Maqaṣid Syariah Jasser Auda and the Dynamics of Social Resistance to Changes in the Direction of the Qibla at the Agung Mosque of Sungai Penuh City, Kerinci Regency, Jambi

Abstract

The  study explores community opposition to the qibla direction change at the Agung Mosque of Sungai Penuh, Kerinci Regency, Jambi, using Jasser Auda's Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah framework. A qualitative approach was employed with 15 participants including religious leaders, traditional figures, and community members. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis, then analyzed using Auda's six systemic features. Results reveal that interrelated hierarchy and multidimensionality primarily influence community decision-making. In the hierarchical structure, ancestral spiritual authority and local cultural identity rank above astronomically-determined qibla direction. Community resistance stems not from irrationality but from multidimensional rationality grounded in theological legitimacy, local epistemology, and spiritual trust in ancestral heritage. Religious adherence is shaped by maslaḥah principles—collective well-being that preserves spiritual authenticity, social stability, and cultural continuity. The study demonstrates that community resistance represents strong epistemological commitment to local knowledge and ancestral spirituality as legitimate religious authority sources. These findings significantly contribute to Islamic law discourse from local perspectives, exemplifying how Maqāṣid framework can illuminate socio-religious logic of contemporary Muslim communities rooted in epistemological pluralism and local spirituality.