Keywords
padduman
reclamation
revitalization
Islamic teaching
How to Cite
Abstract
Hula-Bangsa-Agama is a triadic indigenous principle of the Tausug that links hula (land), bangsa (nation), and agama (religion) into a holistic concept of statehood. Historically, it has served as a padduman, a guiding political doctrine, shaping governance, identity, and resistance. This study examined its origins and continuing relevance using historical-documentary research supported by content and thematic analysis of Qur’anic texts, classical Islamic treatises, Sultanate of Sulu records, and ethnonationalist discourses. The findings reveal that Hula-Bangsa-Agama integrated land, people, and faith into a coherent political vision while addressing challenges such as institutional decline, historical amnesia, and misinterpretations of jihad. As a political-theological framework, it provides indigenous legitimacy and a moral vision of governance rooted in unity, sacred responsibility, and cultural dignity. By challenging prevailing misrepresentations, the study argues that this principle offers a strong decolonial framework for reclaiming Tausug political agency and rethinking indigenous governance within contemporary contexts.
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