The role of Arabs in the Trade and Economic Life in Society Surakarta

PROCEEDINGS ICTESS UNISRI 2017
Vol 1, Number 1, January 2017

ISSN: 2549-094X

The role of Arabs in the Trade and Economic Life in Society Surakarta

Retna Murtiningsih
Sebelas Maret University
Post Graduate Program of History Education

Abstract: The role of the Arab / Encik in the world economy has been felt since decades ago.
This is closely related to the identity of an entrepreneur in the field of economy . In
addition, the context of socio-cultural and political interactions participate cultivate an
Arab identity/ Encik in Surakarta . It thus may be either positive or negative for a
particular community. As an example application on ethnic interaction in Surakarta ,
completes this contextual thinking . Projections for overcoming the task together cover
all aspects of the nation's economy between people and government .
Keywords : trade , economic activities , market. Arab/Encik, Indigenous , globalization .

live in the archipelago mostly from

A. INTRODUCTION
Said Hamka (1961 ) that the

Hadramaut , and some were from

Arabs were the pioneers of Islam , they

Maskat , the edge of the Persian Gulf ,

have come to the Malay states in the

Yemen , Hijaz , Egypt or from the east

VII century AD, or the first year of

coast of Africa . They become

Islam . Thus , the history of Islam to

middlemen

Indonesia , especially the history of its

shopkeepers , market penetration and

development is inseparable from the

menyediaka goods and services that

history

are not carried immigrants from

of

the

influx

of

Arab

immigrants in Indonesia . These data

,

small

traders

,

Europe , also conducted lend money .

also reinforce the notion that Islam in

The Arab nomads began to

Indonesia is not organized by a State or

come en masse to the archipelago in

official body of the country . The entry

the last years of the 18th century , but

of Islam voluntarily brought by traders ,

they began much settled on the island

merchants who originally came to buy

of Java after 1820. According to

spices needed and will be sold .

statistics in 1858 recorded a population

Their
carrying

livelihood

goods

from

as

traders

Arab

and

homecoming brings spice , Arabs who

144

of Arab descent who lived in Indonesia
as many as 1,662 , or about 30 % of the

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number of Arab communities who

nobility and big traders would be very

migrated in that year .

proud if could take the law or the law

Arab immigrants already living
in cities Maritim Indonesia since the

of the Arabs , especially from among
Sayid .

early years of the 19th century

Step

Generally they are traders. Muslim

Arab

scholars

Hadramaut

traders usually spend months to sell his

services have played an important role

wares to the end in order to purchase

in the process and development of

local merchandise and bring it back to

Islam among the people of Surakarta ,

their respective countries. In addition,

characterized

the cruise they do to return to the

assemblies that have been followed by

country of origin depending on the

indigenous communities ( Surakarta ) .

season.

between

Other services with the Arab people

Indonesia and the Arabian Peninsula

who settled in Surakarta Hadramaut

takes a long time and is determined by

assimilated and acculturated with local

the

to

culture that gave birth to the spirit

Indonesia without bringing wives and

Surakarta Islamic mosque building

composed entirely of men, young and

does have a strategic role, among

old, and children. Usually they settled

others, where the Muslims: worship

in groups in a neighborhood near the

and draw closer to Allah SWT,

port city. Then the relationships

beri'tikaf, self-cleaning, galvanizing

between groups of Muslim merchants

mind to build awareness and get the

with indigenous communities gradual

religious experience that has always

realization. Such conditions cause the

maintained the balance of body and

Arab traders hold a kinship through

soul and the wholeness of personality ,

marriage with the natives, breed and

where deliberation of the Muslims in

did not return to their homeland.

order to solve the problems that arise in

The

weather.

distance

They

migrated

spread

their

taklim

Whenever there are back home ,

society, consulted, filed difficulties,

they simply visit their families . This

ask for help and assistance, fostering a

data shows the social relations between

bond integrity and Gotong jama'ah

the Arabs with the locals appear once

royongan

in a marriage relationship , especially

prosperity,

the indigenous population of the

development kader- leadership cadres

145

in

realizing
a

common

coaching

and

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of the people, place settings and social

1. How does the influx of people /

activities. Other acculturation pathway

ethnic Arabs to the city of Surakarta ?

is through religious rituals bring

2. Interchangeability of the ethos of

together

propaganda into Entrepreneurial

indigenous

communities

around the Arab descent. As in the

spirit .

implementation of the Friday prayers

3. The role and influence of people /

at the moment where this happens

ethnic Arabs in the economy in

fairly intensive assimilation by the two

Surakarta .

societies.culture , such as art, music

A. The process of the influx of

qosidah .
Culture
commonly

B.

B. DISCUSSION

used

Hadramaut
,

more

especially

in

people / ethnic Arabs to the city of
Surakarta

religious rituals , namely the use of the

After the great schism among

abaya ( qamis ) in the form of long

Muslims that led to the killing of the

white robe with ( iqal ) Igal is also

fourth Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib, start a

white tied around the head . The use of

movement (migration) mass of the

language market ( suqiyah ) apart from

offspring to various corners of the

the Arab and Arabic grammar .

world. When Imam Ahmad Al-

Sometimes Indonesian in his talk

Muhajir emigrated from

inserted Arabic , such as " Ente ( you )

Hadramaut province in Yemen about a

want dibikinin gahwah ( qohwah )

thousand years ago, the descendants of

coffee " , then the word " harim " to

Ali bin Abi Talib and 70 people

addressed to the nice lady who has

brought family and followers.

become a wife or not , the word " syahi

Since then develops his descendants to

" which means the tea into the

be the largest tribes in Hadhramaut,

language their daily conversation , and

and from Hadramaut city is the main

combined with the Java language .

origin of the Arab colony that settled

FORMULATION OF THE

Iraq to

and mingled become citizens in
Indonesia and countries Asialainnya.

PROBLEM

Besides Indonesia, the Hadramaut is

From the background of the
above problems , it can produce some

also widely available in Oman, India,

problems as follows :

Pakistan, South Philippines, Malaysia,
and Singapore. There are also people
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of Arab descent who hails from the

Muhammad

country of the Middle East and Africa

Hadramaut . It besama sons preach

in Indonesia, misalnyadari Egypt,

much to all corners of Southeast Asia

Saudi Arabia, Sudan or Morocco; but

to the archipelago with the main

fewer than those from Hadramaut.

strategy to spread Islam through

The arrival of the Arab colony

Sahib

Mirbath

of

marriage with locals mainly from the

of Hadramaut to Indonesia is

Hindu palaces .

estimated to occur in 3 main wave , as

Ages 17-19 AD

follows :

This century is marked by the

1. Ages 9-11 AD

last wave of mass migration of the

The historical record is the

Hadramaut Ba'alawi Sada who spread

oldest royal establishment Perlak I

Islam while trade in the archipelago.

( East ) on the 1st of Muharram 225 H

Immigrants latter can be marked

( 840 AD) . Only two centuries after

descendants until now because, unlike

the death of the Prophet , one of the

its predecessor, does not do a lot of

descendants

interbreeding

of

Sayyid

Ali

bin

with

the

native

Muhammad bin Ja'far Sadiq Dibaj

population. Moreover, it can be

emigrated to the government Perlak .

marked with the clan that we know

He later married the younger brother of

today as Alatas, Assegaf Al Jufri,

King Perlak Syahir Nuwi From this

Alaydrus, Shihab, Syahab, and others.

marriage was born Abdul Aziz Shah

This is understandable because the

Sultan ( Raja Islam ) Perlak ] The

clans have recently formed. Recorded

historical record is officially owned by

in the history of Hadramaut, is the

the Council of Regency of East Aceh

oldest clan As Saqqaf (Assegaf), which

and amplified in the seminar as the

became

papers ' History Log and development

Abdurrahman bin Mohammed Al

of Islam in Aceh ' July 10, 1978 by ( the

Mauladdawilah after his death in 731

late) Professor Ali Hasymi .

H or 14-15 century AD While other

2. Century AD 12-15

clans to form even more recent,

the

title

for

Sheikh

This time is the time of arrival of

generally at 16 pabad usually the clan

the mayor of Amanah spearheaded by

name is taken from the title of a highly

Sheikh Jamaluddin Akbar large family

respected local imam. Based on

of Gujarat , was a descendant of Sheikh

estimates in 1366 H (or about 57 years

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ago), their numbers are now no less

In 1870 the Suez Canal was

than 70 thousand inhabitants. It

opened , so that the ships from Europe

consists of approximately 200 genera.

to the East Indies included can be

3. Ages 17-19 AD

directly through the Suez . Then the

This century is marked by the

port of Tanjung Priok was built in 1877

last wave of mass migration of the

in a modern, next KPM ( Koninklijke

Hadramaut Ba'alawi Sada who spread

Paketvaart Maatschappij ) , a Dutch

Islam while trade in the archipelago.

shipping company operated in 1888

The last newcomer is able to defeat

with the Europe- Indies , thus allowing

marked his descendants until now

the

because, unlike its predecessor, does

Egyptian Arabic come to the Indies ,

not do a lot of interbreeding with the

and gradually began in 1870 until after

native population. Moreover, it can be

the 1888 migration of Arabs and Egypt

marked with the clan that we know

to the Indies , climb aboard the fire of

today as Alatas, Assegaf Al Jufri,

Suez , they do not bring the family

Alaydrus, Shihab, Syahab, and others.

according to Arab custom that women

This is understandable because the

should not be traveling especially as

clans have recently formed. Recorded

far as the Dutch East Indies aboard for

in the history of Hadramaut, is the

days , The first offspring , of course

oldest clan As Saqqaf (Assegaf), which

with the Indonesian mother , who was

became

born in the Dutch East Indies for

the

title

for

Sheikh

Marga

Arab

was

Hadramaut

born

or

Abdurrahman bin Mohammed Al

example,

Mauladdawilah after his death in 731

Abdurrahman

H or 14-15 century AD While other

(grandfather Dr. Anis Baswedan ) ,

clans to form even more recent,

Syech Albar Surabaya born in 1914

generally at 16 pabad usually the clan

( father Ahmad Albar ) .

Baswedan

Surabaya
1908

Currently, an estimated number

name is taken from the title of a highly
respected local imam. Based on

of

Arab

descent

Hadramaut

in

estimates in 1366 H (or about 57 years

Indonesia is greater than the amount

ago), their numbers are now no less

they have in place their own ancestors .

than 70 thousand inhabitants. It

Hadramaut residents own only about

consists of approximately 200 genera.

1.8 million . Even a number of clans in
Hadramaut itself already extinct , like

From 1870 to after 1888
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Basyeiban and Haneman in Indonesia

especially convalescents , the hospital

are still quite a lot . Many Arab villages

was named Kustati .

scattered in various cities in Indonesia ,

land where the establishment of this

such as Jakarta ( Pekojan ) , Bogor

hospital gift of Pakubowono X to a

( dam ) and Surakarta ( Market

cleric named Kustati .

POND ) .
Sometimes

In this region there is also a
nothing

to

spring named the depths of the Bride .

distinguish between groups that are

These springs have a very important

generally followers Ba'alawi Sada

function for the people of Surakarta ,

Kheir Jamiatal organizations , groups

especially for those who want to hold a

or Masyaikh Sheikh commonly also

wedding ceremony . Water depths in

called Irsyadi or organization al -

terms

Irsyad followers . Hadramaut Arabs

Bridal wedding ceremony .

of

completeness

dgunakan

who came in the 18th century and later,

In addition to being the name of the

not a lot of marriages with the natives

village , Pasar Kliwon also be the name

as earlier waves of arrivals . They

of the District with the area covering

come already carrying the name of the

the village Bathangan , Pasar Kliwon ,

clans that formed later (about 16-17

Kedunglumbu , clover , Gajahan ,

centuries ) . Descendants of Arabs who

Kauman , Jayasuran , Sangkrah ,

came later Hadramaut , still easily

Lojiwetan and Ivory . With Pepatih

recognizable by its distinctive names

Dalem Decree dated 18 September

of their clans . Arab - Indonesia until

1939 , No 18 / 5C / 5 / I Ex . Ivory put

now actively involved in the field of

Kel region . Clover , leaving nine

Islamic religious and various other

wards.

areas of life in Indonesia .

Sangkrah

Market Pond stood Kustati

Lojiwurung
village

Proclamation

included

in

Since

the

.

of

Indonesian

Hospital , one of the well-known

Independence , Loji Wurung later by

hospital in Surakarta . According to the

Solo City Government was renamed

story , the land for the hospital building

Kampung Baru .

is a gift from PB X to an Arab who had

In Pond Market is famous as the

been a tutor and heal the sick daughter

center of culinary mutton . Some are

named sunan Kustati . Therefore , in

already well known namely satay Hj .

order to honor her daughter's Sunan

Bejo

149

behind

Flexible

Lojiwetan

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famous satay buntelnya , or it could

human life . Although at the same time

also try the satay Pak Min Sinthong in

remain monodualistik , but between

front of the Mosque of Riyadh . Next

the general and the specific things for

mace pinchers southern part , you can

each other . In terms of human

taste the Ice Plengeh or simply

conscience as human beings tend to be

recreation in the afternoon at South

very general . But specifically human

Square . If there be some sort of market

form of concrete and specific .

tiban afternoon filled with a variety of
snack vending .

Arab tribes - Indonesia is
Indonesia's population had ethnic Arab
descent

A. Interchangeability of Ethos

and

indigenous

ethnic

Propagation Become

Indonesia . At first they generally live

Entrepreneurial spirit

in Arab villages are scattered in

Changes based on modernism

various cities in Indonesia . In the

a

propaganda

Dutch colonial era , they are regarded

interesting to be analyzed further .

as foreign Asian nation along with

According Suryadinata this develops

ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian -

when the current entrepreneurs . That

Indonesia - Indonesia . But as the

said, the first POND Market is selling

ethnic Chinese and Indians , not a few

a goat were crowded every day POND

of the Arab - Indonesia are struggling

market . This market is located in the

to help the Indonesian independence .

village of Arabic , which is a special

Pond market is a district in the

place to stay for the Arabs in the Dutch

southeastern city of Surakarta . Pond

colonial era . Through the policy

market

wijken stelsel , Arabs are categorized

residents Arabic - Indonesian descent .

East Foreign population in the colonial

The residents are used to living with

social structure , required to live in a

the sale of textiles , and the market is

special place that has been determined

close to Pasar Klewer Pond which is

and led by a captain . The aim is that

the central

they do not endanger and easily

Indonesia . Keraton Surakarta is also

monitored by the Dutch government

here .

with

base

such

that fears of Islam and Arab descent .

known

as

market

the

township

of Batik in

The village market Pond also

The trend nowadays is towards

there are many mosques and historic

modernism and globalism . Similarly,

buildings is a silent witness the

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emergence of the city of Surakarta .

contact is not direct where the

Formerly Village Market Pond This is

relationship between the three

the abode of the clerk of Surakarta .

b. Individuals through an

Therefore no writing style Java script

intermediary (communication

is referred to as a style " Market Pond

device) that is the purpose /

" . visit the village to see the charm of

message of individual A to

the Village Market Pond see the

individual B and C. Each

building , the Palace and in Klewer

individual delivered through

hunt for souvenirs in the form of Batik .

social processes that embody

B. Participation Influence People /

certain dynamics and depending

Ethnic Arabs in Economy In

on the conditions and situations

Surakarta

as well as the time of covering the

1. Social Interaction

entire dynamics of the

Social interaction can occur if it
fulfills two aspects:

their social

community. Perubahandan social
processes as the development of

contacts and communication. A social

community life has its

communications take place preceded

peculiarities and kunikan

by social contact, whereas in the social

tertentu.Di POND Market area

contact is not necessarily going social

there are various tribes of unique

communication. Social contacts can be

and has a special characteristic of

either primary or secondary. Primary

each.

contacts where individuals involved in

In public schools , you can see

direct contact (face to face), while the

the many school children are the

secondary nature of the relationship in

majority of Indonesian people native

which individuals do require an

( indigenous ) . Meanwhile , in private

intermediary

specific

schools such as Catholic or Christian ,

Secondary

the majority Chinese ethnic school

contact is two secondary contact

children . During this time , seldom

directly

really there is such a community whose

communication

where

or
tools.

the

relationship

between the two

contents dominant school of Arab

a. Individuals through an

descent or whose content is of Arab

intermediary (communication

descent . So Arab descent , face and

device) while the secondary
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identity you would look striking in the

method Batik is divided into two ,

majority .

namely :

Just

like

the

Chinese

in

a. Batik is a batik motif drawn by the

Surakarta that most do not like the term

craftsman , then for artisans always

" China " . People of Arab descent in

create different motives ( exclusive )

Surakarta also less like to be called "

price of batik is more expensive than

Arab / Encik " . They prefer to be

batik cap.

called " Arabs " or " the people of

b . Batik Cap Batik which manufacture

Indonesia " . Because , they are the

is used as a motif stamp , then paint it

people of Indonesia as well , like the

with coloring materials , and dried .

others . They were born in Indonesia ,

Batik Cap cheaper price compared to

speak Indonesian , likes to eat

Batik

Indonesian food , and schools in

2.Trade

Indonesia .

Because many industries in

As Chinese people are not
necessarily

all

of

them

Surakarta , so many trades that

speak

occurred in Surakarta . One of them is

Mandarin . Similarly, the Arab descent

the batik industry . Centers of batik and

in Indonesia . His name also was born

batik among others trading in Laweyan

and lived in Indonesia , so their native

and Kauman . Klewer Market as well

language is Indonesian . Usually , they

as some other traditional batik markets

are of Arab descent to learn Arabic

into one trading center of batik in

because pengin deepen religion . So

Indonesia . Trading in Solo under the

that they understand the scriptures and

auspices of the Department of Industry

ideas related to Arabic . Arab ethnic

and Trade . Besides batik trade , in

heritage is a wealth of cultural heritage ,

Surakarta there are also other markets

the peculiarities of the character of the

such as Pasar Gedhe ( selling food ) ,

community , especially the warmth and

Triwindu Market ( selling antiques and

friendliness, as well as the strength of

crafts ) and others .

the tradition of trade and industry are
tough in Surakarta .

3.Tourism

Batik industry in particular .

Surakarta is known for its

Batik industry is the largest industry in

tourism , such as Surakarta , Tirtamaya

Surakarta . Based on the processing

Park , Kampung Batik Kauman Batik

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Village Laweyan , Sriwedari Cultural

influence in sustaining and advancing

Park , and others .

the economic activity, both in the

Conclusions

world of trade and tourism, particularly

1. The majority of Arab descent in

in the Batik industry entrepreneurs and

Indonesia comes from Hadramaut,

Confections.

Yemen. Minorities of the Middle East

B. Suggestions

or North Africa more.

1. Let's uphold cultural diversity ,

2. They come in the Dutch colonial

ethnic, warnakulit , religion and so

period, came to Indonesia as well as

forth .

traders spread Islam by any other

2. Avoiding social discrimination ,

means that the marriage so that

because we are all equal , Allah 's

offspring who are Muslims according

creatures , made ethnic diversity as a

to the religion of his father.

form of power of Allah .

3. The arrival of the Arab colony of

3. With the attitude of empathy and

Hadramaut to Indonesia is estimated

friendliness

to occur in three main waves, namely:

establishment of the unity and integrity

a. 9-11 century AD

of Indonesia , thereby facilitating the

b. 12-15 century AD

creation of national life , in a fair and

c. 17-19 century AD.

prosperous state .

Hadramaut Arab descent in Indonesia,

to

support

the

References

such as his home country of Yemen,
comprising two large groups: group
Alawi, and the group Qabili. In
Indonesia, there is sometimes the
difference

between

kelompokAlawiyyin
followers

of

are

Al-Kheir

generally
Jami'at

organizations, groups or Masyaikh
Sheikh commonly also called Irsyadi
or followers of Al-Irsyad organization.
1. Citizens of Arab descent / Encik
active role in economic activities in the
city of Surakarta. Even had a strong
153

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Noer , 1995 , the Modern Movement
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1942 . Jakarta : PT . Reader LP3ES .
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Noerman , Moehammad , 1971.
Cultural History . London : Library
Saadiyah .
Pijper , G.F. , 1984. Some Studies
History of Islam in Indonesia : 19001950 . Translator : Tudjimah & Jessy
Agustin . Jakarta : UI Press

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