The Gula Satuangan Tradition Among Muslims on the North Coast of Central Java: A Contemporary Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Analysis

Abstract

This research examines the Gula Satuangan tradition practiced by Muslim communities in the northern coastal region of Central Java as a socio-religious phenomenon through the lens of contemporary maqāṣid al-sharī'ah, with particular emphasis on the principle of maṣlaḥah al-ummah. This qualitative field study was conducted in Tegal-Brebes using a phenomenological approach. Research data were obtained through participant observation, in-depth interviews with traditional practitioners, cultural experts, local academics, and documentary analysis. Analysis was conducted using phenomenological steps: interpretation, exploration, meaning-making, and thematic grouping. The research showed that the Gula Satuangan tradition functions in three domains, namely (1) the sincerity of giving, which was synonymous with birr al-wālidayn and ihsān; (2) the strengthening of family relationships through social gatherings and intergenerational advice; and (3) the circulation of the local economy through the purchase of sugar-and-tea packages ahead of the event. These findings demonstrated that local traditions could be interpreted as living law that aligns with contemporary maqāṣid, particularly the aspect of maṣlaḥah al-ummah. This study extends the theoretical framework of contemporary maqāṣid al-sharī'ah, particularly the notion of maṣlaḥah al-ummah, by demonstrating how normative and empirical maṣlaḥah are integrated through the functional relationship between normative fiqh and local social practices.