Recontextualization of Wihdatul Wujud Ibnu Arabi's Sufism with the Local Wisdom of the Indonesia’s Buginese

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the teachings of Sufism in the Bugis community (Pappijeppu) with those of Ibn Arabi's Wihdatul Wujud, which has caused controversy among scholars, including Sufi scholars. The research uses a descriptive qualitative approach, collecting data from literature, journals, social media, and interviews with figures who practice local Bugis Sufism (Pappijeppu). This study demonstrates that the teaching of local Sufism (Pappijeppu) in the Bugis community is considered sacred. The community believes in one God called Dewata Sewuae as a hereditary guide, originating from the Pattolotang faith and the Bissu Community (Hinduism and Animism). This belief was influenced by Islamic teachings, particularly the teachings of Wihdatul Wujud Ibn Arabi, which were introduced by Jamaluddin al-Kubro' long before Islam was widely spread in South Sulawesi. Pappijeppu is divided into two practices: some still incorporate old beliefs, while others are purely based on Islamic teachings from the Qur'an and Sunnah, focuses on getting to know God more closely, similar to the teachings of Wihdatul Wujud, although there are differences that need to be adapted.