Citation :

Muhamad Auliyasoufi, Jabal Tarik Ibrahim, Rinikso Kartono, Muhammad Suyudi, "The Meaning of Divorce For Muslim Women (A Phenomenological Study of Widows in Ponorogo)," International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 11-16, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V13I3P102

Abstract

The phenomenon of divorce in Ponorogo, Indonesia, known as Kota Santri (the City of Muslim Students), demonstrates peculiar social, cultural, and spiritual complexities of Muslim women. Divorce is not a mere legal and social event, but also an existential experience that shakes the meaning of life, identity, and spirituality of women in a religious-patriarchal society. This study aims to understand how Muslim women in Ponorogo construct the meaning of divorce in their daily lives, deal with the social and religious stigma, and rebuild their spirituality and self-identity post-divorce. An interpretive hermeneutic-phenomenological approach was employed using purposive sampling (n=6). Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and personal documentation, and then analysed thematically, guided by the principles of intentionality and lived experience, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Triangulation of techniques and sources, member checking, and ongoing researcher reflection were carried out to ensure validity. The results reveal three main patterns of interpretation of divorce: as a spiritual test that fosters patience and faith; as a space for self-liberation and the discovery of personal meaning; and as a process of spiritual reconstruction that deepens the relationship with God. For Muslim women in Ponorogo, divorce is a dialectic between suffering and enlightenment, between stigma and spirituality. Through religious practices, such as night prayer, dhikr, and involvement in religious study groups, they build spiritual resilience, strengthen their identity, and gain new social legitimacy as spiritually and socially empowered women.

Keywords

Divorce, Meaning, Muslim, Women, Widow.

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