Living Sufism in the Tablighi Jamaat: A Hermeneutic Interpretation of Practicing Zuhd in Contemporary Indonesia

Nurhayati Nurhayati; Mukhlis Lubis; Suraya Attamimi; Surni Kadir

doi:10.24014/jush.v33i2.38503

Living Sufism in the Tablighi Jamaat: A Hermeneutic Interpretation of Practicing Zuhd in Contemporary Indonesia

Nurhayati Nurhayati, Mukhlis Lubis, Suraya Attamimi, Surni Kadir

Abstract

This study explores the practice of zuhd (asceticism) within the Tablighi Jamaat community in Palu, Indonesia, through the framework of Dilthey's hermeneutics. Itseeksto interpret the subjective meaning of zuhd as livedspiritualityrather than merely a doctrinal discipline, emphasizing how the Tablighi ethos of simplicity, resilience (tahammul), and detachment from politics reflects the enduring influence of Chishtiyya Sufism. The study employed qualitativemethods, includingin-depth interviews and field observations, involving 15 informants from diverse backgrounds within the Tablighi Jamaat in Palu. Over a six-month observation period, the studyappliedDilthey's dual interpretive model—verstehen (understanding meaning) and erklären (explaining context)—to uncover the inner experiences and ethical structures of zuhd among the participants. The main findings indicate that the asceticism of theTablighiJamaat is characterized by (1) ritual movement (khuruj) as a spiritual discipline, (2) apoliticality as an ethical manifestation of separation, and (3) hospitality and humility asextensionsof Chishtiyyah mysticism. This study concludes thatTablighiasceticism is a living form of Sufism,demonstratingthe continuity of classical Chishtiyyah ethicswithinthe contemporary Islamic da'wah movement.Thestudy contributes theoretically to the hermeneutical understanding of Islamic asceticism and empirically enriches the study of spiritual practices in modern Muslimsocieties.

Keywords

Apoliticism; Chishtiyya; Hermeneutic; Sufism; Tablighi Jamaat; Zuhd

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/jush.v33i2.38503