Preserving memory, campaigning nationalism: the haul of Habib Hasan bin Thaha and the remaking of the Hadhrami-Arab identity in Indonesia

Abstract

This article discusses the haul, the annual death ceremony of Habib Hasan bin Thaha in Semarang, Indonesia. In this study, haul is considered as an effort by the Muslim community in preserving his memory on the one hand, and campaigning nationalism on the other. Haul of Habib Hasan bin Thaha was held for the first time in 2018 after the restoration of his tomb. Through the story built about the figure of Habib Hasan bin Thaha, this haul is not only a religious activity, but also becomes an effective effort in campaigning for nationalism. The presence of state elements through the national anthem, the red and white flag, and the reading of Pancasila, makes Habib Hasan bin Thana’s haul distinct from other hauls in Indonesia. The Indonesian nuance in the haul also provides a new image for the Hadhrami-Arabs, the constructers of the haul, as a nationalist community in the midst of the negative image portrayed by some Hadhrami-Arabs through radical and transnational Islamic beliefs.