Acculturation of Islamic Values and Kaharingan Traditions in the Dayak Meratus Community

Abstract

This study examines the process of acculturation between Islamic values and Kaharingan traditions within the Dayak Meratus community in the Meratus region, Hulu Sungai Selatan, South Kalimantan. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach—employing participant observation, in-depth interviews with converts, local preachers, and document studies—the research aims to map conceptual meeting points (divinity, ancestral figures, angels), ritual adaptation, as well as the integration of arts and ecological wisdom. The findings indicate that acculturation occurs through a selective mechanism: Kaharingan elements compatible with the principles of tawhid and Islamic ethics are reinterpreted and integrated into new religious practices, while elements that contradict them are explicitly reduced or recontextualized. The model of acculturation identified is not a fluid syncretism that blends all elements indiscriminately, but rather a critical reinterpretation that preserves the theological core of Islam while honoring the cultural identity of the Dayak Meratus. The practical implication is the importance of culturally sensitive dakwah strategies focused on education, economic empowerment, and value-based dialogue to strengthen social integration and the sustainability of local culture.