Mosque Officer and Religiosity Authority: A Case Study in Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Abstract

The authority in religion is a crucial issue  in Indonesia. At the certain level, the authority will refer to religious organization and leaders. And also it can occur in mosques, which are not only places of worship but also of social activities. This research explores information on how authority in religion might occur in the mosque environment, with the subject of mosque officers (called Marbots or Takmir). This study aims to determine the role of mosque officers in building the authority in the mosque. This research uses a qualitative method with data collection through in-depth interviews with informants of several takmir in Pekanbaru (the capital of Riau Province). This study found that mosque officers play an important role in mobilizing activities in the mosque, including daily worship, educational and recitation activities, and Mosque-Based Social Activities (MBSA). Although mosque officers can build authority in religion, they cannot impose certain religious preferences to influence community preferences. However, mosque officers or Takmir are required to be moderate in a community with heterogeneous preferences in religion. For this reason, mosque officers are chosen from among those who do not have fanaticism so that religious life is harmony.