Religion as a System of Symbols: Religious Rituals and the Construction of Collective Identity in the Nahdlatul Wathan Special Wirid Congregation

Abstract

This study analyzes the religious ritual practices of the *Jama’ah Wirid Khusus Nahdlatul Wathan* as social symbols and a medium for shaping collective identity, viewed through the lens of Clifford Geertz’s interpretive anthropology. Employing a qualitative-descriptive approach, the research utilizes interpretive analysis based on literature reviews, documentation, and an examination of the community's religious practices. The analysis draws upon concepts such as religion as a symbol system, "thick description," worldview, and ethos to understand the interplay between ritual practices, the construction of meaning, and the social lives of the congregation members. The findings indicate that practices such as *wirid* (recitation), communal *dhikr* (remembrance of God), *tahlilan* (commemorative prayers for the deceased), and the observance of the Prophet’s Birthday (*Maulid Nabi*) serve not merely as spiritual expressions but also as symbols representing collective values, beliefs, and worldviews. These repetitive ritual practices cultivate a religious ethos, strengthen solidarity, and reinforce the identity of the *Jama’ah Wirid Khusus Nahdlatul Wathan*. Thus, religious rituals function as a space for the reproduction of meaning and identity, linking spiritual experience with the community's social cohesion. These findings underscore the relevance of Geertz’s approach in understanding religion as a system of meaning that thrives within a local cultural context.