FIKIH PAKAIAN JAMAAH TABLIGH: ANTARA DOKTRIN, IDENTITAS, DAN STRATEGI

Abstract

As a transnational Islamic movement, Tablighi Jamaat has seen its roots deepen in Indonesia since 1952, and it currently has a substantial following in the country. In its evolution, the advocates of Tablighi Jamaat in Indonesia have adopted a distinctive dress style, serving as an identity marker for the movement. While not codified in written or oral regulations, this sartorial style has successfully become an identifiable characteristic of the Tablighi Jamaat in Indonesia. Post-2015, the Jamaat split into the Global Shura faction and the Ameer faction (Maulana Saad/MS). Both factions sport similar clothing styles but claim divergence on fundamental issues. This identity conundrum also faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Tablighi Jamaat movement was accused of being a virus transmission cluster, compelling its proponents to negotiate their identity within given contexts and circumstances, including their clothing identity. This article responds to two primary research questions regarding the genesis and process of transferring understanding about jurisprudence (fiqh) of clothing in the Tablighi Jamaat movement. Secondly, it discusses the negotiation of Tablighi Jamaat's identity post-split and amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. The study employs qualitative research methods, analyzing data from interviews and document sources. The acquired data is subsequently analyzed and associated with fiqh, religious doctrine, identity, and negotiation. The findings suggest that within the Tablighi Jamaat, despite the absence of written doctrine regarding clothing, there is a distinctive understanding and practice reflected in their dress code. Furthermore, the study reveals that the Tablighi Jamaat has attempted to negotiate its clothing identity in response to the challenges of factional division and the COVID-19 pandemic.