The Role of Local Wisdom in the Religious Practices of the Javanese Muslim Community: An Integration Study between Tradition and Sharia

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of local wisdom in the religious practices of the Javanese Muslim community and how the process of integration between cultural traditions and Islamic sharia takes place in harmony. Traditions such as slametan, tahlilan, grave pilgrimage, and the commemoration of Islamic holidays show the existence of a dialectic between local Javanese values and normative Islamic teachings which then form a distinctive religious pattern. A qualitative approach with the method of literature study and in-depth interviews is used to uncover the theological, social, and cultural constructions that underlie the practice. The results of the study show that local wisdom functions as a medium for internalizing Islamic teachings, strengthening social cohesion, and building the collective spirituality of the community. The integration of tradition and sharia occurs through the process of adaptation, symbolic reinterpretation, and normative justification based on the concept of benefit, customs that do not contradict the evidence, as well as the principle of al-muḥāfaẓah 'alā al-qadīm al-ṣāliḥ wa al-akhdhu bi al-jadīd al-aṣlaḥ. Despite criticism from religious puritanization groups, the majority of Javanese Muslims still maintain tradition as a cultural expression that does not violate the principles of faith. This study concludes that local wisdom is an important element in accommodating Islam with the Javanese social context so that inclusive, moderate, and adaptive religious practices are created to change the times. These findings contribute to the development of socio-religious studies and become the basis for strengthening the archipelago's Islamic narrative from a cultural perspective.