Dreaming saints: exploratory authority and Islamic praxes of history in Central Java

Abstract

Abstract This article examines dreaming as an Islamic practice of historical inquiry among traditionalist Muslims of Central Java, Indonesia. Combining insights from the anthropologies of Islam and history, it looks at alternative praxes of history, how they are interpreted through Islamic frameworks, and how they generate forms of religious authority. The article follows the work of a Sufi master, Habib Luthfi bin Yahya, in identifying old unmarked graves as saintly tombs through dreams. Successful history‐making projects have resulted in the increasing – albeit contested – recognition of Habib Luthfi's role as a dreaming saint , a form of Islamic authority premised on his perceived ability to oneirically explore the past on behalf of others and arbitrate history. By observing the connection between praxes of history and the formation of religious authority, the article calls for the broadening of anthropological studies of Islam beyond their current preoccupation with the religion's prescriptive dimension.