Negotiating Religion and Culture in the Perang Timbung Tradition on Transitional Society in Central Lombok, Indonesia

The Perang Timbung Tradition is one of the cultural heritages of the Sasak community in Pejanggik Village, Central Lombok, which continues to be practiced as a local ritual with religious and social significance. Although the term “war” is used, this tradition does not refer to physical conflict but to a symbolic ritual performed as an expression of gratitude, a request for safety, and a means of strengthening communal harmony. This study aims to examine the form of the Perang Timbung Tradition, identify the Islamic practices embedded in its implementation, and analyze its social and religious meanings for the local community. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through non-participant observation, unstructured interviews, and documentation involving traditional and religious leaders, village officials, youth, and community members. The data were analyzed through data reduction, narrative presentation, and conclusion drawing, while data validity was ensured through source, technique, and time triangulations. The findings show that Perang Timbung is carried out through structured stages, including communal prayer, preparation of timbung, symbolic group confrontation, and closing activities such as communal meals and small deliberations. Islamic values are integrated through prayer, dhikr, berzanji, serakalan, religious advice, and moral rules that emphasize gratitude, brotherhood, patience, mutual respect, cooperation, and self-control. Tradition also functions as a social mechanism for maintaining solidarity, preventing conflict, and reinforcing Sasak cultural identity. Therefore, Perang Timbung is not merely a cultural performance but a medium for preserving Islamic values, strengthening social cohesion, and transmitting local identity across generations.