<![CDATA[This article examines Javanese-Pegon manuscripts containing ruwatan (exorcism ritual) narratives preserved and actively used within Muslim communities in Jember, East Java, as integral elements of ritual practice. While Islamic manuscript studies have largely focused on explicitly Islamic texts, these materials demonstrate how pre-Islamic traditions continue to be integrated into Muslim ritual life. Existing studies on Javanese exorcism traditions have generally overlooked ruwatan manuscripts, particularly those employed in living ritual contexts. Drawing on philological and ethnographic approaches, this article analyzes manuscripts regarded as ancestral heritage and sustained within local religious life. Their continued use shows that negotiated interpretations enable Muslims to maintain cultural continuity without undermining theological integrity. Rather than representing a simple kind of syncretism, this process reflects a dialogical engagement that allows inherited cultural knowledge to coexist with Islamic piety. By treating these manuscripts as living heritage, the study offers insights into the preservation of manuscript culture within plural religious settings.]]>
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