The politics of ahl as-sunnah : adapting tharīqah ‘alawiyyah in Indonesian politics

Abstract

Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah is a Sufi order that was initially centered in Hadramaut, Yemen, but has now spread to Indonesia along with the Hadhrami diaspora and is closely associated with the Bā'alawī family. The founder of this order, Imam Faqīh Muqaddam, adopted a passive stance towards politics in the 12th century, setting an example for his followers, even though Imam Haddad later revitalized the order; this passive stance remains strong in Hadramaut to this day. In contrast, some figures of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia are now active in politics, with Habib Luthfi bin Yahya being one of the most prominent. On various occasions, he has expressed his active support for presidential candidates in Indonesian elections. Additionally, under Habib Luthfi, the practices of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia have undergone various adaptations in their rituals and teachings. This thesis will investigate how Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah adapts to the sociopolitical situation in Indonesia. The thesis aims to illustrate how Habib Luthfi adapts the teachings of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to support his lineage, Sufism, and politics by answering two main research questions: How did the dynamics of adaptation occur within Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to accommodate the socio-political conditions in Indonesia before and after independence? How does Habib Luthfi appropriate Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in dealing with contemporary socio-political developments in Indonesia? This research is conducted through qualitative methods and a historical approach that integrates scientific literature studies with ethnographic research on the adaptation of Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in the sociopolitical dynamics of Indonesia. This thesis argues that Habib Luthfi has successfully adapted Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah to address the current socio-political dynamics in Indonesia. The thesis contends that Tharīqah 'Alawiyyah in Indonesia has undergone various adaptations and transformations in response to political dynamics, such as colonialism, which limited their activities in the Netherlands East Indies, as well as national issues that required them to assimilate into Indonesian society. A contributing factor to this adaptation is the way Arab culture has acculturated with Indonesian culture. Habib Luthfi also successfully built a hierarchical relationship between the mursyid (spiritual guide) and the murid (spiritual disciple), placing him in a prestigious position within Indonesian Muslim society. His success is inseparable from the mutually beneficial relationship between Habib Luthfi, who, through his hierarchical influence, can maintain national stability, and the state, which assists Habib Luthfi in building his congregation.