Rifa'iyah Pre-Marriage Tradition in Dialetics of Interpretation by Tabyin al-Islah in Nusantara

Abstract

Rifa'iyah has a unique tradition in preparing prospective brides or pre-wedding teenagers to build readiness both in terms of spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects for the realization of a sakinah mawaddah wa rahmah family. This article discusses (1) how is the dialectic of society with the Rifa'iyah premarital tradition which refers to the interpretation of the Tabyin al-Islah?; (2) how is the development and shift of Rifa'iyah pre-wedding tradition since the time of K.H.A Rifa'i until now?; The method used in this research is a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach and analysis of Hermeneutics J.E. Gracia. The results of this study are as follows (1) the pre-wedding tradition in Rifa'iyah still continues to have a dialectic with the community through the necessity of studying the Tabyin al-Islah book until khatam before marriage in order to make the marriage eternal and happy; (2) There is a development and a shift in tradition in the tajdid of Rifa'iyah marriage. At the time of K.H.A. Rifa'i marriage contract occurred twice, at the KUA and at home by the kyai. This is because the majority of the penghulu are not just murshid who are under the orders of the pagan-colonial government but now Rifa'iyah's marriage does not have a marriage tajdid meaning that it involves the penghulu directly but the task is only to record the marriage and the marriage contract is only done once by prioritizing Rifa'iyah kyai as guardian and marriage witness.