ISLAM DAN KEBUDAYAAN MANDAILING KAJIAN HISTORIS TERHADAP SISTEM KEKERABATAN, SIMBOL BUDAYA, DAN PROSES ISLAMISASI

Abstract

This article examines the Mandailing people as one of the ethnic groups in North Sumatra with a distinctive social and cultural system. Mandailing society is founded upon the clan (marga) system, the customary institution of Dalihan Na Tolu, cultural symbols such as Gordang Sambilan, and the traditional institution of Bagas Godang, all of which have evolved alongside the process of Islamization. This study aims to analyze the historical development of the marga system, explore the philosophical meanings of Mandailing cultural symbols, and examine the process through which Islam spread and developed in the Mandailing region. The research employs a qualitative approach using a library research method. Data were collected from various scholarly sources on Mandailing history, cultural anthropology, and the development of Islam in North Sumatra, and analyzed through descriptive-analytical techniques involving data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The novelty of this study lies in its integrated analysis of the marga system, Dalihan Na Tolu, Gordang Sambilan, Bagas Godang, and the Islamization process within a single analytical framework, providing a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between local culture and Islamic development in Mandailing. The findings reveal that the marga system serves as the foundation of Mandailing social and political identity, Dalihan Na Tolu functions as a mechanism of social integration that remains relevant after Islamization, Gordang Sambilan has transformed from a ritual instrument into a cultural symbol, and Bagas Godang represents the center of traditional governance founded upon deliberation and openness. The study also finds that Islamization occurred through a process of cultural acculturation, enabling Islam to integrate with local customs without eliminating Mandailing cultural identity. Consequently, the relationship between Islam and Mandailing culture is characterized by integration, adaptation, and mutual reinforcement, enriching the discourse on Islamic studies and local cultural heritage in Indonesia.