Interfaith Leaders' Perspectives on Interfaith Marriage In Yogyakarta: A Saddu Dzari‘ah Approach

Abstract

This study, entitled “Interfaith Leaders' Perspectives on Interfaith Marriage in Yogyakarta: A Saddu Dzari‘Ah Approach,” examines the perspectives of religious leaders in Yogyakarta on interfaith marriage and its connection to the concept of saddu dzarī‘ah in Islamic law. This study was prompted by the decision of the Yogyakarta District Court to approve the registration of interfaith marriages, which then sparked widespread public response and led to similar cases. Employing a qualitative and sociological approach, the study gathered data through observations and interviews with twelve respondents, two representatives from each of the six recognized religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Data collection lasted for one month and fifteen days. The findings reveal that although each religion has different doctrinal foundations, all emphasize preventing potential harm (mafsadah) arising from interfaith marriage, such as vulnerability of faith, child education, and family disharmony. The Islamic principle of saddu dzarī‘ah, preventing possible harm, is reflected in other religions through mechanisms such as episcopal dispensation, premarital courses, blessings, or sudiwadani. However, the study also found that not all interfaith marriages end in conflict; some couples live harmoniously by respecting each other’s beliefs. These findings do not justify interfaith marriage but show that saddu dzarī‘ah can be interpreted contextually within social realities. In Buddhism, differing views among leaders indicate that even within one religion, diverse perspectives exist. Overall, the shared emphasis is on maintaining family integrity and social harmony while fostering dialogue, tolerance, and new understandings of family harmony.