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The article examines the structural and institutional basis of the ulama and their authority between 1972 and 1973 in the Garut district of Priangan, West Java, Indonesia. Muslim political culture, in particular the powerful role of the Islamic clergy has attracted much attention from students of Islamic culture and society while it continues to challenge the puzzle the west. Islam owes its centuries of existence as an organized religion to the succession of a body of ulama through which the religious orthodoxy has been transmitted. As religious experts, the Indonesian ulama officiate rites of passage ceremonies, lead mosque prayers, educate the masses and offer counsel to individuals in need of help. Despite these multiple services, majority of Indonesian ulama are not paid officials supported by the state of Islamic agencies. They lack a coherent organization of their own. The institutional framework of the ulama which inhibits the development of a broader basis of sociopolitical and religious cooperation is the parochial nature of each ulama's authority and position in Islamic communities depend on their being the sole holders of esoteric but valued religious knowledge, the ulama are compelled to jealousy guard this position against attempts of outside authorities to impinge upon the ulama's moral and social authority in the community. In the absence of state backing, each ulama family seeks the legitimacy of its authority over the community by offering valued services in the form of religious programs and social services to the community. Offering these services free of charge is not only costly and time-consuming but requires an organizational backing from the family itself.