TAHAWWULAT LAQAB AL-HAJJ: THEORY OF SEMIOTICS ATAS KONTRADIKSI PRIVILEGE SIMBOLIK HAJI PADA FALSAFAH SIRI’ SEBAGAI PENGUATAN NILAI LOKAL SUKU BUGIS

Abstract

The tradition of conferring the hajj title in Bugis society not only reflects spiritual accomplishment but has also undergone a shift in meaning, transforming into a symbol of social status that creates stratification within the community structure. This phenomenon is closely related to the siri’ philosophy, which upholds dignity, honor, and self-respect. This study employs a qualitative approach with an ethnographic method through observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and documentation conducted in Sidenreng Rappang Regency. Data analysis was carried out through the processes of reduction, coding, and categorization based on Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory, which includes three levels of meaning denotative, connotative, and mythological. The findings reveal that the hajj title is symbolically interpreted as both a religious marker and a social identity; it generates forms of stratification and social privilege that reinforce social hierarchies, and it reflects a misalignment between the siri’ values rooted in morality and the social practices that tend to emphasize prestige and social display. This research concludes that the shifting meaning of the hajj title has transformed spiritual orientation into a social symbol laden with prestige, thus emphasizing the need to recontextualize siri’ values so that the hajj title can once again be interpreted proportionally as a reflection of piety, honor, and the cultural identity of the Bugis community.