Reinterpreting Ikhtilat in Generation Z: A Review of Islamic Law on Pre-Wedding Photo Poses

Abstract

The phenomenon of pre-wedding photography has now become a widespread social trend among Generation Z. However, this practice has sparked religious debate because it is considered to contain elements of ikhtilat, tabarruj, and khalwat which are prohibited in Islamic law. In relation to this, there has been no study on Gen Z's understanding of ikhtilat in the context of digital visual culture. This study aims to analyze Generation Z's understanding of the meaning of ikhtilat in pre-wedding photo poses and review the practice from an Islamic legal perspective and propose a form of reinterpretation of ikhtilat values ​​that are relevant to the development of contemporary visual culture. The study used a qualitative method with a case approach and a conceptual approach, through interviews with five informants who had taken pre-wedding photos, and used social change theory and social fiqh theory as an analytical basis. The results show that Generation Z's understanding of ikhtilat varies, some understand it normatively as a form of violation of sharia, while others interpret it contextually as a negotiation of religious and cultural values. Recommendations for poses that do not ignore Islamic law, such as not being close to each other, holding hands, wearing modest clothing/covering the private parts, not looking at each other, and not showing other forms of intimacy.