Critical Literature Study on Habaib Identity in the constellation of Islamic studies in Indonesia from the colonial period to the present

This article aims to critic the literature study and map various existed researches on Habaib (plural for Habib) identity in Indonesia, as prominent religious leaders, of the Arabic descendants. Their presence has been acknowledged and recognized and they also played a significant role since the colonial period to the present. The study on Habaib is considered still lacking in the Islamic literature map, compared to other Islamic phenomena, such as the role of Kiayi and political Islamic movements in Indonesia. In fact, one of the interesting issues and phenomena in this reform era is their appearance and existence in various places and media platform. This identity phenomenon can be seen from the spread of Ta’lim gathering activities that are often performed by involving large number of masses and followers. Based on this background, this article will map the existence of Habaib identity references in the constellation of Islamic studies in Indonesia from the colonial period to the present. This article will answer these questions: What are the phenomena that become the main topic of Habaib studies conducted by various scholars? And how is the identity of literature review about them in the constellation of Islamic studies in Indonesia? How the express their identity expression through media publication? This qualitative article examines various related references data on the literature and historiography of Habaib identity in Indonesia regarding their role in the context constellation of Islamic studies in Indonesia.