The Embodied Islamic Discursive Tradition in the Patorani Fishing Communities of South Sulawesi

Da'wah values

Abstract

This study examines how the Patorani maritime tradition of Palalakkang Village in South Sulawesi operates as a culturally embedded medium for transmitting Islamic values. While previous research has emphasized economic or ritual dimensions of maritime life, limited attention has been given to how indigenous coastal traditions function as mechanisms for internalizing aqidah, sharia, and akhlak. Using a qualitative–interpretive approach, the research combines discourse and narrative analysis. Data were collected from 12 purposively selected Patorani practitioners, supported by extended participant observation of sailing rituals and community interactions, as well as documentation of local manuscripts and ethnographic records. All materials were transcribed and coded using a hybrid inductive–deductive scheme focused on moral vocabularies, ritual lexicons, authority markers, and vernacular Islamic concepts. The findings show that aqidah values are expressed through collective prayers, tauhid-oriented invocations, and acts of tawakkul and syukur. Sharia values emerge in practices of shura, adherence to communal norms, and moral accountability, while akhlak values appear in cooperation, honesty, patience, responsibility, and mutual respect. The study proposes Maritime Cultural Da’wah as a theoretical contribution, capturing how Islamic teachings are embodied and sustained through ritual labor, seafaring ethics, and localized cultural repertoires. Empirically, the study demonstrates that the Patorani tradition is not merely a ritual practice but a culturally grounded mechanism of Islamic moral internalization. The findings underscore the broader significance of indigenous maritime traditions in preserving Islamic identity and ethical orientation within rapidly changing coastal environments.