Negotiating Marriage Guardianship in Banyumas, Indonesia: Religious Authority, Legal Administration, and Contemporary Change
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v25i2.16171Keywords:
Guardian Determination, Authority, Legal Administration, Contemporary ChallengesAbstract
The determination of marriage guardianship constitutes an important issue within Indonesian Islamic family law, particularly in the intersection between religious authority, legal administration, and contemporary social change. This study examines how penghulu (marriage registrars) in Banyumas negotiate the validity of marriage guardianship amid evolving administrative regulations and changing social conditions. Employing a socio-legal approach, this research draws on interviews with penghulu from several Religious Affairs Offices (KUA) in Banyumas Regency, complemented by legal documents and relevant regulations. The findings demonstrate that the determination of marriage guardianship is not implemented through a single uniform legal framework, but rather through negotiated practices shaped by traditional religious authority, bureaucratic administration, and contemporary developments. In terms of authority preference, penghulu tend to exercise traditional authority in assessing the validity of guardianship, particularly in cases involving lineage (nasab), administrative documentation, and the status of first-born daughters. From a legal-administrative perspective, penghulu rely on documents such as birth certificates and parents’ marriage books to evaluate the legal status of guardianship. Furthermore, the implementation of Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation No. 20 of 2019 concerning distant guardians reveals varying interpretations among penghulu regarding the necessity of written authorization (tawkīl wali bil kitābah). While some continue to emphasize formal delegation, others reinterpret guardianship requirements in light of modern transportation and changing social realities. This study argues that marriage guardianship in contemporary Indonesia reflects an ongoing negotiation between religious legitimacy and state administration within a plural legal system. The article contributes to broader discussions on legal pluralism, Islamic family law, and the transformation of religious authority in contemporary Muslim societies.References
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