Characteristics of Sufism Naqsyabandiyah Khalidyah Tarekat in Indonesia: The Case of Central Sulawesi

Abstract

Instead, the study of Sufism and tarekat have been carried out by many scholars in Indonesia, and across the Muslim countries, limited is known the history and characteristic of tarekat in a regional Indonesia context. This study, therefore, intents to study the history and characteristics of a minority group of tarekat in Central Sulawesi Indonesia. The tarekat was called as Nasaqbandiyah Khalidiyah. This study applied a qualitative ethnography approach. The author engaged for a certain period with the tarekat organization members. The author observed the community and interviewed 15 of them from a different level of tarekat organization members. The study found that the tarekat was brought to the area around 2001 from the middle east by a Sufi. The relationship among the tarekat pilgrims is unique where students (young pilgrims) treated their teacher or murshid as mediators to deliver their praying to God. The relationship between students and the teachers is absolute obedience, and the students must glorify the teachers.