Khalwatiah Samman Tarekat in South Sulawesi, Indonesia (1920S-1998): Exercising Authority in an Era of Change

• Published in: Asian journal of social science Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 620 - 640
• Main Author: Ubaedillah, Achmad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brill 01-01-2014
• ISSN: 1568-4849; 2212-3857
• DOI: 10.1163/15685314-04205008

In order to interpret religious authority and its historical contours in Indonesia this article considers Sufi associations (Ind. tarekat) and the way that their religious leaders and followers understand their authority and the challenges to it. Particularly, this article will focus on the history of the Khalwatiah Sammān tarekat in South Sulawesi. Over the past two centuries the Khalwatiah Sammān and its growing membership have faced a long running opposition from formalist ulama whom take exception to their Islamic practices and interpretations. The opposition mounted against this tarekat and its adherent's response to these attacks allows us to review the diverse ways that religious authority is understood and practiced in Indonesia.