THE VISUAL ORNAMENTS OF THE RIFA’IYAH PELO ATI BATIK AS A MODE OF ISLAMIC PROSELYTISM

Abstract

Batik is a traditional cloth decoration technique. In 2009, UNESCO recognized Batik as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia. In recent times, batik has started declining towards being a lost art, much of which the collective responsibility of the Indonesian nation. Batik features a variety of visual ornaments containing life sayings and messages embedded by its designers for their audiences. However, many of such cyphers are yet to be decoded. Decrypting the embedded messages left by elders in the visual ornaments of classic batik motifs is a worthwhile endeavour and manifestation of the Indonesian nation’s effort to preserve batik. Among batik visual ornaments laden with philosophical meanings is the Pelo Ati batik of the Rifa’iyahs. The visual ornament incorporates the teachings of Sheikh Ahmad Rifa’i's brand of tasawwuf, wherein man may be considered as virtuous or unvirtuous by his heart. This study is limited to the Pelo Ati visual ornament of the Rifa’iyah batik. Future studies shall focus on the visual ornaments of other batik cloths. The limit is imposed in order to preserve and socialise the meanings of the visual ornaments of batiks found in the Indonesian Archipelago. In addition, a number of Indonesians are still ill-informed of the implicit messages on batik cloths. This study employs ethnographic methods accompanied by a literature review on the history of the Rifa’iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang, its batik, and its culture. This study also uses in-depth interviews with batik experts, Rifa'iyah Batik experts, and Rifa’iyah religious figures. For a period of time, residence is taken within the Rifa'iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang.