Gempera Researcher Collaborates with ICS Unram and BRIN to Research on Jamaah Tabligh and Identity Politics

The director of Gempera, who is also a leader in Unram’s Islamic Culture and Society (ICS) research institute, received a research grant from BRIN for three years, 2022-2024. This research is a field research with a qualitative phenomenological approach. This research focuses on the issue of shifting identity politics among Jamaah Tabligh, especially in the DKI Jakarta elections and the 2019 presidential election. Data were collected in 5 provinces, namely NTB, DKI Jakarta, Central Java, East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi.

Besides involving researchers from Gempera, this research also involved lecturers and students who participated in this research. There were 8 students involved in this research. They focused more on Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Students were directly guided to collect data and write scientific papers.

From the data collection that has been done, it shows that in several provinces such as NTB, DKI Jakarta and Central Java, there is an indication of a shift in identity politics among Jamaah Tabligh in Indonesia due to the political situation that occurred during the DKI Jakarta Regional Election and the 2019 Presidential Election. This shift was marked by the involvement of several Jamaah Tabligh figures in the Jakarta elections and the presidential election as campaign teams. Some also participated in the 212 rally joining other Muslim groups who were participating in the demonstration. The results also show that Jamaah Tabligh prefers Prabowo Subianto as their presidential candidate, rather than Jokowi, because Prabowo Subianto is considered close to the ulama and is widely supported by the Habaib.

In the Temboro Madiun area itself, the majority of Tabligh pilgrims voted for Prabowo Subianto. Almost 90% of Temboro villagers voted for Prabowo. Prabowo was the only candidate who came to Ponpes Al Fatah Temboro during the 2019 campaign period. Although there was no direct instruction to vote for Prabowo, the majority of Jamaah Tabligh members voted for Prabowo Subianto. Jokowi is considered unfriendly to the ulama and is often considered detrimental to Muslims. Although Jamaah Tabligh supported Prabowo, their friendly and non-violent attitude has never changed.

This research is still ongoing and in the process of collecting data in other areas. Therefore, there is still a lot of uncollected data related to this research.