The Kudus Minaret as a Material-Symbolic Medium of Theological Acculturation and Social Tolerance in Contemporary Javanese Islam

Abstract

This study analyzes the Kudus Minaret in Indonesia as an expression of theological acculturation and examines how contemporary communities interpret its symbolism in relation to social tolerance in Kudus. This study is important because previous research has tended to examine the Kudus Minaret separately through architectural, historical, or tourism perspectives. The study employs a historical-interpretive qualitative approach, drawing on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with seven participants: one mosque administrator, three local residents, and three pilgrims. The findings show that the Hindu-Javanese architectural elements of the Kudus Minaret have been interpreted in the literature as forms of acculturation that integrate local symbols into an Islamic framework. The findings also show that the teachings of Sunan Kudus, particularly the prohibition against slaughtering cattle, continue to serve as a moral reference for promoting tolerance and mutual respect among religious communities. However, interpretations of the Kudus Minaret’s symbolism vary and are not uniformly understood in social life. These findings contribute to the study of Javanese Islam by positioning religious artifacts as spaces of social interpretation. The originality of this study lies in its integration of architectural, theological, and contemporary social-experiential dimensions in interpreting the Kudus Minaret.