Celana Cingkrang and Hadith Isbal

A Ricoeurian Hermeneutic Study among Middle Eastern Students

Abstract

This study aims to analyse Indonesian students in the Middle East’s understanding of the hadiths on isbal as well as the practice of wearing cropped trousers (celana cingkrang) through the lens of Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics. This research examines how the meaning of these hadiths is internalized in religious practice and the formation of religious identity. The study is expected to contribute to academic discourse on contextual hadith studies and to promote a more nuanced understanding of diversity in religious expression within Muslim societies. This research employs a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation involving Indonesian students in several Middle Eastern countries. Data analysis follows the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, and is interpreted using Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutical framework. The findings show that understanding of the hadith on isbal is not uniform but varies from textual to contextual interpretations, with a shared emphasis on the moral value of prohibiting arrogance (khuyalā’). The practice of wearing cropped trousers is also diverse and shaped by interpretive processes, personal experiences, and social environments. Furthermore, celana cingkrang is understood as a polysemic symbol representing adherence to the Sunnah, religious caution, social identity, and even fashion trends. Religious practice is the result of a dynamic and contextual process of textual appropriation. Additionally, the hadith on isbal is not merely understood as a literal rule on clothing length, but as an ethical message emphasizing humility and the rejection of arrogance. The practice of wearing cropped trousers represents a transformation from text to action, reflecting a religious expression that is reflective, inclusive, and contextually grounded.