Enacting Wasathiyah From Below: Everyday Practices Of Moderation and Social Cohesion In Urban Indonesian Muslim Communities

Abstract

Based on practice theory and the sociology of lived religion, this study explores the practices of wasathiyah (moderation in Islam) among urban Muslim communities in Surabaya and Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Despite previous studies have emphasized on wasathiyah as a concept and policy approach, less attention has been paid to its enactment in everyday life settings. This qualitative field study utilizes participant observation and in-depth interviews for three months with nine purposively selected participants, namely: mosque administrator, majelis taklim organizers, religious figure, and community members. Thematic analysis is used together with iterative coding that is guided by practice theory in analyzing data collected during this study. The study finds that the practice of wasathiyah pedagogy does not involve learning through direct teaching or instruction but through relational interaction, communal practice, dialogue, and leadership. Mosque and community gathering spaces become vibrant social places for reproducing values of inclusivity. However, such pedagogical process is not free of conflict; differences in religious literacy lead to disagreements on certain practice such as azan (call to prayer). These disagreements are further intensified by digital technology, particularly WhatsApp, due to lack of context-sensitive mediating process in voicing the disagreements. Theoretically, these findings contribute to the understanding of urban Muslim life by demonstrating that moderation functions as a practice shaped by social habitus—a pedagogy lived out in daily life rather than merely a set of doctrinal prescriptions. This Indonesian case offers broader comparative insights for the study of Muslim communities managing religious diversity and social cohesion in pluralistic urban environments globally