The Harmony of Sharia and Culture

A Living Hadith Study on Tepuk Tepung Tawar Tradition in the Riau Malay Community

Abstract

This article examines the tradition of tepuk tepung tawar in the Malay community of Riau as a cultural practice that represents the close relationship between Islamic Sharia and local customs from the perspective of living hadith. This study is important because in the midst of modernization, cultural globalization, and religious purification trends, many local traditions are seen as separate practices from Islamic teachings, even considered irrelevant. The main problem of this study is how the tradition of Pat tepuk tawar reflects the values of the Prophet's Hadith and how the community maintains the religious legitimacy of the tradition in social life. This study uses qualitative methods with an ethnographic approach. Data were collected through participatory observation on traditional ceremonies such as weddings, welcoming guests of honour, and Thanksgiving; in-depth interviews with traditional leaders, scholars, and the community; and documentation studies on traditional manuscripts and supporting literature. The results showed that this tradition contains prophetic values in the form of prayers of blessing, gratitude, symbolic protection and strengthening the relationship in line with the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad. This finding confirms that the living hadith is present not only textually, but also through symbolic cultural practices. The tradition of Pat tepuk tepung tawar shows a dialogical relationship between Hadith and adat, where local culture becomes a medium for internalizing Islamic values. This approach shows that adat and Shari'a can work harmoniously and strengthen each other.