Fenomena Nyawer Qori di Indonesia: Analisis Makna Sosial dan Budaya dalam Tradisi Pembacaan Al-Qur’an

Abstract

The phenomenon of nyawer qori/qariah has become a distinctive practice in Qur’anic recitation events in Indonesia, reflecting the intersection of religious appreciation, local culture, material exchange, and contemporary public performance. This study examines the forms and sociocultural meanings of nyawer, the factors contributing to its normalization, and its implications for the dignity of qori/qariah and the meaning of Qur’anic recitation. This study employed a qualitative approach using a descriptive-interpretive design. Data were obtained through observation, documentation, and relevant literature, then analyzed thematically by connecting empirical findings with the perspectives of Living Qur’an, body and power relations, religious commodification, and digital religion. The findings indicate that nyawer initially functions as an expression of appreciation and motivation for qori/qariah. However, certain forms of giving, particularly those involving direct interaction with the body or clothing of the reciter, indicate a shift from symbolic appreciation toward performative social interaction. Social media further strengthens this phenomenon through visual circulation and repeated exposure, contributing to its normalization. The study concludes that nyawer represents a dynamic cultural reception of the Qur’an whose meaning is continuously negotiated between tradition, religious values, bodily boundaries, materiality, and digital culture.