Roni Tabroni, Ahmad Izudin, Muh. Isnanto, ⁠B. J. Sujibto, ⁠Dandung Budi Yuwono, ⁠I Made Suarsana

Hybridity, Intersection, and Challenge: Navigating the History of Customary and Islamic Family Law in Moluccan Marriages

Introduction

Hybridity, intersection, and challenge: navigating the history of customary and islamic family law in moluccan marriages. Explore the hybridity of customary and Islamic family law in Moluccan marriages. This study uncovers historical negotiations, challenges, and the formation of a unique local Islamic identity.

Abstract

The relationship between local traditions and Islamic family law primarily revolves around marriage, kinship, inheritance, and female’s roles within the family. However, this focus tends to emphasize gender roles, family authority, and individual rights, overlooking the intricate negotiations of values between Islamic traditions and local norms. This raises important questions about how these negotiations occur, the points of convergence, and the challenges faced in establishing a unique local Islamic family identity and legal framework. This study, which examines cases in Negeri Morella, Central Moluccas, aims to address these questions. The findings indicate that the negotiation process has been ongoing for a significant period, heavily influenced by the maternal-oriented Austronesian culture, which has contributed to a distinct Islamic identity within the community. This development has been shaped by the Sufism movement, which emphasizes human excellence (ihsān) at the family level. The negotiations occur at the intersection of customary values and Islamic marriage norms, significantly influenced by the clan (soa), which plays a crucial role as both a customary and religious authority. Although there is apparent harmony, the Morella community faces significant challenges, including tensions between orthodoxy and heterodoxy of religiosity, socio-cultural conflicts, the marginalization of women’s roles during spiritual transitions, and the predominance of Islamic law practices over customary law. This research provides valuable insights into the discussion surrounding the hybridity debate of Islamic family law, particularly regarding the perspectives of puritanical Muslims who often decline indigenous practices of Islamic law. [Interaksi antara tradisi lokal dan hukum keluarga Islam umumnya terfokus pada pernikahan, kekerabatan, warisan, dan posisi perempuan dalam keluarga. Namun, persinggungan tersebut hanya menyoroti peran gender, otoritas keluarga, dan hak-hak individu, sehingga mengabaikan kompleksitas negosiasi norma antara keaadatan dan keislaman. Hal ini mengundang perdebatan lanjutan tentang bagaimana proses negosiasi, titik temu, dan tantangan yang berlangsung dalam pembentukan identitas Muslim Maluku. Melalui eksplorasi kasus di Negeri Morella, Maluku Tengah, studi ini berusaha mencari jawaban atas tiga perdebatan tersebut. Fakta menunjukkan bahwa proses negosiasi telah terjalin cukup lama yang sangat erat dipengaruhi oleh Austronesian culture yang lebih bersifat maternal, dengan membentuk sebuah identitas Islam yang khas bagi komunitas lokal. Ini terjadi karena pengaruh gerakan Sufism yang membentuk human excellence (ihsān) ke dalam unit kecil, seperti keluarga. Dasar negosiasi ini berlanjut pada titik temu antara nilai-nilai adat dengan norma pernikahan Islam. Perjumpaan ini sangat kuat dibentuk oleh pengaruh clan (soa), dengan peran pentingnya sebagai tokoh adat dan agama sekaligus. Meskipun tampak harmonis, komunitas Morella masih menghadapi tantangan serius, seperti ketegangan antara ortodoksi dan heterodoksi keagamaan, konflik sosial-budaya, marginalisasi peran perempuan dalam transisi spiritual, serta dominasi praktik hukum Islam atas hukum adat. Studi ini menawarkan kontribusi penting dalam perdebatan hibriditas hukum keluarga Islam, terutama terhadap sikap kelompok Muslim puritan yang cenderung menolak praktik-praktik indigenisasi hukum Islam.]

Review

The paper "Hybridity, Intersection, and Challenge: Navigating the History of Customary and Islamic Family Law in Moluccan Marriages" makes a timely and valuable contribution to the study of Islamic family law and cultural adaptation. It effectively addresses a critical gap in the literature by moving beyond a mere emphasis on gender roles and individual rights to explore the intricate negotiations of values between Islamic traditions and local norms. The abstract clearly outlines a research problem concerning how these negotiations occur, their points of convergence, and the challenges faced in forging a unique local Islamic family identity and legal framework, thereby setting a compelling stage for the empirical investigation. Through a focused case study in Negeri Morella, Central Moluccas, the authors present compelling findings. The study highlights that the negotiation process between customary law and Islamic family law has been ongoing for a significant period, profoundly influenced by a maternal-oriented Austronesian culture and the Sufism movement, which fosters human excellence (ihsān) at the family level. Crucially, the clan (*soa*) is identified as a pivotal institution, serving as both a customary and religious authority in mediating the intersection of values. Despite an apparent harmony, the research unearths significant challenges, including tensions between religious orthodoxy and heterodoxy, socio-cultural conflicts, the marginalization of women's roles during spiritual transitions, and the increasing dominance of Islamic legal practices over customary law. The insights offered by this research are particularly significant for the ongoing academic debate surrounding the hybridity of Islamic family law. By presenting a nuanced empirical account from the Moluccan context, the study provides a robust counter-perspective to puritanical Muslim viewpoints that often reject indigenous adaptations of Islamic law. It effectively demonstrates the dynamic and adaptive nature of Islamic legal traditions when engaging with local cultures, underscoring the importance of context-specific analyses. This work not only enriches our understanding of legal pluralism but also opens avenues for further exploration into the resilience of customary practices and the specific mechanisms through which communities navigate complex legal and spiritual transitions.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.