Relasi Budaya Hukum Islam dan Hukum Adat di Pantura: Studi Atas Penyelesaian Sengketa di Masyarakat

Abstract

Abstract: This study aims to explain how communities along the northern coast of Java (Pantura) construct, select, and interpret conflict resolution mechanisms through the integration of customary law and Islamic law. The focus of the study includes identifying the forms of both legal systems, analysing the factors influencing their selection, and assessing their effectiveness in maintaining social harmony. The research employs a qualitative approach using a fieldwork strategy conducted over three months, from September to November 2025, in five coastal villages, namely Tasikharjo, Remen, Socorejo, Sedayu Lawas, and Kranji, involving fifteen purposively selected informants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation, and subsequently analysed using a descriptive-exploratory method to capture the dynamics of living law in the conflict resolution practices of Pantura communities. The findings indicate that conflict resolution operates through a complementary integration of customary law and Islamic law. Customary law is manifested through family deliberation, mediation by village officials, the role of elders, and customary agreements, while Islamic law is expressed through the moral authority of kiai, the principle of islah, and ethical advice. These systems are not positioned as competing frameworks but function simultaneously as sources of legitimacy. The selection of conflict resolution mechanisms is influenced by deliberative traditions, economic considerations and access to formal institutions, levels of religiosity, and trust in local figures. In terms of effectiveness, both systems have proven capable of reducing conflict, preventing escalation, restoring social relations, and maintaining village stability.

Keywords: Customary Law; Islamic Law; Conflict Resolution; Pantura