SOCIO-STRUCTURAL INNOVATIONS IN INDONESIA’S URBAN SUFISM The Case Study of the Majelis Dzikir and Shalawat

Abstract: Sufi tradition has grown significantly in the modern Muslim world, including Indonesia. Currently, Sufism has been not only practiced by villagers, peasants, and non-educated people, but also practiced by urbanites, national elites, and educated people. Moreover, it has experienced significant innovation in terms of its practices and organization. This article takes an in-depth look at the innovationof Sufi tradition socially and structurally in Indonesia. It argues that majelis dzikir and shalawat in Indonesia, like Nurul Mustafa, has represented a new Sufi group that arises out of tarekat group, a group that has been considered as ‘official institution ’ in implementing Sufism. The Majelis Nurul Mustafa has strong basis in urban society, rises from urban majelis taklim, introduces Sufi teaching to its jamā`ah that mostly urban teenagers and youths uses popular methods to attract the interest of those groups to attend its ritual as the complementary of its activity