THE AMBIVALENCE AND SOCIAL ENFORCEMENT OF WIDOWER ‘IDDAH NORMS IN MADURA - A Critical Islamic Law Perspective on Living Fiqh And The Limits Of ‘Urf

Aug 25, 2026

This article examines the socio-legal construction of widower’s iddah in Madura through an Islamic law perspective. It analyzes how mourning practices, though not codified in detail in the Kompilasi Hukum Islam, become socially recognized and enforced norms in local Muslim communities. Using an empirical socio-legal qualitative case study in Banyuates and Ketapang, Sampang Regency, the study draws on in-depth interviews, observation, and field notes from 42 informants.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Normative gap in formal regulation

Living normative order in Islamic family law

Abstract

Research aim and scope

Method and data sources

Findings and implications

Published by Lembaga Penerbitan, Penelitian, dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat Universitas Nurul Jadid Paiton Probolinggo, Indonesia. online access at [https://ejournal.unuja.ac.id/index.php/hakam](https://ejournal.unuja.ac.id/index.php/hakam)e-ISSN 2580-8052 | p-ISSN 2829-5803 Volume 10 Number 1 (March 2026) | Pages 274 – 289 Doi: [https://doi.org/10.33650/jhi.v10i1.14817](https://doi.org/10.33650/jhi.v10i1.14817) Submitted: March 15, 2026 | Revised: March 25, 2026 | Accepted: March 28, 2026 | Published: March 30, 2026 THE AMBIVALENCE AND SOCIAL ENFORCEMENT OF WIDOWER ‘IDDAH NORMS IN MADURA (A Critical Islamic Law Perspective on Living Fiqh And The Limits Of ‘Urf) Abdul Azis1, Zaenul Mahmudi2, Abbas Arfan3 Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia Email: [azis.damanhuri@syariah.uin-malang.ac.id](azis.damanhuri@syariah.uin-malang.ac.id1)[1](azis.damanhuri@syariah.uin-malang.ac.id1) ABSTRACT This article examines the socio-legal construction of widower’s iddah in Madura from an Islamic law perspective. It focuses on how widower mourning, although not formally codified in detail in the Kompilasi Hukum Islam, becomes a socially recognized and enforced norm in local Muslim communities. The study aims to analyze the ambivalence and social enforcement of widower’s iddah and to assess whether it constitutes a legitimate expression of ‘urf and living fiqh or an excessive form of communal moral control. This research employed an empirical socio-legal design with a qualitative case study approach in Banyuates and Ketapang, Sampang Regency. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and field notes with 42 informants, including widowers, younger and older community members, religious leaders, and community leaders. The findings show that a widower’s iddah functions as a morally binding norm shaped by kinship relations, communal morality, and local religious reasoning. Its enforcement is supported by Madurese values such as tengka, malo, todus, and ajhina abhâ’, as well as informal sanctions such as gossip, labeling, distancing, and reputational pressure. The study concludes that a widower’s iddah may be accepted as a valid ‘urf only when it remains proportional, ethical, and consistent with maqasid al-shari’ah; otherwise, it risks becoming unjustifiable social coercion. Its legitimacy collapses when social enforcement turns that framework into excessive communal control that negates the widower’s legally permissible right to remarry. Keywords : widower ‘iddah; living fiqh; ‘urf; Madura; Islamic family law ABSTRAK Artikel ini mengkaji konstruksi sosio-legal ‘iddah duda di Madura dalam perspektif hukum Islam. Fokus kajian ini adalah mengenai masa berkabung duda, yang tidak dikodifikasi secara rinci dalam Kompilasi Hukum Islam, justru hidup sebagai norma sosial yang diakui dan ditegakkan dalam masyarakat muslim. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis ambivalensi dan penegakan sosial ‘iddah bagi duda serta menilai apakah praktik tersebut merupakan ekspresi ‘urf dan living fiqh yang sah atau justru bentuk kontrol moral komunal yang berlebihan. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain sosio-legal empiris dengan pendekatan studi kasus kualitatif di Banyuates dan Ketapang, Kabupaten Sampang. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan catatan lapangan terhadap 42 informan yang terdiri atas duda, kalangan muda dan tua, tokoh agama, serta tokohmasyarakat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ‘iddah duda berfungsi sebagai norma moral yang mengikat dan dibentuk oleh relasi kekerabatan, moralitas komunal, dan nalar keagamaan lokal. Penegakannya ditopang oleh nilai-nilai Madura seperti tengka, malo, todus, dan ajhina abhâ ’, serta sanksi informal berupa gosip, pelabelan, penjauhan sosial, dan tekanan reputasional. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa ‘iddah duda dapat diterima sebagai ‘urf yang sah hanya jika dijalankan secara proporsional, etis, dan selaras dengan maqasid al-s

FAQs

What is the main focus of the study on widower’s iddah in Madura?

The study focuses on the socio-legal construction of widower’s iddah and analyzes its ambivalence and social enforcement within Madurese Muslim communities from an Islamic law perspective.

Why does the article consider the norm “open-ended” in formal regulation?

The Indonesian Kompilasi Hukum Islam provides only a general reference to observing mourning “according to propriety,” without clearly defining duration, scope, or concrete consequences for widowers.

Under what conditions can widower’s iddah be accepted as a valid ‘urf, according to the conclusion?

It is accepted only when it remains proportional, ethical, and consistent with maqasid al-shari’ah; otherwise it risks becoming unjustifiable social coercion that negates the legally permissible right to remarry.

Aug 25, 2026

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