Rituals of Islamic spirituality : a study of Majlis Dhikr groups in East Java / Arif Zamhari.

Includes bibliographical references.

I: The Significance of the Study -- The Understanding of Tasawuf, Tarekat and Majlis Dhikr Group in Indonesian Islam -- The Variety of Majlis Dhikr Groups in Java -- Meaning and Implications of the Classification: Mu'tabarah -- Sufism in the Pesantren Tradition -- II: Innovation or Aberration: Majlis Dhikr in Contemporary Indonesian Islamic Discourse -- Source of Disputes: Understanding the Concept of Bid'ah (innovation within Islam) within Indonesian Islam -- Theological Debates on Dhikr Ritual -- III: The Intellectual Response of Indonesian Majlis Dhikr Groups to Some Aspects of Their Ritual Practices -- Ṣalawāt As a Means to Approach God -- Majlis Dhikr Groups' Understanding of Ṣalawāt -- The Concepts of Sainthood (Wali) and Miracle (Karamah) -- The Concepts of Sainthood (Wali) and Miracle (Karamah) as Understood by Majlis Dhikr Groups -- The Concept of Tawassul -- Understanding the Concept of Tawassul Among Majlis Dhikr Groups -- Sending the Merit of Pious Deeds to Deceased Persons -- The Majlis Dhikr Groups' Understanding of Sending the Merit of Pious Deeds to Deceased Persons -- Seeking Blessing (barakah, tabarruk) -- The Concept of Tabarruk As Understood by Majlis Dhikr Groups -- IV: 'Turn to God and His Prophet': The Spiritual Path of the Ṣalawāt Wāḥidiyat Group -- The Foundation of Ṣalawāt Wāḥidiyat -- External Conflict in Wāḥidiyat -- Internal Conflict in Wāḥidiyat -- The Teaching of Wāḥidiyat -- The Ritual of Mujāhada in Wāḥidiyat: Spiritual Pilgrimage --The Strategy to Preaching Ṣalawāt Wāḥidiyat (Da'wah Wāḥidiyat) in Implementing Sufi Tolerance: The Role of Pesantren -- Spiritual Experience and Spiritual Authority in Wāḥidiyat -- V: The Veneration of Wali and Holy Persons: The Case of Istighāthat Iḥsāniyyat -- The Foundation of Istighāthat Iḥsāniyyat -- Local Rivalry and Challenges -- The Ritual of Iḥsāniyyat -- The Structure of the Group -- From Tombs to Mosques: Implementing Sufi Dakwah and Religious Tolerance -- VI: The Awakening of the Negligent: The Dhikr al- Ghāfīlin Group -- The Foundation of the group -- The Ritual Practice of the Group -- Gus Mik: a Living Saint and Controversial Kyai -- Gus Mik: His Karamah -- Gus Mik: His Teachings -- The Group after Gus Mik.

"This study examines the emergence of new forms of Islamic spirituality in Indonesia identified as Majlis Dhikr. These Majlis Dhikr groups have proliferated on Java in the last two decades, both in urban and rural areas, and have attracted followers from a wide social background. The diverse aspects of these Majlis Dhikr groups - their rituals, teachings and strategies of dissemination as well as the popular understanding of these rituals and their contestation by critics and opponents - are examined in detail and illustrated by reference to three particular groups - Salawat Wahidiyat, Istighathat Ihsaniyyat and Dhikr al-Ghafilin each of which has its own distinctive features and notable religious leadership. These Majlis Dhikr groups regard their activities as legitimate ritual practices that are in accordance with the legacy of Islamic Sufism based on the interpretation of the Qur'anic and Prophetic tradition."--Publisher's description.