TUAN GURUS, RELIGIOUS PREACHING,
AND SOCIAL SEGREGATION IN LOMBOK NTB
Abstract:
Shifting paradigm and societal labeling towards tuan gurus in Lombok have commonly led
to ambiguity and overlap caused by varied contributing factors such as one’s
status of tuan gurus, one’s sole
teaching activity in the pesantren, madrasah
teachers, preachers, teaching religious books in general, and even political
interest. There is, then, no wonder there are lots of tuan guruss. Tuan Gurus play key roles in the development
of Muslim societies, not only in religious life but also in economic, social,
political and cultural ones. There are Tuan Gurus who are
actively engaged in particular political parties, Islamic economics, people’s
empowerment, cultural activities, and humanitarian reliefs, but there are also
those who take distance from “worldly lives”. However, their roles are not
measured merely by their direct involvement in various activities, but also by
their absent in or even rejection to them. Both their activism and passivism
have certain impact on Muslim societies. Morevover, their roles are different
from one Muslim society to another.
Considering those,
this research aims at decribing the epistemology of tuan gurus in the normative ideas and mapping the social realities
of tuan gurus label at the societal
level. The research employs sociological approach and phenomena analysed with
inductive-descriptive analysis. Results show that tuan guruss as religious missionaries should command deep knowledge
mastery, have individual and social
piety, be fluent in book reading, organize an education centre, have done the
pilgrimage, be socially acceptable, be highly committed to societal issues,
posses power, and unique charm, and be well behaved.
Key words:
normative, social realities, tuan gurus,
categories, reposition, typology, appropriateness.
Introduction
Tuan Guru, on Lombok Sasak ethnic community, was
one of the elite figures, the Islamic religious functionaries in positions of
honor and become a role model of society. With qualification as a group that
has knowledge of Islamic religion, they are recognized as a disseminator and
guardian of Islam, especially in upholding Da'wah Islamiyah (religious preaching). Generally the title given by the
society to those who already perform the pilgrimage and have a place to give
religious teachings of Islam. This title is abbreviated with T.G.H. (Tuan
Guru Haji).
Implementation of the mission that has
been done by Tuan Guru in Lombok previously showed how the level of
social inequality in the distance between the messenger (communicator) and the
people who receive the messages of Islam (communicant).
Throughout
its implementation is still an effort to introduce a long time, with no
oriented values and contextual order that the message is received it will never
be rooted in the community. Religious Preaching (Da'wah) should be understood as a social
transformation efforts planned and programmed, not like filling an empty glass
with water, so there needs to be a new paradigm in view into the future development
of mission, such as social transformation approach, in addition to others
approaches.
In the context of the history, mission of Tuan Guru initially became cultural brokers. In fact, according to a
study in Garut, Hiroko Horikoshi provide confirmation that the role of Kyai well as mission interpreters not
merely as a cultural broker, but as a power broker (intermediary forces), as
well as agents capable of selecting and directing the cultural values that will
empower communities. The function of this mediator can also be played to
fortify the vulnerable points in the fabric that connects the local system with
the overall larger system and often act as intermediary between broker or groups of conflicting, maintaining
the dynamics driving the maintenance of community resources required.
Based on the background problems, the researcher
wants to know how a tuan gurus, his preaching and social segregation of tuan
guru in Sasaknese perspective.
Religious
leaders-popularly known as tuan gurus
holds a very pivotal role as one of the
community developers in Lombok. However,
This pivotal role is questioned for three reasons:
·
The way tuan gurus
status is claimed: if this is by ascription or by achievement. There seems to
be developing phenomena that former achieved status of tuan gurus is shifted to ascribed status.
·
There is a tendency that tuan gurus merely convert (muhâfazhah) their predecessors’ tradition without further
developing it. This hinders religion’s acceleration with dynamics of social
changes
·
Behaviour changes: Former tuan guruss empower the marginalized people, current ones tend to
make coalition with the elites.
The debate
hence concerns with the history of tuan
gurus as a status based on social recognition and social role model. Every changes which happen will certainly
affect their expected roles.
Based on the problems above,
researchers will analyze the activity of preaching and communication as Tuan Guru and religious leaders as far as
community role models and the effectiveness of preaching creadibility
conducted among people with preaching and promote the interaction
paradigm of communication as a barometer of success in efforts to create social
change in Lombok. Starting from the
assumption that the role of Tuan Guru as community leaders, religious
leaders and political figures, very dominant influence in transforming the
social order in a positive direction and is more advanced.
NORMATIF
CONCEPTS OF ULEMA AND TUAN GURUS IN THE NORMATIVE IDEAS
In the perspective of al-Qur’an (Koran),
without intending to modify the already fixed terminology of ulema, there are many terminologies for
those who are knowledgeable, namely ulamâ’, ûlil ilmi, arrâsikhûn fi
al-ilmi, ahl azzikr, dan ulil al-bâb.
The word ulamâ are referred twice
at the al-Quran, in the Sura (Chapter) of as-Syûrâ: 197 dan sura (Chapter)
al-Fâthir: 28. The word ulema a the Sura (Chapter) of
al-Syûrâ is referred to the ulema of Bani Israel knowing the revelation of
al-Quran to prophet Muhammad. Whilst in the sura (Chapter) of
al-Fâthir, the word ulema is referred
to call those who are most pious.
The
word ulema which comes from Arabic is
the plural form of the word 'alim which etymologically means ”those who are knowledgebale”,
or in another definition, ulema is knowledge experts. At the practical level, ulema tend to connote to the meaning of
”Religious Studies experts”, whilst in the perception of Islamic society, ulema are not only considered as
religious studies experts but also are deeply committed toward moral and
societal values.
Encylopedia
of Islam and the Muslim World
defines that linguistically, ulema
are those who possess knowledge or those who are knowledgeable. These are the
plural form of the singular 'alim. This terminology is broadly used
to analyse a society’s socio-educational
class holders whose task is to analyse religious texts such as al-Qur’an dan
al-Hadits
Generally, ulema fit the category
described in the al-Qur'an
as those who are dedicating and pious, (Q.S. 4: 59) and those who have the
authority to interpret the religious teachings due to their deep religious
knowledge.
Further,
The Indonesian National Encyclopedia also holds an interesting yet new on the
definition of ulema. At the former
definition, what is meant by ulema is
the scientists, either in the field of religion, humanities, or social
sciences. Later, the definition only refers to religion experts. In Indonesia,
A number of places have different calls towards ulema such as Kyai
(Java), Ajengan (Sunda), Tengku (Aceh), Syeikh (Sumatera
Utara/Tapanuli), Buya (Minangkabau), Tuan Guru (Nusa
Tenggara, Kalimantan Selatan dan Kalimantan Tengah).
Sayyid
Quthub’s perspective describes that those considered as ulema must possess deep religious studies, be pious, have high
involvement with their surrounding, as well as have moral integrity
acknowledged by the society.
Al-Ghazali
denotes five characters of ulema,
namely: abîd: being pious, zahîd: leading a sober life, alîm:
possessing religious knowledge, faqîh: possessing societal knowledge, murîd,
being oriented to serve without expecting rewards.
Badaruddin H. Subki analysed that ulema at least follow these
criteria: mastering religious studies (tafaqquh
fi al-dîn), and being able to guide their
ummat based on knowledge sourced from al-Quran dan al-Hadits, able to do
Islamic teachings, able to enlive the prophet’s sunna and able to develop Islam, morally a role model, critically
think, actively develop their society to be pious, physically and mentally
strong, lead a sober life, trustable, tawadhu’,
humane, mahabbah, sensitive
towards the dynamics of changes and able to provide the answers for his
followers, knowledgeable and master some
knowledge to be developed and show the attitude of tawaddhu.
Muhammad
Baqhir al-Majlisi quotes the statement of Ali bin Abi Thalib who divides ulema into three main groups. The first
group is the educated people who like to show off and debate. When they put
forward their opinions, their offensive way frequently hurts others. At public,
they pretend to be very pious and make an image of being wara’. The second group is the educated people who like to seek for
economical benefits. They like to cheat and feel like to serve the rich,
expecting that they get something in return. In fact, this typical group do not
care about the rich’ misleading understanding on religion. The third group is the educated people whose
creativity and idealism are high, deepen their logic and knowledge, but find
their life uneasy and heavy.
Those
characteristics and definition of ulema are mainly based on normative criteria.
Sociologically, those criteria will certainly face the semantic and applied
realities. Hence, questions such as in the recent context of life, who ulema are is emerging as bias and
overlapped roles of ulema happen.
In
the history of Islamic civilization, ulema
in the many parts of the world have shown themselves as the leaders of social
and political changes Such a role is driven by two main factors.
The first factor is the fact that ulema
historically consider themselves as the vocal point of Islamic moral awareness.
The second factor is that they dedicate their efforts in the mosques and
Islamic schools where people gather and discuss the most recent news and
dynamics.
Hence they are triggered to take a greater role in solving the happening
problems and changes.
In
the period of Abbasiyah Dynasty (750-1055), all ulema formally employed by the government were paid making them
risky with the government’s pressure. This made their independence lessened.
People started to respect them less as they felt curious if the ulema got involved with the bureaucracy.
In their simple thought, the ulema’s
involvement with the bureaucracy made their dignity (muru’ah) lessened.
The
ulema criteria are very ideal.
However, this what muslim society believes towards those
who have the depth of classical Islamic knowledge (especially fiqh) and
conventionally labeled as kyai/tuan gurus
in the Indonesian muslim
society.
Based
on the Indonesian Ministry
of Religious Affairs, ulema are
interpreted with “those who know the greatness of Allah”. Even, Nurcholis
Madjid interpret them as scientist-those who are at the top level of piousness,
those whose moral, behavior, and ethics are role models for others
Bassam Tibbi, interpret Ulema, who have come to represent
a kind muslim clergy-even though islamic doctrine does not recognize a clerical
class- do not see themselves as theologians but as lawyers. 'Alim,
the singular from of ulema, means "scholer" in Arabic. In
Islamic History, the ulema were thus the embodiment of Islamic fiqh in its capacity as muslim knowledge
par exellence.
The
distinctive yet holistic characteristic of the role and function of ulema in the Islamic society, especially
Indonesia, can be seen from their roles and functions at the process of
Islamization. Ulema are
religious missionaries. They maintain religious affairs at the Islamic system
where it is traditionally kept in the middle rural societies producing the
cadres of ulema and taking the
responsibility in keeping the Islamic orthodoxy. They always connected to their
mosque where they act as a prayer leader and Friday prayer preacher. They also
manage their Islamic broading school where all students and rural residents
gather to learn and recite al-Qur’an and listen to ulema’s preaching and where students in majority live together in
simplicity.
However, the sociological realities show the diversity
happening towards ulema. They can be
further categorized into three big categories: independent ulema, religious officials, and Islamic organization leaders. Each of them has their own characteristics,
coverage, and different path of recruitment. ”Independent ulema” usually manages centres of education such as pesantren, madrasah, or majelis ta'lim.
Their scholarship is much relied upon the societal recognition, acompanied by
their genealogical based legitimacy.
There is normally no certain clear border to determine this typical ulema’s influence. Their influence is
not only based on how deep their knowledge and how far their piousness but also
how well they are connected to the sub Islamic communities in the chain of
teachers and students at the Islamic boarding schools.
Different with independent ulema, religious officials are those whose ligitimacy is based on
the authority’s selection. The difference between the independent ulema and the religious officials
frequently bring them to the conflict situation. At the colonization era, The
Dutch government took the advantage of such a conflict to control the religious
schools and Islamic boarding schools. As the religious officials are selected by the
authority, their influence is limited to where they are assigned.
The third category falls under those whose career is
trough Islamic organizations. A number of them has the capacity as ulema, whilst the rest does not, but
only have concerns and Islamic ideas. The ulema’s
qualification from this category is not a central issue as they are more
interested in how to articulate the ummah’s
aspiration to the national context. Hence, they are more potential to be
national level leaders than Islamic boarding school ulema who are stronger in their local community. These three typical categories however,
sometimes overlaps as there are a number of ulema
who are catively involved in the three categories.
The Islamic ulema
plurality can also be analysed from its theological understanding pattern.
There is a number of ulema who state
that they are the followers of ahlussunnah wa al-jama’ah, whilst the
rest does not follow any stream. There is also the classification of non
mystical and mystical streams, stream of mu’tabarah (readable)
and ghair mu’tabarah (unreadeable)as well as those specifically
classifying themselves as Islamic magic religion or self defence based ulema.
The ulema labelling is not by
ascription not by education achievement. This label is acknowledged by the muslim
society due to services and influences made by the prospective person. For
example, a kyai at the society is
degraded down to a religious teacher (ustadz)
as his social and religious functions degrade or because he loses a trust or he
is mentally defected.
The ulema’s individual quality which
exceeds the society’s knowledge and skills to run social development is a
crucial point to gain strength, influence, as well as their position
acknowledgement at the society.
Ali Musthafa Ya’qub states that ulema
can be categorized minimally under five criteria to be those who have got the
prophecy legacy : First, to posses Islamic knowledge. It
means they do not only use it for personal uses but also dedicate them for
others, at least able to answer religious questions asked. The prophet legacy only goes to the experts
of Islamic religion or in a simpler indicator it goes to those who understand
al-Qur’an and al-Hadith. Other intelectuals such as forestry experts can claim
themselves as ulema in the field of
forestry.However the label ulema in
this sense is limited to linguistic labelling (lughatan), but not to the terminology of ulema as those who have got the prophecy legacy. Second, to be khasyah towards Allah
(being deeply pious towards Allah). Third to be zuhud dan oriented to think of the life hereafter. Fourth, To get invloved with grassroot
level society, Fifth, To be at the
age of fourty as this is considered as the period where human has enough
stability. This is considered as a secret why all prophets-except the Prophet
of Isa, are selected as prophets at the age of fourty.
REPOSITION OF TERMINOLOGY OF TUAN
GURUS AS ULEMA
The term tuan gurus developed
amongst Lombok society is identical with the term kyai haji developed in Indonesian Islamic society, especially in
Java region. They are prominent figures of Islam perceived as experts in all
aspects of Islamic teachings, including Arabic language with all its branches,
even though that kind of perception is invalid and pleonastic. Not all today’s tuan gurus have learnt all kind of
islamic teachings, either in holy land of Mecca or in Indonesia for a
significant period of time necessary to equip themselves to be ideal tuan gurus. Among them there are many tuan gurus who actually do not deserve
the title tuan gurus, but because of
their charisma or the charisma of their predecessors, the society calls them tuan gurus and make them role models.
Apart from all of those reasons, tuan
gurus have been successful in acculturating Islamic values into Sasaknese
system of culture. It is usually supported by few elite power at grass root or
middle-up levels.
In Indonesian context, tuan gurus
are equivalent with kyai in Javanesse
society. Equating these two categories is based on several equivalent criteria
that can found in both terms though there is also a clear distinction for the
usage of title of kyai in Lombok
society.
In the terminology of Sasaknese society of Lombok,
Asnawi identifies criteria of tuan gurus
as one of many groups of elite figures that possess honorable position and as
role models for society. Having been qualified as a goup of elite expert on
Islamic knowledge, they are claimed to be the disseminators and guardians of
Islamic teachings, especially when it comes to performing islamic
teaching and religious preaching (amar
ma’ruf nahi mungkar).
Different in perception and naming of Sasaknese people towards kyai, they perceive the title kyai not as the Javanesse society
perceives it. The term kyai in the
perspective of Sasaknese society of Lombok ranges from those who are officials of marriage to
those who are invited to religious accasions such as a marriage ceremony, mention
of God (tahlilan) or
thank full to God (syukuran)
(roah: Sasaknese). All of them who attend such ceremonies is given the title of
kyai by the Sasaknese society itself;
kyai as people invited to a roahan ceremony (syukuran).
Ahmad Abd. Syakur explains the word kyai
used in Lombok island as multi-interpretative terms. First, kyai is a prominent figure that masters
wide range of Islamic knowledge. Second, kyai
is those who are frequently invited to religious ceremony such as kenduren
and other ceremony related to death, marriage and et cetera. In East Lombok
district, especially in subdistrict of Pancor, the kyai invited to lead such religious prayer in kenduren ceremony is
called kyai tuan. The word tuan refers to those who have performed
the pilgrimage. Third, among Wetu Telu
Islamic community members, the word kyai
is a name for their religious leaders, playing the role of Messiah that connect
its members to god.
The legality of term
tuan gurus is an important
thing to
re-emphasize, for the recent Sasaknese people of Lombok are challenged with blurred
understanding of whom and how should they characterize their role models of
those so called Tuan Guru Haji.
Nowadays, problems
concerning the educational process and requirement to be tuan gurus are shifting, whether basics of acknowledgement of
general society is not changed yet. People who have possessed expertise of knowledge of Islam and other requirements to
be ulema might change, but the
standard used by its society might not.
There are several categories and non-formal requirements
often used by society to refer people as tuan
gurus, which is equivalent to ulema. Nevertheless, those categories
and requirements are changing along with changes in society’s needs.
There are several general criteria to refer people as tuan gurus:
1.
Expertise on religious knowledge
The scopes of Tuan gurus’ influence depend on their
expertise of religious knowledge. Therefore, in upper levels such as district
level in a wider sense, there are also Tuan
gurus who equipped themselves with deep and comprehensive understandings of
religious knowledge as well as with wide community network.
2.
Devoutness
Factors of
devoutness. al-Ghazali
divided ulema into two broad categories.
First, Ulema Su’ (wicked) or earthly ulema and ulema ghairu su’ (good).
Performance of both of these kinds of ulema
is difficult to identify, yet according to Ghazali, this issue dominates the
discourse of ulema. This kind of ulema has a deep understanding of
religious teachings but they use their knowledge merely to legitimate their
power, personal interest and wicked things. Secondly, ulema ghairu su’ (good)
that is those who are ascetics and has the element of orthopraxy (piety). In
this light, orthopraxy cannot merely be measured according to their religious
accessories such as worn-out clothes, heavy prayer beads, or the way they walk. Piety in
this sense refers to preference of those ulema
to stay and live among society instead of abandon it and find cover in
solitude.
The concept of piety
and ascetics of ulema is represented
in Umar’s word, kunnâ fi annahâr rukbâna, wa fi al-laili ruhbâna, meaning: we are warrior with
horse in the day, and pope in the night.
Without pretending that what has been explained about pious ulema above, we can conclude that
society’s requirements concerning ulema
is their expertise in religious knowledge. Society appreciates tuan gurus for their willingness to
teach people (ummah) religious teachings, for their
prayers, their fastings, and other tradition (sunnah) ceremonies such as reciting al-Qur'an
(Koran), etc.
3.
Ascription
The succession of tuan gurus based on familial factors or
ancestry, in the sense that someone because of his familial relation to some
certain prominent figures possesses special rights and privileges among sasaknese
society. Nowadays, this factor has been fading away though it still has
significant influences to the succession of tuan
gurus based of ancestral factors. Anyone can be a tuan guru as far as the society acknowledges him as so, and anyone
can open a pesantren (Islamic
boarding School) as
far as there are students to teach in that pesantren.
Being tuan gurus based on ancestral factors
results in the ownership mechanism of pesantren.
The pesantren is likely to be
possessed by feudal dynasty of the tuan
gurus, resulting in the decreasing of reforming spirit and dynamics of
intellectual development of the its recent generation. This “dynasty of tuan gurus” leads to the institutional
discontinuity of that pesantren
because there is no guaranty that their offspring can run the pesantren as professional as their
ancestors can. Theologically, the personal cult of tuan gurus which is identical with dynasty of tuan gurus is forbidden. A classical system of curricula that needs a
lot of teacher eventually demolishes the existence of this “dynasty of tuan gurus”.
4.
Number of Students
Vedenbregt gives
limitation of ulema as follow: ancestral
factors, expertise on religious matters, number of students, and the way they
serve society. Karel A. Streenbrink added another factor to those which had
been explained previously, that is “principal of revelation”, or ulema as mediator of revelation.
5.
Expert on reading Kitab
Kuning.(Islamic Heritate of Books)
Phenomena in the
middle of society related to question such as who deserve the title tuan gurus are easy and feasible. In
fact, those tuan gurus essentially
are equivalent with ulema or kyai
that they have to understand the source of religious teachings, Qur’an and
Hadist and Arabic literature of classics ulema.
Fitting the
requirements to be tuan gurus is
necessary as they need the skill to answer their ummah’s question concerning
religious matter such as sharia
(syari’ah: fiqh), able to answer such questions based on original references,
some books of previous ulema. In
addition, according to the code of Lukman Hakim, people who deserve to bear the
title tuan gurus are limited to those
who had lived in the holy land of Mecca, Egypt and Madina. The time they went
back to their origin, they started to spread the teaching of Islam, therefore,
they are likely to deserve the title tuan
gurus.
RELIGIOUS PREACHING OF TUAN GURU IN LOMBOK
Religious
Preaching (Da'wah) should be understood as an activity involving a process of
transformation and change (thathawwur wa taghayyur) who did not just
happen but requires awareness of the people to change their circumstances
through education and ongoing communication, this means strongly associated
with social engineering efforts (taghyirul ijtima'iyyah). The main goal
is the establishment of a mission of social order in which a group of people
living with peace, justice, harmony between the existing diversity, which
reflects the Islamic side as rahmatan li al-alamin.
Transformation
of Da'wa occurs in the missionary of Tuan
Guru in an effort to respond to situations and conditions develop. Social
transformation is the creation of economic relations, political, cultural, and
basic environmental and better. In this case, the transformation is considered
as one model or alternative forms of social change, which is the main goal of
any social movement.
Transformatif's
Da'wa undertaken by Tuan Guru in
Lombok at least, has turned the concept of mission which includes:
First, the material aspects of mission,
from the aspect of material presented was a change, i.e. from the material 'to ukhrâwi
ubudiyah or materials that are social mission. In this context, preachers
are required to extend the problem of social issues that occur in society and
the social pathologies such as corruption, collusion, nepotism, oppression,
human rights violations (Human Rights) and others.
Second, the change of preaching
material exclusive to inclusive preaching material, where preachers are
required to remove disparaging or hostile nature of non-Muslims, because the
trend over time, preachers often deliver a hostile mission with other
religions. Acceptance of preaching the message coupled with a critical
attitude assessment; whether Islam 'in line with what has been owned or'
conflict 'diametrically. Mission here confronted with the choice can sometimes
obscure the message itself. Sengkritisme, either in the form of old and new
preachers in the policy regarding this issue.
Third, methodological aspects, mission
change from monologue to dialogue. Missionary approach will provoke active
dialogue to participate in social change religious dimensions. If Tuan Guru only rely on the monologue approach,
the mission is only able to remove the spiritual thirst, not to change the
understanding, attitudes and social behavior.
Fourth, the institution is an important
indicator to smooth the way of change. The transformative power of preaching
not only on the preachers themselves, but also the institutional base that has,
so that the preachers have the bargaining position (bargaining power) high
against the state and society.
Fifth, There is the form of partiality
in the mustad'afîn (the weak and the oppressed). The preacher, to make
social efforts for the benefit of the oppressed in the region, as in the case
of land evictions, environmental pollution, the fate of fishermen and farmers,
or other cases.
Sixth, Tuan Guru coaching and mentoring even advocate and community organizing
to cases and social problems. The bottom line is more targeted on the spread of
Islam in a social system, whether it comes to values and norms prevailing in
society and the relationship existing social organizations.
Discussing the position of Tuan Guru
in the midst of local traditions, can be seen from two sides of social
communication, which is maintaining the traditions of good and traditions
islamize bad religion spectacles according to the Tuan Gurus both
understand and adopt the traditions of modernity that relevant to community
conditions and do not deviate from the norms of religion and society. Two
positions are on the agenda is important for the Tuan Gurus in running
their missionary activities, both in the micro and macro scale.
Macro, always preaching the
existence of touch with reality surrounding them. In a historical perspective,
the struggle of Islam in socio-cultural realities find two possibilities.
First, the message of Islam can provide out-put (result, effect) on the
environment, in the sense of giving a philosophical basis, direction,
encouragement, and guidance for community change until the formation of new
social realities. Second, the message of Islam is influenced by changes in
society in the sense of existence, the style and direction. This means that the
actualization of The “da’wah”is determined by socio-cultural system. In
this second possibility, mission systems can be static or dynamic levels there
is almost no means for socio-cultural change.
Strategic position held by the figure
of Tuan Gurus in interacting with local culture, can be analyzed from
the five important aspects;
First, tuan guru as liaison between the
great tradition with the little tradition. This means that the Tuan Guru
as an explanation of the great religious and cultural tradition as a little
tradition.
Second, Tuan Gurus as
explanatory and providers of public understanding of orthodoxy and hiterodoxy. The point is the Tuan Guru to
explain the problems releated with what is in the sacred texts, puritanism, by explaining the issues
that have mingled the sacred with the issue of tradition, or the things that considered heresy.
Third, the Tuan Gurus serve as
agents to co-existence of the various cultures that live side by side in order
to uphold the image of Islam ideality. This means that religious integration is likely to co-existence, in the sense that the culture and
traditions intact, and communities live side by side with the religious
teachings, while the religious functions to co-existance, rather than integrate, which
integrate into the religious culture, will affect the resistance of sociological community, as well as
their diversity.
Fourth, the Tuan Guru in charge
to explain the cultural divergence. Occurrence of acculturation of Islamic
values in the Sasak culture in fact is inseparable from the role of agents of
cultural reform that consists of community leaders, both formal and non-formal
.
Fifth, the Tuan Guru in charge
of verification variant of the local sentiment with other sentiment. Its
purpose is to attempt to give the demarcation line between the norm with the
aplication.
Basically the mission models can be
done by the Tuan Gurus in three ways:
First, al-Da'wah bi al-Lisan, missionary of this model characterizes the present mission.
In remote villages in Lombok, in particular, vivid study conducted majelis ta’lim. Even for verbal preaching,
optimizes this rhetoric, not rare speech exercises, starting from the
techniques, methods, style, intonation and so forth. This is obviously very
good, at least this verbal mission still needs to be applied in each majelis ta’lim especially the guided directly by the Tuan
Gurus.
Second, al-Da'wah bi
al-Hal, preaching
by example and model and are directly applicable, or more appropriately called
a model of transformative mission, which is oriented to empowerment, mentoring,
etc. This mission is the model most effective mission and become a transformative mission
characteristics. al-Da'wah bi al-Hal it is very effective because people are
easy to imitate what he saw, rather than what is heard and read.
Third, al-Da’wah bi al-Qalam, preaching through writing. Such a
model is quite effective, although still very few among the preachers,
especially in Lombok, which use preaching like this model. The
“da’wah”is usually done by those who have special abilities.
The “da’wah” of Tuan Gurus in essence is the process to increase
public awareness, to change from one bad situation to a better condition. Such
missionary call motivation mission of da'wah (tasyji').
The da’wah is
at its efforts to develop an atmosphere that encourages grace and peace to the
universe is an invitation or a call to create a peaceful and serene atmosphere
with coolness.
Tuan Gurus are also human beings, the individual
and social dimension as well. As social beings, the Tuan Gurus in touch
and interact with their social environment. In dealing with the environment, Tuan Guru did knowingly and voluntarily and in
accordance with the motives and desires. This action is called Weber's
perspective as a social act.
TUAN GURU 'S LEADERSHIP IN CREATING RELIGIOUS PREACHING.
Tuan Gurus as religious
functionaries is the person or persons who perform leadership functions of
religion; lead and direct the religious adherent; often not only in matters of
religion (sacred) as faith (theology), worship, rituals, and so forth, but also
in matters that are more profane aspect.
The position of Tuan Guru as a
figure of the clergy in society, has gained trust and has been recognized as a
leader, generally non-formal, often exceeding their authority leaders formally,
they are generally respected, obeyed, and also loved.
There are several aspects that make up
the leadership of Tuan Guru as a religious figure in the life of the
community.
First, the intellectual aspect, the
personality behind the clergy. These aspects include the criteria for the
clergy, in the form of mastery of the religious sciences of Islam, the public
recognition, personal characteristics reflected in the confess of morality and genealogical relationships in
which the pesantren's
tradition in this case is still strong.
Second, functional aspects, which
relate to the real role of Tuan Guru in concrete in the life of the
community. Tuan Guru leadership functions generally have three main
properties, First, solemnization leading worship (ritual) religious. Second, a
place to ask for the community in many ways (such as family life, safety and treatment).
Third, a role model in social behavior (qudwah
hasanah).
Third, aspects of social status,
whether they are universal and factual status which each lived.
Fourth, aspects of kinship, which form
a network of inter-family leadership scholar/Tuan Guru. Develop
scientific knowledge of transmission of tradition and intellectual transmission
chain between the Tuan Guru and his family.
Leadership of Tuan Guru in Lombok showed that transformational
leadership is not only Tuan Gurus based on the need for self-esteem, but
growing awareness of the leadership to do the best according to the study of
management and leadership development that sees man, performance, and growth is
the most influential. Thus it can be said that a leader in behavior is influenced
by at least four factors that background. First, family factors that directly
or indirectly, has the inherent. Second, the educational background is very
influential in the mindset, the pattern of attitudes, and behavior. Third,
experience and influence policy actions. These four communities surrounding
environment will determine the direction that must be role.
Tuan gurus function is manifested in four forms of
leadership, namely, first, the leader of the community (community leader), if
the leadership shown in community organizations or political organizations.
Second, scientific leaders (intellectual leader), if the study is shown in the
leadership or as preachers. Third, the leadership of spirituality (spiritual
leader), if displayed in worship activities, such as priests and preachers in
mosques or as teachers. Fourth, the administrative leaders (administrative
leader), if the role of educational institutions with the management of modern
organized. The fourth form of leadership at the top can be realized separately
on their own, but can also be combined in a Tuan Guru /scholar, in the
capacity and different intensities.
SOCIETY’S PERCEPTION ABOUT CATEGORY OF TUAN
GURUS
According to the perspective of Lombok society, tuan gurus has been identified as honoured men due to their
expertise and experience in advocating the interests of their community. In
addition, charisma possessed by tuan
gurus is another honourable title given to them by the society itself.
Darmawansyah’s opinion about the nomenclature of tuan gurus based on society’s perspective defines tuan gurus as individuals who possessed
wide and comprehensive understanding of religious matter as well as those who
are able to apply such understanding. Tuan
gurus are also perceived as those whose behaviour is laudible and bring
within them personal quality that differentiate them from common people.
Asnawi explains that
tuan gurus are officials of Islamic
religious affairs who has charismatic power over Sasaknese ethnic. The title of
tuan gurus is given by Sasaknese
society to those who had performed pilgrimage of hajj and have a place for
teaching Islamic teachings such as majlis ta’lim and so on. The acronym of tuan gurus is T. G. H. (tuan gurus haji).
Mamiq Shohimun
Faishal asserts that tuan gurus is a
religious title possessed by those who have jamaah
(followers) for
they are charismatic and having an authoritative bearing in the midst of their
community although they are not capable of understanding Islamic classical
books and have not performed pilgrim of hajj yet.
The definition
mentioned by Haji Lalu Sohimun Faishal is slightly different with the
definition given by the common society of Sasaknese, that tuan gurus must be those who had performed pilgrim of hajj for the
extension of that title is an implication of the word haji (al-Haj: Arab) which
in Sasaknese language known as tuan.
For example bapak tuan (read: Sasak),
meaning: a man who had performed pilgrim of hajj. The Songkok tuan (read: Sasak) can simply be translated into Indonesian
as peci haji or the Hat of Hajj. The most essential
characteristic of Sasak people is the existence of tuan gurus among them. Fundamentally, tuan gurus is the title given by the society to those who master
Islamic religious teachings. Apart from assumptions that tuan gurus is a sacred title, the title tuan gurus itself is originated to pondok pesantren.
Other opinion about tuan gurus is explained by Dr.
TGH. M. Zainul
Majdi, MA who said that tuan gurus is
a prominent figure who is central to the religious affairs of society,
therefore, the tuan gurus’s capability must be high,
especially his capability in terms of understandings over Arabic literature of
classics Islamic texts. With their expertise over those religious discourse,
one will deserve the title tuan gurus
even though in fact the title can also be given easily to anyone in the
community.
More simple
definition is given by TGH. Sibawaihi. He gives limitations to the term tuan gurus as one who has deep sense of
devoutness towards Allah (al-Khasyah) as a consequence of his comprehensive understanding of Islamic
literature. Having a wide range of Islamic knowledge is not the primary reason
to call someone tuan guru, instead, having good attitude and able to play a
role model and able to direct his community according to his understanding of
religious matter are the primary reasons to call someone tuan guru. Thus,
charisma will be revealed by god himself to the tuan gurus.
Such comment is
slightly different with the comment given by TGH. L. Anas Hasry who said that tuan gurus must be able to read kitab
kuning and behave like an ulema for
the ulema has the legacy of the prophets. What this opinion is trying to
assert is that the characteristics of the prophet such as siddiq (honest), amânah (trustworthy), tabligh (convey the words of dakwah), fathânah
(smart), must be possessed by the good behaving tuan gurus.
Furthermore,TGH.
Shafwan Hakim said that the primary requirement to be a tuan gurus is a coherence between knowledge and its application and
khasyatullah. This means that an
expert on religious teachings and its practical dimensions to be qualified as tuan gurus must be willing to teach
those who need religious guidance. Another qualification to be tuan gurus based on TGH. Shafwan Hakim
is he must have performed pilgrim of hajj.
Amaq Mariani explain
that tuan gurus are one who had
performed pilgrim of hajj so their people call him tuan aji. That man then actively teaches his people about religious
matter so their people put him as role model. It is not a major issue whether
he has a deep understanding of religious teachings or not for the most
important thing to consider is the acknowledgement of his people concerning his
social stratum.
H. Sahri Ramadhan
reveals that his concept of tuan gurus
stated that tuan gurus must be
referred to and put as model absolutely due to his comprehensive understandings
of Islamic literature. The tuan gurus
is also a guidance of his society where he live through both non-formal and
formal education.
Inak Sinaref also
reveals that her opinion concerning the concept of tuan gurus as a man with wisdom that is analog to landlord who has
a lot of land. It means that the tuan
gurus is an ideal figure to be a role model of the members of his society.
Amiq Ajar states
that tuan gurus is a pious man
devoted to Allah. The tuan gurus is
also a man that has a good conduct so he can direct his people to the right
path.
TGH. M. Habib
Thantawi elaborates that the concept of tuan
gurus as a prominent religious figure refers to those who understand a wide
range of Islamic religious teachings based on the right methodology of qur’an
and hadist and also have the skill necessary to understand original source of
Islamic teachings, al-qur’an and hadist. Moreover, the tuan gurus must have enough students and people to teach in his
institution like pondok pesantren.
Chief of Saribaye
Village, Sarawan Sukadani, ST, explaines the limitations related to the title
of tuan gurus. He stated that tuan gurus must have a comprehensive
understanding of Islam and also sensitive to the interest of his people. The tuan gurus should position noble ethics
above all and also should have the ability to read Islamic literature from its
original sources.
Muhammad Sa’i states that tuan gurus is a prominent figure whose
conduct is different significantly from common people due to his charisma,
religious knowledge, and position in the society. Tuan gurus are often a leader of pondok pesantren. Criteria mentioned above are ideal, yet sometimes
the title tuan gurus convey bias
within. It is due to other factors indicating towards the use of the title
itself.
Other opinions that
have been analyzed by the researcher according to the questionnaire collected
from 200 respondents suggested that the concept of tuan gurus related to several following aspects; 1) Personality,
charisma, conduct, piety. 2) Capability,
intellectuality, intelligence. 3) Capacity; guidance of society, teacher of
qur’an, da’i (messiah). 4) Social acknowledgement; legitimacy from society
concerning appropriateness to bear the title of tuan gurus.
In essence, the
concept of tuan gurus in Lombok
society is changing. Previously, it is hard for the society to legitimate
someone as tuan gurus. The title tuan gurus will be given only when a
person is perceived qualified according to his dedication to the improvement of
his society. To deserve the title tuan
gurus, a person is required to get involved into societal interaction for a
significant period of time. As time passed, the term tuan gurus becomes more feasible. As long as a person can deliver a
good speech, have performed pilgrim of hajj, the nowadays Lombok society tend
to call that person tuan gurus
regardless of his performance concerning the improvement of his society in
terms of practical sense.
THE SOCIAL SEGREGATION OF TUAN GURUS
LOMBOK SOCIETY'S SETTING
In Sociology, social
strata can be divided into the broad categories, the low end, the middle up and
the high class. Social stratification is an ongoing process along with the
social, economic, cultural and religious development of local community.
In Islamic context,
different social strata among members of society are not major issues. The only
thing that differentiates a person is his or her devoutness to the God. In this
sense, the more the society appreciate religious norms, the more they are likely
to apply those norms in their daily life. The application of those religious
norms and values is the primary indicator of the level of devoutness to God,
known as ‘amalun shalihun’, meaning:
the manifestation of a persons’ iman
and ihsan towards Allah SWT.
In religiosity
contexts, Sasak people in Lombok of West Nusa Tenggara, owned varied of social
stratifications. It axis from their understanding toward religion commonly
impartial, and depend on the doctrine and though of charismatic figures
penetrated their Islamic notion. Commonly, The charismatic figure mentioned as Tuan
Guru, Maulana saikh or hadratussaikh.
Simply, The
understanding of Sasak people towards Tuan Guru is for those who have done
pilgrimage to Mecca, have well or widest understanding towards Islamic law, and
well behave, it caused society give a Nobel title tuan guru haji for certain
man.
Generally Tuan guru can be classified in to two
terms:
- Tuan
Guru Dato’ tuan guru toak, tuan guru wayah, tuan guru lingsir,
are senior class of tuan guru, up
to 60 ages, the senior tuan guru
as good example to follow by all of people, and as prime guider to do
everything in daily life.
- Tuan Guru Bajang, under of 40 ages, posses better knowledge
mastery of Islamic law and as leader of majelis taklim.
In social life tuan guru divided into several types:
- Tuan guru who master the classic
books of Islam (fiqh), but limited knowledge textually.
- Tuan guru who master the classic
books of Islam (fiqh), has widest knowledge and contextual thinking.
- Tuan guru who focus in political
interest.
In
the last of decade, tuan gurus have
varied professions and emerged many types of tuan guru. Fisrt, tuan guru
politician, is those who tends in political interest and make it as a straggle
field. Second, tuan guru
entrepreneur, tuan guru who concerned
in entrepreneurship and business usual, while as a leader of Islamic boarding
school. Third, tuan guru culture observer,
is those who concerned in culture and art development and make it as preaching
media. Fourth, tuan guru
intellectual, is those who focus in intellectual development.
In Jombang, Endang
Turmuzi distinguished kyai into four
categories. In Lombok Tuan guru also
distinguished into four categories, such as tuan guru pesantren, tuan guru
tarekat, tuan guru politic, and tuan guru stage.
Tuan
guru pesantren,
who focus on education development, teaching and learning process in
transforming better human resource. Tuan guru tarekat, who focus in
spiritual building, tuan guru politician, is type of tuan guru who concerned in political interest and make it as effort
to develop their institution politically. Tuan
guru stage, is famous as preachers, their activities focus on spreading
Islamic teaching through da'wah activities. This type of tuan guru is borderless territory, not
only famous in local and in certain communities, but also in other places.
According to the knowledge
mastery and territory that owned, tuan
guru divide into two categories;
1. Tuan guru beleq (biggest tuan
guru), is social recognition, for those who possess well and widest
knowledge in Islamic law and owned the great works read by many people in the
world. This recognition base on the influence of knowledge mastery, caused them
famous in borderless territory, even local, national and international.
2. Tuan Guru Kode' (small
tuan guru), is those who concerns at preaching activities in local territory
and limited for small communities, even they have great Knowledge mastery of
Islamic teaching.
Sociologically,
Those types of tuan guru, exist as diversity of condition, depend on social
perspective point of view.
CONCLUTION
The results of this study suggest that Tuan
Guru as part of a group of transformative intellectuals, clerics critical
role as articulators of the collective consciousness of the ideological
struggle emancipators (Amar Ma'ruf) and blocked dehumanization (nahi
munkar), then there are four main roles that can be played by the Tuan
Gurus in the process of social transformation in Lombok namely, 1) as a
catalyst; 2) as a liaison resource (resource linker); 3) as the solution to the
problem (solution giver); and 4) as a pacemaker process (process helper).
As liaison sources, Tuan Gurus
work to bring the client system that is ready for change with a possible
resource. For the necessary changes in society that agents can find and exploit
to the maximum extent possible the existing resources within and outside the
client system, the form of funds, knowledge, problem solving, time, energy or
motivation. As a solution provider, Tuan Guru initiative provides how to
make changes. Not a few people, organizations, or who want change and reform
but they have limitations on how the reform ideas that should be done because
the agent who acted as reform solution providers. As hyper process, Tuan Guru
function provides immediate impetus for the changes began at an individual or
social system. The process needs to be done for social change to happen is to
show clients how to recognize and define the needs, diagnose problems and set
goals, find the relevant resources and efforts to solve the creating problem.
Access from Tuan Gurus in the
mission of social change in the balance point of the social, the conditions
that must be met in order for a society to work properly, in the sense that the
social balance or social “equilibrium”, is a situation where all the major
social institutions function and mutual support. In this state every citizen
can have inner peace because there is no conflict of norms and values in
society.
In
the process of social transformation undertaken by the Tuan Guru with
the mission to promote transformative approach as a paradigm that provides
space and opportunity to the people involved in their own problems to define
and articulate social problems they face and provide opportunities for every
individual of society into "human agency "under each condition.
Asnawi, Agama dan Paradigma Sosial: Menyingkap
Pemahaman Masyarakat Sasak Tentang Taqdir Allah Dan Kematian Bayi (Jakarta:
Sentra Media, 2006), cet. 1.
This paper is presented
at the third joint conference on tuan
gurus, religious preaching, and social segregation
in Lombok NTB, held by the Faculty of Humanities,
Georg August University of Gottingen and the Faculty of Da'wa and
Communication, State Islamic Institute of Mataram, Gottingen, Germany, 3-4 June
2014.
Asnawi, Agama
dan Paradigma Sosial: Menyingkap Pemahaman Masyarakat Sasak Tentang Taqdir
Allah Dan Kematian Bayi, (Jakarta: Sentra Media, 2006), Edisi Revisi, cet.
1.h.23. Muh. Noer, dkk, Visi Kebangsaan Religius: Refleksi Pemikiran dan
Perjuangan TGKH Muhammad Zaenuddin Abdul Madjid 1904-1997, (Jakarta: Logos
Wacana Ilmu, 2004, 1th edition,. Baharuddin, Nahdltul Wathan dan
Perubahan Sosial, (Yogyakarta: Panteon Press, 2007. Ahmad Abd. Syakur, Islam
dan Kebudayaan: Akulturasi Nilai-nilai Islam dalam Budaya Sasak,
(Yogyakarta: Adab Press, 2006), 1th edition. Fahrurrozi, Sejarah
Perjuangan dan Pergerakan Dakwah TGH.M. Mutawalli di Pulau Lombok: Pendekatan
Kultural dan Sufistik dalam Mengislamisasi Masyarakat Wetu Telu, (Jakarta:
Sentra Media, 2006). Nasri Anggara, Politik Tuan Guru: Sketsa Biografi
TGH.Lalu Muhammad Faisal dan Perannya Mengembangkan NU di Lombok,
(Yogyakarta: Genta Press, 2008), Cet. 1.H.Lalu Muhammad Azhar, H. Lalu Muhammad
Shaleh Tsalis, Tuan Guru Lopan: Waliyullah dengan Kiprah dan Karamahnya,
(Mataram: Yayasan Pondok Pesantren As-Shalehiyyah, 2003).
Asnawi,
Agama dan Paradigma Sosial: Menyingkap Pemahaman Masyarakat Sasak Tentang
Taqdir Allah dan Kematian Bayi (Jakarta: Sentra Media, 2006), 1st
Pub. 12.
In
“Sasak society”, there is no difference between Menak (ningrat: Javanesse)
including Lalu, Lale, baiq, Mamiq,
and Jajar Karang (average people).
They are all united in one Sasaknese bound. Those variations of social strata
are now started to mix through the process of acculturation. Gap between each
stratum, therefore, became closer so members of those social strata have no
problem of socialization issue. (See Asnawi, Agama dan Paradigma Sosial: Menyingkap Pemahaman Masyarakat Sasak
Tentang Takdir Allah dan Kematian Bayi (Jakarta: Sentra Media, 2006) 1st
Pub. 11
Andrey Korotayev, Artemy Malkov,
and Daria Khaltourina, Introduction to Social Macrodynamics, (Moscow:
URSS, 2006.), p. 25.
Moeslim
Abdurrahman, Islam Transformatif, (islamic transformative) (Jakarta: Pustaka Firdaus, 1997), 3th
edition. p.10.