Al-Barzanji in South Sulawesi, Indonesia: Local Islamic Traditions and the Practice of Religious Moderation

Abstract

Studies on Al-Barzanji (a classical Islamic mawlid text) have developed through theological, literary, and socio-cultural approaches, yet they have rarely positioned its recitation as a socio-religious practice shaping religious moderation in everyday communal life. In particular, the integration of Al-Barzanji into turāth (Islamic classical tradition) within local Islamic traditions in South Sulawesi remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, this study analyzes Al-Barzanji's recitation as a medium through which religious moderation is practiced and sustained in local contexts. Adopting an interpretive perspective, this study views Al-Barzanji not merely as a devotional text but as a lived socio-religious practice integrating Islamic values with local cultural wisdom. Using a qualitative approach that combines library research and fieldwork, the study examines the text of Al-Barzanji and its recitation in socio-religious rituals such as mappacci (Bugis pre-wedding ritual), aqiqah (Islamic birth ritual), and mawlid (Prophet’s birthday celebration). The findings show that these practices facilitate the internalization of compassion, cultural accommodation, and respect for difference, thereby supporting religious moderation in culturally diverse local settings. Accordingly, this study introduces an interpretive lens that positions Al-Barzanji as a living turāth tradition operating as a socio-religious resource for fostering inclusive and accommodative forms of Islam.