Orang Bajo still often associate them with animistic beliefs.

The local population

stressed time and time again that they are Muslims. The religious domain in Tinakin Laut
does not only consist out of Islamic elements. Animism and magic are important as well.
Tylor states that the essential source of religion is formed by ‘the belief in spiritual
beings’ (Tylor 1871). Tylor further states that animism includes the belief in souls of
individual creatures that can continue to exist after death and the belief in spirits that can
influence the material world (Tylor 1871). As we shall see, both aspects of animism are
present among the local population. I will use Kottaks definition of magic as
“…supernatural techniques intended to accomplish specific aims” (Kottak 2004: 583).
This chapter serves to show that religious life in Tinakin Laut is located on the boundary
between animism and Islam.
The local population often uses Islamic and animistic elements concurrently. The
use of Islamic, non-Islamic and animistic practices and beliefs will be discussed in the
context of several themes that are relevant for the local population. These themes
include: the rituals related to birth, marriage and death, the enchanted sea, spirits, magic,
medicine men and the burial place called the makam. In a separate section extra attention
will be paid to the importance of the Islam for the local population.
It has become clear that animistic and other non-Islamic elements play a role in
performing rituals, in believes about the sea, in the believe in spirits, in the use of magic
and traditional healing methods and in the believes about the makam. It is important
though to stress that the local population does not only say it is Islamic but that the Islam
can be observed to form an important part of daily life. Many people pray, visit the local
mosque or read the Qur’an on a regular basis. The local mosque is visited by a lot of
people especially on religious holy days. It is said that almost all the people in the village
participate in the ramadan. Houses are often decorated with Islamic posters or paintings.
People often have a Qur’an, prayer rugs and prayer beads in their houses. Often when
people make a statement, for example ‘I will go there tomorrow’, they will add the
Arabic phrase Insyah Allah to it. This phrase could be translated with ‘God willing’ or ‘if
it is God’s will’. Another Arabic phrase often used is Bismi'llah ir-Rahman ir-Rahiem (in
the name of God; the merciful; the compassionate). This phrase is used when starting an
activity that is perceived to need God’s blessing. Even poor people will often give away
zakat (Islamic alms). Another Islamic tradition being used within the village is that of
circumcision. It was said that both boys and girls are circumcised. With girls this only
consists out of making a very small cut or prick. Girls are generally being circumcised
around the age of two or three and boys around the age of five. Sometimes events are
explained in Islamic ways. During the fieldwork period, people said that they had seen a
pulsating star in the night sky. A woman said that this has caused trepidation among the
local population because they thought that judgement day had arrived​.