Sapuk Puteq in Wetu Telu Islam of Lombok: A Symbol of Cultural Communication as a Form of Religious Moderation

Abstract

Despite growing interest in cultural communication and religious moderation, limited scholarly attention has been paid to traditional cultural symbols as communicative instruments within indigenous Muslim communities. This study examines Sapuk Puteq as a symbol of cultural communication in Lombok’s Wetu Telu Muslim community and analyzes its role in transmitting cultural values and strengthening religious moderation. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed, involving 20 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis and examined using thematic analysis and the interactive model of Miles et al. The findings indicate that Sapuk Puteq functions not merely as traditional attire but as a symbolic communication medium conveying collective identity, historical memory, ethical values, and religious meanings. It embodies interconnected cultural and religious values, including respect, humility, responsibility, solidarity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, thereby strengthening social cohesion and fostering religious moderation within the Wetu Telu community. The study concludes that local cultural symbols can provide effective mechanisms for integrating Islamic values with indigenous traditions while preserving cultural identity. Theoretically, it contributes to scholarship on cultural communication, symbolic interactionism, and religious moderation by conceptualizing traditional symbols as active systems of meaning and communication. Practically, the findings support the strengthening of cultural preservation, educational integration, and community-based initiatives to sustain local wisdom in contemporary multicultural societies. Future research should examine other indigenous symbols and their roles in promoting cultural sustainability and religious moderation.