Religious, Economic, and Political Values Shifting in Inheritance System of Suku Anak Dalam

Abstract

Suku Anak Dalam is known as an isolated community in Jambi, adhering to animism and dynamism. However, in the last few decades, some of the Suku Anak Dalam people have converted to Islam. This article examines the changes in the inheritance system, and factors influencing them. This study uses qualitative analysis with a socio-legal perspective. Data was collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The result reveals that, in practice, the use of customary inheritance law seems to be more dominant than Islamic inheritance law. Furthermore, the shifting in the inheritance system could be seen in the inheritance distribution methods and inheritance classification. These changes are influenced by the religious conversion, social interaction with incomers, and their migrations to other regions.