Journal of Islamic Thought and Philosophy
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): March

Ketupat as Vernacular Islamic Symbol: Locality, Globalization, and the Philosophy of Lived Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia




Article Info

Publish Date
01 Mar 2026

Abstract

Ketupat, which is always present in the Indonesian and Malaysian social landscape during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, has undergone a reinterpretation following the rise of globalization and modernism. However, in its journey, the locality of ketupat has had to negotiate with foreign influences, giving rise to various challenges that have impacted not only the philosophical meaning of ketupat itself but also its social and environmental implications. Therefore, this article seeks to answer the question of how ketupat is constructed and reconstructed as a symbol of Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as how ketupat, as a local element, faces the challenges of globalization. When ketupat is reproduced as a decorative and commercial element that follows the logic of the modern market, it causes an ecological crisis due to shifts in materials and mass production practices. This has the potential to erode not only its relationship with the environment but also the philosophical meaning embedded within it. By placing ketupat within the framework of vernacular Islam and globalization, this article argues that ketupat is not merely a culinary cultural heritage, but a symbol of ongoing negotiation between the philosophical meanings of vernacular Islam, economics, and ecology in contemporary Islamic practices in Indonesia and Malaysia.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JITP

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Islamic Thought and Philosophy is a peer-reviewed journal by the Master of Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy Study Program at UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. This journal provides scientific publications for research related to the themes of Islamic thought and philosophy. Taking a broad view of ...