Al-Ahwal: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Islam
Vol. 19 No. 1 (2026)

A Bad-Luck Myth: Salep Tarjhe Marriage among the Madurese of Jember

Qurrotul Ainiyah (University of Al-Falah As-Sunniyah Kencong Jember)
Ahmad Zuhairuz Zaman (Universitas Al-Falah Assunniyyah, Jember)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study elaborate the perceptions of Jember Madurese on salep tarjhe, a customary marriage taboo believed to bring misfortune. This research provide some evidence with an ethnographic approach. First, the Madurese in Jember categorizes salep tarjhe as interbreeding in sataretanan and sepopoh marriage. This type of salep tarjhe marriage is avoided because the people will have unfortunate situations, such as odik sosah (economic crisis), ke’sakean (sick), and even die. Second, salep tarjhe mythical transformation by Jember Madurese can be seen in the ancient Madurese community mindset and the modern Madurese community. The ancient Madurese claim that practicing salep tarjhe as a noro reng sepuh (following the ancestors) tradition, while the modern Madurese view salep tarjhe myth with logical thinking based on science. Salep tarjhe traditions still exist even with changes in line with social developments in the modern era. [Salep tarjhe adalah tradisi perkawinan antar kerabat dekat pada suku Madura. Mitos yang beredar pada suku Madura, perkawinan ini mengakibatkan petaka pada kehidupan rumah tangga pelaku. Dengan pendekatan etnografi penelitian ini menghasilkan: pertama, suku Madura di Jember mengkategorikan salep tarjhe sebagai perkawinan silang antar sataretanan dan pernikahan sepopoh. Jenis pernikahan salep tarjhe ini kini dihindari karena pelaku dipercaya mendapat kesialan berupa odik sosah (kesulitan ekonomi), ke’sakean (sakit-sakitan) dan bahkan meninggal dunia. Kedua, tranformasi mitos salep tarjhe pada suku Madura di Jember terlihat pada pola pikir suku Madura generasi lama dan suku Madura generasi lebih modern. Generasi lama beranggapan bahwa melaksanakan tradisi salep tarjhe noro reng sepuh (mengikuti nenek moyang), sedangkan suku Madura modern memandang mitos salep tarjhe dengan nalar yang berdasarkan ilmu pengetahuan. Tradisi salep tarjhe masih eksis walau dengan perubahan-perubahan yang sesuai perkembangan sosial di era modern. ]

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Ahwal

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Al-Ahwal aims to serve as an academic discussion ground on the development of Islamic Family Law and gender issues. It is intended to contribute to the long-standing (classical) debate and to the ongoing development of Islamic Family Law and gender issues regardless of time, region, and medium in ...