<![CDATA[This study explores how KH. Muhammad Ridwan Baseri (Guru Kapuh), a prominent ulama of Hulu Sungai Selatan, South Kalimantan, is socially represented within Banjar society and how this representation functions as a culturally embedded psychological resource. Employing a qualitative descriptive design grounded in Indigenous Psychology and Social Representation Theory, data were gathered through in-depth analysis. Thematic analysis using Colaizzi’s (1978) framework identified five interrelated main themes: (1) spiritual leadership, in which Guru Kapuh’s embodiment of Sufi ethics functions as a communal moral prototype; (2) civic engagement, in which his moral authority mediates between religious norms and public governance; (3) educational legacy, in which his institutions sustain intergenerational value transmission; (4) cultural symbol of harmony, in which his figure anchors the Banjar ideal of ulama–umara integration; and (5) personal guidance and counseling, in which his relational style provides psychosocial stabilization for individuals in distress. Together, these themes reveal that Guru Kapuh is not merely perceived as a religious figure but is psychologically constructed as a communal anchor of moral order, emotional regulation, and social cohesion within Banjar society. This study advances Indigenous Islamic Psychology by demonstrating how religious authority in a localized Muslim context is described, embodied, and reproduced through culturally specific processes, with practical implications for community-based counseling in Banjar and analogous Islamic societies]]>
