Social, Political And Religious Roles Of Chinese Muslims In Indonesia: Experiences Of West Sumatran PITI

Nunu, Burhanuddin and Dodi, Pasilaputra (2020) Social, Political And Religious Roles Of Chinese Muslims In Indonesia: Experiences Of West Sumatran PITI. Hamdard Islamicus, 43 (S-2). pp. 334-353. ISSN 2789-8490

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Abstract

This study aims to examine strategic roles of West Sumatran PITI (Persatuan Islam Tionghhoa Indonesia or Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association) in social, political, and religious contexts. This study traced the patterns of social relations within the internal Chinese Muslim community along with their social, political, and religious problems that often colour the life of this minority. The method used in this study is religious research with the approach of research on religion. The data for this research were collected through interview, observation, documentation, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The data were analyzed based on the views from several informants validated by triangulation method. The results show that West Sumatran PITI plays a significant role in the social context in the form of managing Chinese muallaf (muslim converts), providing temporary shelters for them who are isolated and rejected by their family, providing parenting style guidance and legal advocacy for their marriage with a local citizen, and practising funeral service through the local tradition of malakok. In the political context, the strategic roles of West Sumatran PITI can be seen from the national political policies towards Chineses ethnicity, the political interaction of Chinese and Minangkabau ethnicity, and the neutrality of Chinese Muslims in local politics. Finally, in the religious context, the role is shown through the efforts of providing moderate religious understanding for the Chinese Muslim community in West Sumatra, improving their ability to read and write the Koran as well as to practice worship, establishing houses of worship, providing religious teachers or preachers to the broader community, and participating in various religious activities and events in the local community.The implementation of this study can be used as a basis for policy making on how to utilize the role that the Chinese Muslim community (PITI) can play in the social, political and religious contexts in West Sumatra in particular, and Indonesia in general. Existing studies related to Chinese Muslims community In Indonesia, only portraying in fragmented social, political, and religious aspects. Instead this study reveals the overall strategic role of The PITI organization in social, political and religious aspects as well.

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