Reclaiming the successor of murshidship : a case study on Qādiriyya wa Naqshabandiyya order in West Jawa

Abstract

This thesis examines the dynamics of murshidship authority within Qadiriyya wa Naqshabandiyya Order in West Java. The conflict emerged following the death of Abah Anom, who left no oral or written testament regarding his successor, an unprecedented occurrence. The Suryalaya faction insists that despite Abah Anom’s passing, his charisma remains and can continue to guide his disciples. However, one of his senior disciples, Abah Aos, challenges this view by claiming himself as the murshid, arguing that a murshid must have a living successor. This thesis analyzes the struggle for murshid authority within the Qadiriyya wa Naqshabandiyya Suryalaya. By utilizing Weber’s three types of authority— Traditional, Rational-Legal, and Charismatic—this research will detail how each faction interprets and maintains murshidship authority. The study employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating textual analysis and ethnographic fieldwork over five months (February-June) through participatory and digital observation, documentation, and interviews. Interviews were conducted with eight key figures from Qadiriyya Naqshabandiyya Suryalaya and Sirnarasa to understand the dynamics of murshidship authority. The study concludes that the power struggle arises from differing interpretations of murshid authority, specifically whether it must simultaneously encompass the three components of Traditional, Rational-Legal, and Charismatic authority to achieve legitimacy from followers.