Embodied Islam and Coastal Existence: Maritime Cultural Da’wah on Environmental Sustainability in Patorani Communities

Abstract

Coastal Muslim populations are increasingly facing ecological degradation, climate uncertainty, and the deterioration of traditional fishing practices, prompting essential enquiries into the manifestation and mobilisation of religious values in evolving maritime contexts. This study examined the Patorani fishing tradition in South Sulawesi via the framework of Maritime Cultural Da’wah, defined as an embodied Islamic discursive tradition. The research employs a qualitative-interpretive design, incorporating discourse and narrative analysis derived from data gathered from twelve intentionally selected participants, including fishermen, ritual specialists, and community leaders, supplemented by extensive participant observation and ethnographic documentation. The data were transcribed and analysed using a mixed inductive-deductive coding framework that emphasised moral vocabularies, ceremonial lexicons, authority structures, and ecological practices inherent in maritime life. The findings indicate that Islamic values are conveyed not chiefly through formal doctrinal teaching but are manifested through three interconnected domains: ritualised risk governance based on tawakkul, collective decision-making organised through layered shura, and a moral economy of distribution that prioritises fairness and social solidarity. The study conceptually extends Maritime Cultural Da’wah as a theoretical framework that elucidates the reproduction of Islamic ethical fishing. This study enhances worldwide discussions on religion and sustainability by demonstrating that indigenous fishing practices can act as repositories of ecological wisdom, ethical management, and communal resilience. It provides practical implications for coastal policy, indicating that the preservation of maritime cultural practices is essential for both protecting cultural heritage and promoting sustainable, community-based fisheries management amid environmental change.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap nilai-nilai da'wah yang terkandung dalam tradisi Patorani masyarakat pesisir di Desa Palalakkang, Kecamatan Galesong, Kabupaten Takalar. Tradisi Patorani sebagai warisan budaya maritim tidak hanya mencerminkan kebijaksanaan lokal tetapi juga berfungsi sebagai sarana untuk menginternalisasi ajaran Islam melalui pendekatan da'wah budaya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai-nilai dakwah tercermin dalam tiga aspek utama, yaitu nilai-nilai aqidah, syariat, dan akhlak. Nilai aqidah tercermin dalam praktik tauhid, tawakkal, dan syukur, yang diwujudkan melalui shalat berjamaah sebelum berlayar, sikap pasrah kepada Allah, dan rasa syukur atas hasil tangkapan. Nilai syariah hadir dalam praktik musyawarah (shura) sebelum berlayar, yang mencerminkan prinsip kolektivitas dan keadilan dalam pengambilan keputusan. Nilai-nilai moral terlihat dalam perilaku kerja sama mutual, kejujuran, kesabaran, tanggung jawab, dan penghormatan terhadap hak orang lain dalam aktivitas penangkapan ikan dan kehidupan sosial. Temuan ini menegaskan bahwa dakwah budaya mampu menyampaikan ajaran Islam secara kontekstual melalui integrasi dengan budaya lokal, sekaligus memperkuat identitas sosial dan solidaritas komunitas nelayan. Dengan demikian, tradisi Patorani tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai aktivitas ekonomi dan budaya, tetapi juga sebagai media dakwah yang menanamkan nilai-nilai Islam dalam kehidupan sehari-hari