eco-sufism in ahmad tohari's selected literary works graduate program of english language studies

118 Pages·2017·2.43 MB·English

ECO-SUFISM IN AHMAD TOHARI’S
SELECTED LITERARY WORKS

A THESIS

Presented as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Magister Humaniora (M. Hum) Degree
in English Language Studies

by

Anies Rohidayah
146332018

GRADUATE PROGRAM OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2018
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It is a long journey for me to finally finish this thesis. The writing process of
this thesis has not only enriched my academic experience but also deepened my
personal reflection over the work of God’s hand in the cosmic web. This journey will
not be accomplished without the support and assistance of the thoughtful individuals
whom I appreciate deeply.
My sincere gratitude goes to my thesis supervisor, Father Patrisius Mutiara
Andalas, S.J., S.TD., for his advice, and encouragement during the completion of my
thesis. I would like to express my gratitude to the board of examiners of my thesis:
Ibu Novita Dewi M.S., M.A.(Hons), Ph.D., Bapak Paulus Sarwoto, M.A., Ph.D., and
Ibu A.B. Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D. for their critical review and suggestion to enhance
my thesis. I would also like to express my appreciation to all lecturers of English
Language Studies. I treasure their inspiring and passionate lectures throughout my
study time. I would also like to appreciate the thoughtful discussion and supportive
friendship of the Literature class 2014.
My deepest gratitude goes to the very best friend of mine, my husband Dede,
for his love, support, and understanding; and to our precious Ariendra for the
happiness and energy boost. Finally, I would like to dedicate this thesis to my
beloved late mother whose bravery and unconditional love give me the strength to
face any circumstances of life God has designed for me.
Notwithstanding all of the above support for this thesis, any flaws and
inaccuracies are solely my own.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL PAGE ..........................................................................................................ii
THESIS DEFENSE APPROVAL PAGE........................................................................... iii
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY...................................................................................iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK
KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS......................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..............................................................................................vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ vii
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................ix
ABSTRAK........................................................................................................................ x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1
A. Background .......................................................................................................... 1
B. Research Method .................................................................................................11
C. Research Question ...............................................................................................12
D. Goal and Significance of the Study .......................................................................12
E. Chapters Outline ..................................................................................................13
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................14
A. Review of Related Theories ..................................................................................14
1. Ecocriticism.....................................................................................................14
2. Sufism.............................................................................................................17
3. Eco-Sufism ......................................................................................................23
B. Review on Related Studies ...................................................................................27
C. Theoretical Framework....................................................................................................35
CHAPTER III ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ECO-
SUFISM ........................................................................................................................37
A. Ecological Problems Depicted in Tohari’s Selected Works ......................................38
1. Drought ...........................................................................................................38
2. Flood...............................................................................................................40
3. Annihilation of Species ....................................................................................42
4. Illegal Logging and Forest Destruction ..............................................................44
5. Unsustainable Construction ..............................................................................46
B. The Causes of Ecological Problems in Ahmad Tohari’s Selected Works..................48
1. Secularized Modernization................................................................................48
2. Greed, Corruption and Abuse of Power .............................................................61
Concluding Remark ....................................................................................................74

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CHAPTER IV THE SPIRITUALITY OF SUFISM: AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION FOR
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ..........................................................................................76
A. Tawba (Repentance) ............................................................................................77
B. Wara’ (Reticence)................................................................................................80
C. Zuhd (Renunciation) ............................................................................................82
D. Faqr (Poverty) ....................................................................................................85
E. Mahabba (Love) ..................................................................................................89
F. Uzlah (Seclusion) ................................................................................................92
Concluding Remark ....................................................................................................95
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION .........................................................................................97
BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 104

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ABSTRACT

Anies Rohidayah. 2017. Eco-Sufism in Ahmad Tohari’s Selected Literary Works.
Yogyakarta: English Language Study, Graduate Program, Sanata Dharma University

Embarking from the concerns about the increasingly aggrieved earth caused
by irresponsible deeds of human beings, this study explores the ecological theme in
Tohari’s Di Kaki Bukit Cibalak, The Dancer (a trilogy which consists of Notes for
Momma, A Shooting Star at Dawn, and The Rainbow’s Arc), Orang-orang Proyek,
and Karyamin’s Smile through the perspective of Eco-Sufism. Eco-Sufism is an
amalgamation of ecocriticism and Sufism. This combination suits the character of
Tohari’s works which accentuate the depiction of nature and the dissemination of
moral teaching, particularly Islamic values. This study aims to reveal the way eco-
Sufism sees the ecological problems in Tohari’s selected works and the offered
solution regarding the problems reflected in the works.
This study employs library research to collect the data that are in the form of
words, phrases, and sentences. Eco-Sufism concept by Seyyed Hossein Nasr is
mainly used to accommodate the analysis of the collected data. In addition,
descriptive analytical technique is applied to present the result of the analysis.
Accordingly, two questions are formulated. The first is how the ecological problems
in Ahmad Tohari’s selected literary works are seen through the perspective of eco-
Sufism and the second is what values of eco-Sufism are offered as the solution of
ecological problems reflected in those work.

This study finds that the ecological problems described in Tohari’s works are
rooted in the inharmonious relationship between human beings and the Creator. The
ignorance of God's signs in the universe leads modern humans divorce religion from
science and technology. As a result, the modernization process is conducted in
secular way. In the perspective of Nasr, the materialistic spirit attached to the
secularized modernization triggers the greed for money and possession which make
human beings justify any means to achieve the wealth, including corruption and
abuse of power. Human beings have betrayed God's mandate as a khalifa/vicegerent
who is assigned to keep the harmony and balance of earth life. They harm the nature
and disturb the habitats of the living inhabitants.
Further in his narratives, Tohari also offers solutions to the salvation of nature
through the spirituality of Sufism reflected in his created characters and on the way
he writes his narratives. The spirituality of Sufism found in his works are tawba,
wara', zuhd, faqr, mahabbah, and uzlah. Through the spirituality of Sufism, the
harmonious life between humankind, God and nature can be restored.

Keywords: eco-sufism, Sufism, ecological problem, vicegerency, Ahmad Tohari
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ABSTRAK
Anies Rohidayah. 2017. Eco-Sufism in Ahmad Tohari’s Selected Literary Works.
Yogyakarta: Kajian Bahasa Inggris, Program Pascasarjana, Universitas Sanata
Dharma.

Berangkat dari keprihatinan terhadap bumi yang semakin menderita akibat
ulah manusia yang tidak bertanggungjawab, penelitian ini mengekplorasi tema
ekologis pada karya Ahmad Tohari yaitu Di Kaki Bukit Cibalak, The Dancer (trilogi
Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk yang terdiri dari Catatan buat Emak, Lintang Kemukus Dini
Hari, dan Jantera Bianglala), Orang-orang Proyek, dan Karyamin’s Smile dalam
pandangan eko-sufisme. Eko-sufisme adalah sebuah kajian perpaduan dari teori
ekokritik dan Sufisme. Perpaduan teori ini merupakan hal yang tepat untuk meneliti
karya-karya Tohari yang kental dengan penggambaran unsur alam dan penyebaran
ajaran moral, khususnya nilai-nilai keislaman. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk
mengungkapkan bagaimana eko-sufisme melihat permasalahan ekologi dan solusi
yang ditawarkan untuk mengatasi permasalah tersebut pada karya-karya terpilih dari
Tohari.
Penelitian ini menerapkan metode kajian pustaka untuk mengumpulkan data
dalam bentuk kata, frasa, dan kalimat. Konsep eko-sufisme dari Seyyed Hossein Nasr
banyak digunakan dalam melakukan analisa pada data yang terkumpul. Selanjutnya
hasil dari analisa disampaikan dengan teknik deskriptif-analitis. Penelitian ini
mengajukan dua rumusan masalah. Yang pertama adalah bagaimana permasalahan
ekologi dalam karya sastra terpilih Ahmad Tohari dilihat melalui sudut pandang eko-
sufisme dan yang kedua adalah nilai eko-sufisme apa yang ditawarkan dalam karya-
karya tersebut terkait solusi permasalahan ekologi yang ada.
Penelitian ini mengungkap bahwa permasalahan ekologi yang digambarkan
oleh Tohari dalam karya-karyanya bermuara pada melemahnya hubungan antara
manusia dengan Sang Pencipta. Sikap abai terhadap tanda-tanda kekuasaan Tuhan
yang ada di alam semesta ini membuat manusia modern menceraikan agama dari
ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi. Sebagai akibatnya, arus modernisasi yang terjadi
berjalan secara sekuler. Dalam perspektif Nasr, paham materialisme yang melekat
pada arus modernisasi yang sekuler ini menghidupkan sifat tamak akan harta yang
membuat manusia menghalalkan berbagai cara untuk mendapatkannya, termasuk
korupsi dan penyalahgunaan kekuasaan. Manusia telah mengkhianati amanah Tuhan
sebagai khalifah di muka bumi yang seharusnya menjaga dan merawat keseimbangan
kehidupan di bumi. Sebaliknya, mereka justru melakukan perusakan terhadap alam.
Lebih lanjut dalam karya-karyanya, Ahmad Tohari juga menawarkan solusi
bagi penyelamatan alam melalui spiritualitas sufisme yang tersirat pada tokoh-tokoh
yang dia ciptakan serta pada caranya penulisan narasi. Spiritualitas sufisme yang
terdapat pada karya-karyanya adalah taubat, wara’, zuhud, faqir, mahabbah, dan
uzlah. Melalui spiritualitas sufisme ini harmonisasi dengan Tuhan dan alam dapat
dirajut kembali.

Kata Kunci: eko-sufisme, sufisme, kerusakan alam, khalifah, Ahmad Tohari
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