Tradisi Merantau Sebagai Sistem Sosial dan Ekonomi dalam Perspektif Ekonomi Islam

Abstract

The Minangkabau tradition of merantau represents a longstanding social phenomenon that has evolved into a system of values, economic strategy, and informal education within the community. Beyond facilitating social mobility, merantau serves as a family economic strategy rooted in the cultural principle of “adat basandi syarak, syarak basandi Kitabullah.” This study aims to analyze merantau as a social and economic system through the lens of Islamic economics, with a particular focus on the contributions of migrants to family welfare and communal development. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this study examines national and international literature on the economic roles of migrants, Islamic philanthropy, and the principle of ta’awun (mutual support). The findings indicate that merantau functions as a mechanism for wealth distribution, economic network strengthening, and the cultivation of a spiritually grounded work ethic. From an Islamic economic perspective, merantau reflects the application of distributive justice (al-‘adl), social responsibility (mas’uliyyah ijtima’iyyah), and the pursuit of maslahah through the productive and lawful management of sustenance. Migrants’ remittances and social contributions demonstrate the practical implementation of Sharia values in the Minangkabau context. Thus, the merantau tradition can be understood as a community-based moral economic model that integrates custom, Sharia principles, and sustainable development.