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| Dr. H. M. Nurul Humaidi, M.Ag. (Photo: Dita PR). |
A sarong is a wide piece of cloth sewn at both ends to make it look like a pipe or tube and look like a box. Sarongs are generally equipped with various varieties, patterns, and materials that are different in each region of Indonesia.
Sarong is not the original clothing of Indonesian people; sarong came to Indonesia around the 14th century, along with the arrival of Islam in Indonesia. One of the theories that Islam entered Indonesia came from Arabia, including Yemen (Hadramaut). Sarong was introduced by the people of Hadramaut (Yemen) when they came to Indonesia. Dr. H. M. Nurul Humaidi, M.Ag., as a lecturer in the Islamic Education Study Program of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS), revealed that because of their interaction, Indonesian people imitated the immigrants from Yemen. However, the Hadramaut people use sarong not as official clothes but as sleeping clothes or casual clothes.
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From an Islamic point of view, sarongs have the same benefits as other clothes, which are to cover the aurat and as an expression of good manners in society. Because it was originally worn by immigrants from Yemen who are Muslims, adherents of Islam in Indonesia also follow the Muslim way of dressing.
Especially when the Dutch colonizers came to Indonesia with European-style clothing, the Indonesian people who embraced Islam further strengthened their identity through sarong clothing. It was an attempt to reject the Europeans and their attributes—the European-style clothing. Therefore, it can be said that the sarong is a form of resistance by the Indonesian Muslim community against the Dutch.
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“Even at that time, there was a fatwa that forbade clothing models like the Dutch (colonizers.red). Thus, sarongs became an attribute that contained Islamic religious identity,” he said.
There are not many countries that recognize sarong clothing as official clothing. However, apart from Indonesia, sarongs are also known by Muslim communities in Malaysia and Brunei. The two countries are still allied with Indonesia, which is called the Malay nation.
“This is a habit of Muslims who use sarongs to dress, there is no evidence that explicitly recommends or requires wearing sarongs to dress or worship. The only evidence is to cover the aurat and adorn the body,” Nurul added.
In the end, he explained that the sarong is an Indonesian cultural product adopted by migrants from Yemen. Therefore, the sarong may be used or not used, just like other clothing models. People may wear any clothing as long as its function is to protect the body, cover the aurat, and based on the principle of appropriateness. (dit/wil/put)
