NYA’ER AS A HERITAGE OF SASAK ISLAMIC LITERACY: ADAPTATION, REPRESENTATION, AND RELEVANCE IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA ERA

Abstract

This study is prompted by the decline on regeneration of Nya’er practitioners and the shifting patterns among the Sasak people in accessing religious information through digital media. It aims to analyze the status and function of Nya’er as an Islamic literacy heritage of the Sasak community, alongside its modes of adaptation, representation, and relevance in the digital media era. The research examines how Nya’er functions as an Islamic literacy tradition, how it is adapted and represented across digital platforms, and its broader implications for the Sasak community today. Employing a qualitative methodology with ethnographic and virtual ethnographic approaches, data were gathered through participant observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and the analysis of user interactions and digital content. Data analysis was conducted using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The findings reveal that Nya’er is a collective Islamic literacy practice integrating the recitation of Arab-Malay texts, chanting, translation, interpretation, and community participation. Digital adaptation occurs through documentation, content compression, re-contextualization, and expanded circulation. In digital media, Nya’er is represented as a medium for Islamic proselytization (da'wah), cultural heritage, performing arts, and Sasak identity. Although digital media broaden access and youth engagement, content compression risks decontextualizing the tradition, undermining the authority of traditional practitioners, and eroding semantic depth. The study concludes that Nya’er remains vital for transmitting religious knowledge and preserving cultural identity. Its sustainability depends on digital adaptation strategies that are contextual, participatory, and ethically grounded, ensuring the retention of Islamic values, semantic integrity, and community authority.