Cultural Traditions in Death Rituals Within the Community of Pidie, Aceh, Indonesia

Prior to the arrival of Islam, Aceh was known as a region influenced by animism and dynamism that followed the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Now however, the influence of those pre-Islamic cultures remains even though Islam has become fundamentally entwined with the culture of most of the Acehnese. This study was conducted to look into the cultural and religious acculturation in the rituals of death in Aceh. It aims to examine the concepts of Sufism related to these traditions. This research is a field research and its data was obtained through meticulous observation of the ritual action and in-depth discussion with the main protagonists of the ritual performance. The results of the research shows that the rituals following a death in Aceh still bear traces of their pre-Islamic legacy, which has been acculturated with the teachings of Islam, so it does not break the rules of Islam. In these rituals for death, the pre-Islamic elements, which conflict with the Islamic creed, have been replaced with prayers, which are recommended in Islam. This acculturation is beneficial to both sides; the Acehnese people may continue to implement their inherited cultures, while Islam can thrive without having any contradictions within the local cultures.