Dialectics of Cultural Values and Economic Welfare: A Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Analysis of the Margondang Tradition in North Padang Lawas

Abstrak

This study explores the dialectical relationship between cultural values and Islamic economic welfare through the analysis of the Margondang tradition practiced by the Batak Angkola community in North Padang Lawas Regency. Using a legal anthropological approach, it examines how local wisdom and Islamic law interact within the framework of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, particularly in preserving faith (ḥifẓ al-dīn), life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql), and wealth (ḥifẓ al-māl). Data were collected through in-depth interviews with religious scholars, customary practioner, and community members, complemented by participatory observation during ceremonial practices. The findings reveal that Margondang serves as a cultural mechanism of social cohesion and moral education while simultaneously functioning as a system of economic redistribution that supports local livelihoods. However, its potential for maṣlaḥah is often challenged by consumptive behavior and prestige competition that risk undermining the principle of moderation (iqtiṣād). The study proposes a Maqāṣid-Culture Integration Framework (MCIF), which conceptualizes the ethical symbiosis between Islamic law and cultural practice through three layers: value, practical, and institutional. This framework repositions Margondang as an instrument for social welfare and spiritual solidarity rather than ceremonial excess. Ultimately, the research contributes to the discourse on the contextual application of Islamic law in plural societies, demonstrating that local traditions can embody maqāṣid ideals when guided by justice, balance, and collective welfare.