Living Hadith In The Rifa'iyah Community: The Tradition Of Studying Kitab Tabyīn Al-Iṣlāḥ Before Marriage In Bojong Minggir, Pekalongan

Abstract

This qualitative field research examines the tradition of studying Kitab Tabyīn al-Iṣlāḥ before marriage in the Rifa'iyah community of Bojong Minggir, Pekalongan, from the perspective of Living Hadith. The study addresses three research questions: (1) How is this tradition implemented? (2) What are the motivations behind it? (3) What is the relationship between hadiths on learning and this tradition? Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews with teachers, community leaders, and youth, and documentation. The findings reveal that the tradition takes two forms: private lessons with local kyais and general sessions organized by the HIMMAH women's association every Friday Pon, involving lalaran, tahlīl, Qur'an recitation, khitabah training, and book study. Motivations include educational (addressing lack of religious knowledge), religious (marriage as worship requiring preparation), social (collective awareness and support), and role modeling (following previous generations). The tradition is firmly grounded in prophetic hadiths on marrying religious spouses, seeking knowledge as an obligation, and the importance of learning before action. The study concludes that this tradition represents a clear manifestation of Living Hadith, integrating textual and contextual approaches to understanding prophetic teachings, and demonstrating how local religious practices can remain authentically rooted in scripture while adapting to local Javanese contexts.