From Matchmaking to Marital Harmony

Betrothed Couples’ Experiences in XIII Koto Kampar, Indonesia, through the Lens of Islamic Legal Sociology

Abstract

Arranged marriage is still practiced in District XIII Koto Kampar, Kampar Regency, in a matrilineal kinship system that places ninik mamak in an important position. This study examines the experiences of couples who are matched, the factors they consider to support and hinder household harmony, and how these experiences are assessed through the sociology of Islamic law. This qualitative field research with a case study design was conducted in seven of the thirteen villages with couples as the unit of analysis, namely 15 couples who were married through arranged marriage in 2023 and a traditional leader. Data were collected through interviews, observations, documentation, and literature studies, and then analyzed descriptively-inducively with sociological and normative approaches. The majority of informants assessed that their households were harmonious, and that harmony was built after the contract through adaptation, commitment, and responsibility. Eight supporting factors and six inhibiting factors were identified; the inhibiting factors were presented as a condition of concern, not as a conflict experienced. The novelty of this study lies in the distinction of three levels of assessment of arranged marriage, namely social acceptance, abilities according to Islamic law, and the validity of marriage, as well as in the formulation of conditions that distinguish family involvement as support from control. Arranged marriage is understood as  a living law and ʿurf that can be maintained as long as the consent of the prospective bride is guaranteed and benefits are realized, and must be corrected if they contain coercion. The findings are contextual because they rely on the early stages of marriage and informants recommended by community leaders.