press.
go back to reference Hearman, V. (2018). Unmarked graves: Death and survival in the anti-communist violence in East Java, Indonesia. NUS Press. Hearman, V. (2018). Unmarked graves: Death and survival in the anti-communist violence in East Java, Indonesia. NUS Press.
go back to reference Hefner, R. W. (1985). Hindu Javanese: Tengger, tradition and Islam. Princeton University Press.CrossRef Hefner, R. W. (1985). Hindu Javanese: Tengger, tradition and Islam. Princeton University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Hefner, R. W. (2000). Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton University Press. Hefner, R. W. (2000). Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton University Press.
go back to reference Hefner, R. W. (2011). Where have all the abangan gone? Religionization and the decline of non-standard Islam in Contemporary Indonesia. In The Politics of Religion in Indonesia, edited by Michel Picard and Remy Madinier, 71–91. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203817049 Hefner, R. W. (2011). Where have all the abangan gone? Religionization and the decline of non-standard Islam in Contemporary Indonesia. In The Politics of Religion in Indonesia, edited by Michel Picard and Remy Madinier, 71–91. Routledge. https://​doi.​org/​10.​4324/​9780203817049
go back to reference Ho, E. (2006). The graves of Tarim: Geneology and mobility across the Indian Ocean. University of California Press. Ho, E. (2006). The graves of Tarim: Geneology and mobility across the Indian Ocean. University of California Press.
go back to reference Hodgson, M. G. S. (1974). The venture of Islam: The expansion of Islam in the Middle Periods (Vol. two). The University of Chicago Press.CrossRef Hodgson, M. G. S. (1974). The venture of Islam: The expansion of Islam in the Middle Periods (Vol. two). The University of Chicago Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Koentjaraningrat. 1985. Javanese Culture. Oxford University Press. Koentjaraningrat. 1985. Javanese Culture. Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Lameni. (2017). Interview with Lameni, July 12, 2017 Lameni. (2017). Interview with Lameni, July 12, 2017
go back to reference Machmudi, Y. (2006). Islamising Indonesia: The rise of Jemaah Tarbiyah and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The Australian National University. Machmudi, Y. (2006). Islamising Indonesia: The rise of Jemaah Tarbiyah and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The Australian National University.
go back to reference Marjono, P. (2017). Interview with Marjono, July 22, 2017 Marjono, P. (2017). Interview with Marjono, July 22, 2017
go back to reference McGregor, K., Melvin, J., & Pohlman, A. (Eds.). (2018). The Indonesian Genocide of 1965. Palgrave Macmillan. McGregor, K., Melvin, J., & Pohlman, A. (Eds.). (2018). The Indonesian Genocide of 1965. Palgrave Macmillan.
go back to reference Melvin, J. (2018). The army and the Indonesian genocide: Mechanics of mass murder. Routledge.CrossRef Melvin, J. (2018). The army and the Indonesian genocide: Mechanics of mass murder. Routledge.CrossRef
go back to reference Pribadi, Y. (2014). An abangan-like group in a Santri island: The religious identity of the blater. In B. Platzdasch & J. Saravanamuttu (Eds.), Religious diversity in Muslim-majority states in Southeast Asia: Areas of toleration and conflict (pp. 214–236). ISEAS Publishing. Pribadi, Y. (2014). An abangan-like group in a Santri island: The religious identity of the blater. In B. Platzdasch & J. Saravanamuttu (Eds.), Religious diversity in Muslim-majority states in Southeast Asia: Areas of toleration and conflict (pp. 214–236). ISEAS Publishing.
go back to reference Pribadi, Y. (2018). Islam, state and society in Indonesia: Local politics in Madura. Routledge.CrossRef Pribadi, Y. (2018). Islam, state and society in Indonesia: Local politics in Madura. Routledge.CrossRef
go back to reference Qurtuby, S. A. (2016). Religious violence and conciliation in Indonesia: Christians and Muslims in the Moluccas. Routledge.CrossRef Qurtuby, S. A. (2016). Religious violence and conciliation in Indonesia: Christians and Muslims in the Moluccas. Routledge.CrossRef
go back to reference Ricklefs, M. C. (2003). Mystic synthesis in Java: A history of Islamization from the fourteenth to the early nineteenth centuries. East Bridge. Ricklefs, M. C. (2003). Mystic synthesis in Java: A history of Islamization from the fourteenth to the early nineteenth centuries. East Bridge.
go back to reference Ricklefs, M. C. (2007). Polarising Javanese society: Islamic and other visions, C. 1830–1930. NUS Press. Ricklefs, M. C. (2007). Polarising Javanese society: Islamic and other visions, C. 1830–1930. NUS Press.
go back to reference Ricklefs, M. C. (2008). Religious reform & polarization in Java. ISIM Review 21. Ricklefs, M. C. (2008). Religious reform & polarization in Java. ISIM Review 21.
go back to reference Robinson, G. B. (2018). The killing season: A history of the Indonesian massacres, 1965–66. Princeton University Press.CrossRef Robinson, G. B. (2018). The killing season: A history of the Indonesian massacres, 1965–66. Princeton University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Saelan, M. (2017). Interview with Saelan, August 9, 2017 Saelan, M. (2017). Interview with Saelan, August 9, 2017
go back to reference Siar, M. (2017). Interview with Mbah Siar, July 21, 2017 Siar, M. (2017). Interview with Mbah Siar, July 21, 2017
go back to reference Smith, B. J. (2014). When Wahyu comes through women: Female spiritual authority and divine revelation in mystical groups and Pesantren-Sui orders. In Gender and power in Indonesian Islam: Leaders, feminists, sufis and pesantren selves, edited by Bianca J. Smith and Mark Woodward. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203797518 Smith, B. J. (2014). When Wahyu comes through women: Female spiritual authority and divine revelation in mystical groups and Pesantren-Sui orders. In Gender and power in Indonesian Islam: Leaders, feminists, sufis and pesantren selves, edited by Bianca J. Smith and Mark Woodward. Routledge. https://​doi.​org/​10.​4324/​9780203797518
go back to reference Sukadi. (2017). Interview with Sukadi, June 24, 2017 Sukadi. (2017). Interview with Sukadi, June 24, 2017
go back to reference Sunarwoto. (2013). Dakwah radio in Surakarta: A contest for Islamic identity. In Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting images and interpretations, edited by Jajat Burhanudin and Kees van Dijk, 195–214. Amsterdam University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt46mwqt Sunarwoto. (2013). Dakwah radio in Surakarta: A contest for Islamic identity. In Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting images and interpretations, edited by Jajat Burhanudin and Kees van Dijk, 195–214. Amsterdam University Press. https://​doi.​org/​10.​2307/​j.​ctt46mwqt
go back to reference Suseno, F. M. (1984). Etika Jawa: Sebuah Analisa Falsafi Tentang Kebijaksanaan Hidup Jawa. P.T. Gramedia. Suseno, F. M. (1984). Etika Jawa: Sebuah Analisa Falsafi Tentang Kebijaksanaan Hidup Jawa. P.T. Gramedia.
go back to reference Syafi’i, I. (2017). Interview with Imam Syafi'i, August 5, 2017 Syafi’i, I. (2017). Interview with Imam Syafi'i, August 5, 2017
go back to reference Tamba, I. (2017). Interview with Ibu Tamba, June 10, 2017 Tamba, I. (2017). Interview with Ibu Tamba, June 10, 2017
go back to reference Tichelman, F. (1980). The social evolution of Indonesia: The Asiatic mode of production and its legacy. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.CrossRef Tichelman, F. (1980). The social evolution of Indonesia: The Asiatic mode of production and its legacy. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.CrossRef
go back to reference van Bruinessen, M. (2008). Traditionalist and Islamist pesantrens in Contemporary Indonesia. In F. A. Noor, Y. Sikand, & M. van Bruinessen (Eds.), The Madrasa in Asia: Political Activism and Transnational Linkages (pp. 217–245). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef van Bruinessen, M. (2008). Traditionalist and Islamist pesantrens in Contemporary Indonesia. In F. A. Noor, Y. Sikand, & M. van Bruinessen (Eds.), The Madrasa in Asia: Political Activism and Transnational Linkages (pp. 217–245). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference van Bruinessen, M. (2013). Introduction: Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam and the ‘conservative turn’ of the early twenty-first century. In M. van Bruinessen (Ed.), Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam: Explaining the “conservative turn” (pp. 1–20). ISEAS Publishing.CrossRef van Bruinessen, M. (2013). Introduction: Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam and the ‘conservative turn’ of the early twenty-first century. In M. van Bruinessen (Ed.), Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam: Explaining the “conservative turn” (pp. 1–20). ISEAS Publishing.CrossRef
go back to reference Wieringa, S. E., & Katjasungkana, N. (2019). Propaganda and the genocide in Indonesia: Imagined evil. Routledge. Wieringa, S. E., & Katjasungkana, N. (2019). Propaganda and the genocide in Indonesia: Imagined evil. Routledge.
go back to reference Wildan, M. (2013). Mapping radical Islam: A study of the proliferation of radical Islam in Solo, Central Java. In M. van Bruinessen (Ed.), Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam: Explaining the “conservative turn” (pp. 190–223). ISEAS Publishing. Wildan, M. (2013). Mapping radical Islam: A study of the proliferation of radical Islam in Solo, Central Java. In M. van Bruinessen (Ed.), Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam: Explaining the “conservative turn” (pp. 190–223). ISEAS Publishing.
go back to reference Woodward, M. (1989). Islam in Java: Normative piety and mysticism in the Sultanate Yogyakarta. UMI. Woodward, M. (1989). Islam in Java: Normative piety and mysticism in the Sultanate Yogyakarta. UMI.
go back to reference Yatno. (2017). Interview with Yatno, July 14, 2017 Yatno. (2017). Interview with Yatno, July 14, 2017
go back to reference Zuhri, S. (2013). Majlis Tafsir Al-Qur’an and its struggle for Islamic reformism. In J. Burhanudin & K. van Dijk (Eds.), Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting images and interpretations (pp. 227–240). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef Zuhri, S. (2013). Majlis Tafsir Al-Qur’an and its struggle for Islamic reformism. In J. Burhanudin & K. van Dijk (Eds.), Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting images and interpretations (pp. 227–240). Amsterdam University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Zuhri, S. (2022). Wali Pitu and Muslim pilgrimage in Bali, Indonesia: Inventing a sacred tradition. Leiden University Press. Zuhri, S. (2022). Wali Pitu and Muslim pilgrimage in Bali, Indonesia: Inventing a sacred tradition. Leiden University Press.
Metadata
Title
Nasionalis-cum-Nahdliyin: a new identity for nominal Javanese Muslims
Author
Akhmad Rizqon Khamami
Publication date
12-11-2022
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Contemporary Islam / Issue 2-3/2022
Print ISSN: 1872-0218
Electronic ISSN: 1872-0226
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-022-00505-6

Other articles of this Issue 2-3/2022

Contemporary Islam 2-3/2022 Go to the issue

Premium Partner