TRADISI TUJUH BULANAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF LIVING QUR'AN: ANTARA BUDAYA LOKAL DAN STIGMA BID'AH

Abstract

The seven-month pregnancy tradition is a ritual performed by pregnant women when their pregnancy reaches seven months. This tradition has deep roots in Javanese culture and has undergone acculturation with Islamic values. Over time, differences in opinion have emerged between traditional groups who permit its practice and puritan groups who reject it, considering it incompatible with the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith.

The Living Qur’an approach seeks to mediate these differences by assessing how this tradition brings Qur’anic values to life within society. This study aims to understand how the community perceives the seven-month pregnancy tradition, examine the Qur’anic recitations used in the ritual, and analyze the stigma of bid‘ah (religious innovation) attached to this tradition through the lens of the Living Qur’an.

This research employs a qualitative method, drawing data from interviews and literature reviews (library research). Data analysis is conducted through observation, interviews, and several techniques such as data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing.

Explicitly, there is no command in the Qur’an or Hadith mandating the practice of the seven-month pregnancy tradition. However, the people of Lenteng Agung perceive this tradition as an expression of gratitude for pregnancy and as a prayer for the safety of both the mother and the unborn child. From the perspective of the Living Qur’an, traditions like this should be viewed wisely and comprehensively, not merely through the lens of bid‘ah or Sunnah, but also by considering the positive values they contain.