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  Re-sacralizing Urban Exclusion: A Narrative Inquiry into the Spiritual Survival Strategies of Surabaya’s Marginalized

  Muhammad Agil Atoillah¹,  Nuzlin Nashihatul Ulayya¹,  Nugraha Rifqi Afrizal¹,  Muhammad Imrul Qois¹ &  Muhammad Irham Saryulis²

  ¹ Department of Qur’anic Studies and Exegesis, Faculty of Islamic Theology and Philosophy, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya

  ² Department of Ushuluddin, Faculty of Syaria, Yarmouk University

  09-06-2026

  DOI not yet available

  Published Online: 9 June 2026

  

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  Abstract

  Introduction: The post-pandemic economic contraction in Surabaya has forced former formal-sector workers to enter the vulnerable informal street economy, giving rise to the phenomenon of “Neo-Spiderman”. This study aims to investigate how these costumed street performers utilize Islamic spirituality as a survival mechanism in the face of stigma, debt, and existential uncertainty in street life. 

  Method: Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, this study focuses on purposefully selected subjects in the Sidosermo district, utilizing in-depth interviews and participant observation to map the intersection between global popular culture and local religious practices. 

  Results: The findings indicate that the use of costumes constitutes a strategic “identity of resistance” driven by time pressures stemming from debt. Crucially, the subjects restore the sacredness of the streets through the theology of ikhtiyār (active effort), distinguishing their work from begging, and maintaining dignity through strict temporal discipline in ṣalāt (prayer). Furthermore, rather than fostering competition among marginalized workers, the practice of shukr (gratitude) functions as a form of social capital that fosters solidarity.

  Conclusions: This study concludes that “everyday religion” serves as vital infrastructure for survival, transforming economic vulnerability into spiritual resilience. This insight suggests that urban policies must acknowledge the moral and cultural dimensions of the informal workforce, rather than viewing it solely through the lens of public order. Theoretically, this study contributes to the sociology of religion in the Global South by demonstrating that “everyday religion” is not merely a passive escape, but an active adaptive strategy for navigating the precariousness of the neoliberal city.

  APA Citation Style

  Atoillah, M. A. , Ulayya, N. N. , Afrizal, N. R. , Qois, M. I. , & Saryulis, M. I. (2026). Re-sacralizing Urban Exclusion: A Narrative Inquiry into the Spiritual Survival Strategies of Surabaya’s Marginalized. RELIGOMUNE: Journal of Islamic Studies and Social Religion, 1-15. https://journal.citacendekia.com/rjissr/article/view/24

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