The Sasak live mainly on the island of Lombok, numbering around 2.7 million (85% of Lombok's population). They are related to the Balinese in language and race.

Language

The Sasak language belongs to the Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa subgroup, in the Western Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

History

Little is known about the Sasaks except that Lombok was placed under direct rule of the Majapahit prime Minister, patih Gajah Mada. The Sasaks converted to Islam between the late 16th century to early 17th century under the influence of Sunan Giri and the Muslim Makassarese, frequently mixing basic Islamic beliefs alongside with Hindu-Buddhist beliefs, thus creating the Wektu Telu religion. Lombok was conquered by the Gelgel Balinese kingdom in the early 18th century, thus bringing a large population of Balinese to Lombok. The Balinese population of Lombok today is about 300,000, 10-15% of Lombok's population. The Balinese have also strongly inflenced the Wektu Telu religion of Lombok.

Religion

Most of the Sasaks today are adherents of the Wektu Lima which is the correct version of Islam. Wektu Lima or Five Times signifies the five daily prayers which Muslims are required to do.

The term Wektu Lima is used to distinguish them from the Sasaks who are practioners of Wektu Telu or Three Times who only pray three times a day - which contradicts the teachings of Islam regarding this matter which clearly says that the daily prayers are five.

Large numbers of people adhering to the Wektu Telu faith can be still found throughout the island, especially in the village of Bayan, where the religion originated from. Large Wektu Telu communities can be still found in Mataram, Pujung, Sengkol, Rambitan, Sade, Tetebatu, Bumbung, Sembalun, Senaru, Loyok and Pasugulan. A small minority of Sasaks (estimated population; 8000) called the Bodha, mainly found in the village of Bentek and other remote areas of Lombok. They are totally untouched by Islamic influence and worship animistic gods alongside with some Hindu and Buddhist influences seen in their rituals and religious terms they used.