P014 AKULTURASI ISLAM DAN BUDAYA LOKAL DALAM TRADISI PERNIKAHAN MASYARAKAT FLORES

Abstract

This study examines the acculturation process between Islamic values and local cultural traditions in the customary wedding ceremonies of the Flores community, East Nusa Tenggara. As an archipelagic nation of remarkable diversity, Indonesia serves as a meeting ground between Islamic teachings and indigenous wisdom that predates the arrival of Islam. Flores, with its ethnic diversity including the Manggarai, Ngada, Ende-Lio, Sikka, and Lamaholot peoples, provides a highly relevant site for studying the negotiation dynamics between Islamic law and local customs, particularly in wedding practices. This study aims to understand the concept of cultural acculturation from an Islamic perspective, to describe the customary wedding traditions of Flores, and to analyze the process of Islamic acculturation within those traditions. The study employs a library research method with a descriptive-qualitative analytical approach, drawing on academic sources, scientific journals, and prior field studies. The findings indicate that Islam accommodates local traditions through the principles of 'Urf and the legal maxim al-'adah muhakkamah, allowing the belis tradition — a customary gift of livestock, elephant tusks, or woven cloth from the groom's family to the bride's family — to be practiced as long as it does not contradict the fundamental principles of Islamic law. This acculturation process is adaptive and theologically grounded, not arbitrary syncretism. Nevertheless, social tensions persist due to the heavy economic burden of belis, which has given rise to the phenomenon of elopement in some communities, reflecting the ongoing tension between religious norms, customary values, and economic realities. This study concludes that harmony between Islam and local traditions in Flores can be achieved through a balanced, tolerant, and just approach, consistent with the inclusive and contextual character of Nusantara Islam.