Living Quran in the Context of Rural Communities: A Study on the Miracle of the Quran in Gentasari, Kroya, Cilacap

Abstract

The Quran is a holy book containing various theological and social teachings and guides humans to the straight path. It’s just that when the Quran is present and consumed by the community, it experiences various responses which are implemented in many living Quran practices – positioning the Quran beyond its capacity as a text in their lives. These phenomena seem to be a concrete indicator of the expression often labeled to the Quran as a sālih li-kulli zamān wa-makān or relevant to various situations and conditions. This article examines the practice of living the Quran in the Gentasari Village community, Kroya, Cilacap. Researchers used various instruments to explore data sources, such as interviews, observations, and documentation or studies of related documents. In clarifying the validity of the data, the researchers carried out an extension of participation and triangulation of sources and methods. From the research conducted, it can be seen that: 1) some of the Gentasari Village Community position the Quran as objects that have magical powers, 2) The implications of this view are implemented in their various receptions of the Quran, including: as a medium of treatment, as a medium of protection from spirits, repel reinforcements, as a medium to facilitate life’s problems – such as ease in death, ease of delivery, and requests for the birth of an ideal baby, who inherit the characteristics of figures in the Quran, such as Prophet Yunus, Prophet Muhammād PBUH, Maryām, and so on.