Prophetic sufism in Muhammadiyah: Tuan Guru Haris’ education model

Abstract

This study examines how prophetic sufism is embodied and pedagogically transmitted within Muhammadiyah through the life and educational practices of Tuan Guru Haji (TGH) Haris in Lombok, Indonesia. It aims to demonstrate how spirituality operates as a lived, community-based learning model rather than merely a theological discourse. The research employed a qualitative life-history design with a historical-critical-philosophical orientation. Data were collected through manuscript analysis, observation, literature review, and in-depth interviews with six purposively selected informants representing familial, organizational, and community perspectives. Data were analyzed using the Miles-Huberman interactive model, including reduction, display, and verification through triangulation. The findings reveal that TGH Haris practiced prophetic sufism as an embodied pedagogical framework grounded in ikhlas (sincerity), kana’ah (contentment), and khauf (fear of God). His berugak (traditional Sasak pavilion) functioned as an informal learning center characterized by dialogical interaction, experiential teaching, and community-based moral formation. Spiritual values were transmitted through exemplarity, relational authority, and everyday engagement rather than institutionalized mystical structures. This study demonstrates that prophetic sufism operates as a practical Islamic pedagogical model integrating reformist theology, ethical discipline, and informal community learning. It contributes empirically grounded insights into how spirituality is enacted and reproduced within Muhammadiyah’s grassroots educational context.