RECONSTRUCTING ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EXTENSION FUNCTIONS THROUGH DISABILITY FIQH: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY IN BANARAN, TRENGGALEK

Abstract

Islamic religious extension workers (Penyuluh Agama Islam) occupy a strategic position as the frontline of community religious development, yet their functional orientation often remains unresponsive to the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities. This article aims to reconstruct the function of Islamic religious extension workers through the framework of Disability Fiqh, taking Banaran, Trenggalek, as its locus of study. The study employs a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of persons with disabilities and religious extension workers in their everyday religious interactions. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, then analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the function of religious extension workers has thus far been limited to a one-directional informative-educative function, and has not yet touched the consultative-advocative function grounded in an understanding of disability fiqh. Persons with disabilities in Banaran experience barriers to worship accessibility, social stigma, and a scarcity of religious guidance suited to their specific conditions. The reconstruction of the religious extension worker's function is carried out through three pillars: first, strengthening the capacity of extension workers to understand disability fiqh as a theological-normative basis; second, shifting the orientation from mere lecturing to personal accompaniment and advocacy of accessibility rights; third, integrating the principles of rukhshah (concession) and masyaqqah (hardship) into every religious guidance service. The implications of this study affirm that disability fiqh is not merely a legal discourse but an operational framework capable of transforming religious extension practices toward inclusive, rights-based services.

Keywords: Disability Fiqh, Islamic Religious Extension Workers, Phenomenology, Banaran Trenggalek, Worship Accessibility