Decoding Sufism and Symbolic Hermeneutics in Dewa 19’s Album Laskar Cinta: A Paul Ricoeur Perspective
Mohammad Shidqi Fadli, Akhmad Tabrani, Abdul Rani
Journal of Language and Literature Studies September 15, 2026 DOI: 10.36312/jolls.v6i3.6375 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative descriptive-analytic study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Seven selected songs from Dewa 19's album Laskar Cinta (2004) |
| Key findings | Argues that the album's lyrics articulate four Sufi doctrines - Wahdat al-Wujud, Tadzakkur al-Maut, Mahabbah, and Ithmi'nan al-Qalb - and that the songs move from poetic metaphor to theological reflection, reframing death as divine encounter and conflict as inner purification, and guiding listeners toward fana' and nafs al-mutmainnah. |
Abstract
Song lyrics in contemporary popular music frequently serve as complex symbolic systems capable of communicating deep theological and philosophical ideologies, yet prior research has mostly categorized religious themes under broad moral headings without dissecting specific ontological constructs. This study aims to systematically analyze the symbolic representation of Sufi ideology and the multi-layered mechanisms of spiritual meaning transformation in Dewa 19’s album Laskar Cinta (2004) through Paul Ricoeur’s symbolic hermeneutics. Employing a qualitative descriptive-analytic design with purposive sampling, seven selected tracks (“Satu”, “Pangeran Cinta”, “Nonsense”, “Hadapi dengan Senyuman”, “Hidup Ini Indah”, “Atas Nama Cinta”, and “Sweetest Place”) were examined using Ricoeur’s three-tiered interpretive framework: semantic analysis, reflective interpretation (the world of the text), and existential appropriation. The findings demonstrate that the album articulates four core Sufi doctrines: Wahdat al-Wujud (unity of existence), Tadzakkur al-Maut (remembrance of death), Mahabbah (unative divine love), and Ithmi'nan al-Qalb (tranquillity of the heart). The structural transformation moves from surface poetic metaphors to reflective theological horizons that re-frame physical mortality into divine encounter (liqa' Allah) and external conflict into inner purification (tazkiyatun nafs), ultimately guiding listeners toward ego dissolution (fana') and serene spiritual contentment (nafs al-mutmainnah). This study concludes that popular rock music functions as an inclusive, humanistic, and transformative medium capable of bridging classical esoteric Sufi philosophies with the spiritual needs of modern society.