SAKRALISASI TRADISI KEBATINAN WETU TELU: MENGOKOHKAN EKSKLUSIVITAS TASAWUF LOKAL SUKU SASAK

Abstract

Wetu Telu, with its distinctive spiritual characteristics, reflects the dialectic between Islam and local wisdom that forms unique religious practices in Sasak society. This article attempts to trace the process of sacralization that occurred in Wetu Telu and its contribution to maintaining the identity of local Sufism through a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods. Respondents included as many as 10 religious and community leaders in Kayangan District. The research results show that in the context of Wetu Telu sacralization, it functions to maintain the spiritual and mystic values ??that are the foundation of this tradition. The Wetu Telu Islamic Community is more exclusive, meaning that these teachings and beliefs are only spread among indigenous people and rarely touch immigrant communities because the spread of these teachings is taught in a hidden and very secret manner, thus distinguishing it from other Islamic teachings. This local exclusivity of Sufism gives the Sasak people a unique religious identity amidst the current modernization and the influence of orthodox Islam while preserving their cultural heritage and spiritual values. So this research concludes that adherents of Wetu Telu Islamic teachings focus more on forging themselves internally which is carried out with religious rites that lead to inner teachings which are the core of this teaching.