The Koloman Tradition as a Medium for Reconstructing Religiosity and Social Solidarity Among the Madura People

Abstract

This study examines the koloman tradition (selawatan, sarwah, and sabellesen) as a medium for reconstructing religiosity and social solidarity in Pancor Village, Sampang, Madura. Rural Madura communities are generally depicted as highly religious; however, before koloman developed, some villagers were thought not to perform obligatory worship consistently and were involved in deviant behaviors. This qualitative research, using an instrumental case study design, collected data through participatory observation, in-depth interviews with 15 informants (including kiai, active and regular congregation members, community leaders, dissenting informants, and village officials), and documentation of the village monograph, and then analyzed it using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. Based on informants' testimonies and qualitative estimates, the findings indicate that koloman is organized into three levels with different functions: repeated rituals, guidance by kiai, and sabellesen rotating fund incentives appear to play a role in increasing worship practices, while solidarity is reflected through visits to the sick, condolences, economic assistance, and informal conflict mediation. Dissenting groups criticize the approach for its time demands and its limited contribution to individual awareness. This study offers a tiered, community-based da'wah framework for living Islam studies. Because the evidence is mainly drawn from informant testimonies and qualitative assessments, the magnitude and sustainability of changes cannot yet be ascertained; claims of causal relationships need to be tested through longitudinal and mixed-methods research.