Premarital Religious Education in the Rifa'iyah Tradition: A Living Hadith Study of Kitab Tabyīn al-Iṣlāḥ Learning Practices in Pekalongan

Abstract

The pursuit of religious knowledge in Islam constitutes a fundamental obligation that transcends the boundaries of formal ritual worship, extending into every dimension of human existence, including the sacred bond of matrimony. This research investigates the religious practice of studying the classical text Kitab Tabyīn al-Iṣlāḥ as a preparatory measure for marriage among members of the Rifa'iyah community residing in Bojong Minggir, Pekalongan. This practice represents a concrete manifestation of prophetic teachings being enacted within the fabric of everyday social reality. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative methodology grounded in field research, this study employs participatory observation, comprehensive interviews with religious instructors, community elders, and younger participants, alongside documentary evidence to capture the full complexity of this tradition. The research findings indicate that the tradition operates through two principal modalities: individualized study sessions conducted in private settings with local religious authorities, and collective study circles organized on a regular basis by the HIMMAH organization (Himpunan Mar'ah Rifa'iyah), which incorporate the textual study alongside supplementary religious activities including devotional recitations, Quranic reading, and oratory practice. At the heart of this practice lies the systematic instruction of Kitab Tabyīn al-Iṣlāḥ coupled with intensive question-and-answer dialogues, which demonstrates substantial correspondence with the prophetic saying that "knowledge is a treasury, and its key is questioning, therefore ask." The community's engagement with this tradition is propelled by multiple interconnected motivations, encompassing educational awareness of religious knowledge deficits, theological consciousness regarding marriage as an act of worship requiring intellectual preparation, collective social responsibility and solidarity, and emulation of preceding generations who established this practice as an enduring community norm. This research concludes that the tradition of studying Kitab Tabyīn al-Iṣlāḥ prior to marriage constitutes a vivid embodiment of living hadith, wherein prophetic teachings transcend textual interpretation to become actively integrated into indigenous cultural practices, thereby reinforcing both spiritual relationships between teachers and students and broader social cohesion within the Rifa'iyah community. This investigation contributes to the expanding academic discourse concerning how Islamic normative traditions are continuously negotiated, adapted, and sustained across diverse socio-cultural landscapes.