New Books in Sociology

Syaifudin Zuhri, "Wali Pitu and Muslim Pilgrimage in Bali, Indonesia: Inventing a Sacred Tradition" (Leiden UP, 2022)

Mar 28, 2025

Saifuddin Zuhri, a lecturer specializing in Indonesian Islam, discusses his book on the Wali Pitu pilgrimage tradition in Bali, examining its emergence as a sacred practice. He highlights the fusion of Javanese and Balinese Islamic cultures, and how religious tourism impacts local economies. Zuhri also addresses the complexities of saint veneration in a predominantly Hindu society and the evolving identities of Muslim communities. Additionally, he explores tensions over authenticity and the intertwining of spirituality with economic opportunities in contemporary Indonesia.

01:10:48

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Saifuddin Zuhri

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Quick takeaways

The Wali Pitu pilgrimage tradition illustrates a unique blend of local customs and Islamic practices, highlighting the complexities of religious identity in Indonesia.

Religious tourism related to the Wali Pitu not only serves spiritual needs but also significantly boosts the local economy through community involvement and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Deep dives

Introduction to Wali Pitu and Its Background

The Wali Pitu, or the Seven Saints, is a relatively new pilgrimage tradition that emerged in Bali, Indonesia, during the 1990s, initiated by Toyib Zain Arifin. This tradition began when Toyib claimed to hear a communication, known as Hatif, instructing him to identify seven sacred graves. The graves are associated with Muslim saints and have become sites of significant pilgrimage for Indonesian Muslims, particularly Javanese converts visiting Bali. This religious phenomenon reflects the interactions between Javanese and Balinese Islam, showcasing a blend of local customs and Islamic practices that complicate traditional narratives of Islam in Indonesia.

Intro

2min

Exploring Wali Pitu: Islam in Bali

14min

Exploring the Invention of Wali Pitu: A Minority Tradition in Bali's Islamic Landscape

4min

Divine Voices and Pilgrimage in Bali

14min

Contested Pilgrimage: Identity and Authenticity in Balinese Muslim Traditions

4min

Social Dynamics and Pilgrimage in Loloan

13min

Religion and Rituals in Bali

6min

Pilgrimage and Memory in Bali

10min

Syaifudin Zuhri’s book Wali Pitu and Muslim Pilgrimage in Bali, Indonesia: Inventing a Sacred Tradition (Leiden, 2022) is a detailed examination of the recent emergence of the Wali Pitu (“Seven Saints”) tradition in Bali, Indonesia. The study is a multi-sited ethnography of pilgrimage traditions to the grave sites of the Wali Pitu, which is a part of a larger context of rising interest in saint veneration in Indonesia generally, and Muslim religious tourism on the Hindu-majority island of Bali in particular.

Themes of the book include saint veneration in historical and contemporary Indonesia, the relationship between religious invention and religious authenticity in Islamic traditions, religious cultures and the economic imperative of the tourism industry, relationships between Hindus and Muslims sharing religious space, and the diversity of approaches to religion and Islamic experience in Southeast Asia. Zuhri’s work offers important new perspectives on Indonesian Islam by examining the creation, experience, economy, and contestations of popular Muslim practices that are only growing in their significance.

Dr. Syaifudin Zuhri is a lecturer at the State Islamic University of Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung (UIN SATU) and a former research fellow at the Berlin Graduate School of Muslim Cultures and Societies.

Dr. Jaclyn Michael is Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (USA). She is the author of several articles on Muslim cultural representation, performance, and religious belonging in India and in the United States.

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