Identity Shift: from Javanese Islam to Shari’ah-Centric Muslims in the Trah, a kinship-based social organisation

Abstract

This article explores how Javanese identity has shifted away from Javanese Islam (kejawen) to a more shari’ah-centric identity. This shift is evident within the trah, a Javanese bilateral decent group or social organisation consisting of generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including spouses and subsequent descendants. Long-term observations were conducted in this research through participation in various trah activities and in-depth interviews with trah members. The research found that initially, the trah members were kejawen, namely Javanese who identify as Muslims, but who adhere to Javanese beliefs and ritual practices that have been acculturated into Islamic teachings. Kejawen have a high appreciation of Javanese art and culture as part of their identity. However, trah members began to identify with shari’ah-centric piety, having internalised various aspects of a shari’ah lifestyle that is deemed more Islamic. This shift in identity occurred during the Indonesian political Reformation era which brought freedom of expression. This freedom was manipulated by Islamic activists to fortify political positions and engender a shari’ah-centric identity. The trah has provided a platform for its members – generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – to adopt this shari’ah-centric piety.