Kajian Mengenai Adat Perkahwinan Masyarakat Jawi Peranakan India Islam di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia: Dari Perspektif Islam

A Study on the Marriage Customs of the Jawi Peranakan Indian Muslims in Penang, Malaysia: From Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Customs are part and parcel of a society to such an extent that they cannot be done without. In the Jawi Peranakan community of Indian Muslims in Penang, there exist practices that have become a must to perform such as in a marriage ceremony. Sometimes the practices are influenced by other religions and opposed to Islam. This study was conducted to explicate whether or not there exist Hindu influence in the marriage ceremony customs in the Jawi Peranakan and to identify practices that are contrary to the teachings of Islam. The research method was of library research, field investigation and interviews with 20 respondents of both sexes conducted in the vicinity of Georgetown specifically at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. The results show that majority of the Jawi Peranakan community still practise the customs of their ancestors mixing them with the local Malay customs, especially in marriage ceremonies. They believe that by adhering to the inherited customs and taboos would have a big impact on the harmony and happiness of the marriage. This shows that the Jawi Peranakan in Penang today still practise customs influenced by Hinduism and some of the practices are contrary to Islam laws. This study throws the light to the practices in the marriage customs that do and do not abide to the teachings of Islam.