The Tradition of Tahlilan on Ternate Society

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the implementation of tahlilan,  society perspective towards this tradition, and the factors of the tahlilan existence on Ternate community. The study was designed in the form of qualitative descriptive research by applying field research, teological normative, and socio-cultural approaches.  The data were collected through interview and documentation. The result showed that tahlilan for Ternatenese is nothing but the momentum where family, relatives, friends, and surrounding communities gather to recite some hayyibah sentences (hamfdalah, takbir, shalawat, tasbih), Qur’an verses, dhikr, and other prayers. Ternate society believes that tahlilan is crucial as a medium of da’wah. There are many positive benefits felt by the people of Ternate such as psychological, social, economic, and importantly religious awareness. In religion side, tahlilan is a minfestation of love for Islam and the cultivation of the monotheism concept. The development of understanding and awareness in Muslim religion also lead to a process of evaluation and change in the implementation of tahlilan. In this case, Islamic da'wah succeeds in influencing the socio-cultural life of Ternate community. The tahlilan tradition can exist til now because it is considered to still have coherence with Islamic values, customs and culture. Ternate society still hope that the tradition of tahlilan will last forever. However, there has been no inheritance or regeneration model for tahlilan implementers since the process of regenerating the rituals of tahlilan has proceeded naturally so far.