The Qur’anic mantras recited by Shamanic Santri in Java, Indonesia
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies December 17, 2021 H. Muhammad, Ilyas Supena, A. A. Junaidi et al.
The use of Qur'anic verses in shamanic practices by Javanese kyai (Muslim clergy) is not necessarily heretical or idolatrous (shirk). The practice has gained popularity because the kyai legitimize their mantras through normative arguments drawn from the Qur'an and classical salaf scholarship. Contrary to common assumptions that shamanism contradicts Islamic law, the article argues that when performed by santri or kyai, shamanism can be theologically justified. This provides a new perspective that shamanic healing within Javanese society is not always un-Islamic, as practitioners rely on sacred texts rather than forbidden magic.