The The use of kemeyan in the khitan tradition from the perspective of the Shafi'i school

Abstract

Indonesia is a country with extraordinary cultural richness, where various indigenous traditions and local religious rituals remain alive and are still practiced today. This diversity becomes even more intriguing to study when Islamic values intersect with a cultural heritage rooted in pre-Islamic beliefs. One practice that is the focus of this study is the use of powdered incense in the circumcision ritual among Javanese communities. This study aims to analyze the forms and procedures of incense use in the Javanese traditional circumcision tradition, while also examining how the Shafi'i school views this practice from the perspective of Islamic law. This study employs a qualitative approach using juridical-empirical methods. The results indicate that incense is used in two stages of the circumcision ceremony: before and after the procedure. The incense is placed in a small container and then blessed by traditional elders and parents as a prayer for divine favor, ensuring the circumcision ceremony proceeds smoothly. From the Shafi'i school of thought, this practice can be categorized as 'urf shahih, that is, a custom that is legally acceptable under Islamic law, provided it does not contain elements that are medically harmful or contrary to theological principles. Thus, this study concludes that the tradition of using incense in Javanese traditional circumcision falls within the bounds of valid Islamic law and reflects the community’s efforts to harmoniously align cultural identity with religious identity.