In the era where the knowledge fashionably become the dreams for every young generation as a way to get better future especially in the sciences area that command to be more marketable and applicable which is seemed to be valuable. those do not contribute to the marketability of the seekers such as history, philosophy, literature, humanities and even religion are regarded as less valuable.
This new trend in learning has led to the loss of meaning education. At the same way, education is aimed to the material pursuit and the hedonistic lifestyle where the souls and spirits are ignored. This issues I thought has been raised by many Muslims scholars, yet, it has fallen on deep ears by the most people. Worse still, education has been reduced to the "dehumanisation' of human beings that lead people into such a machine rather than human being itself. Moreover, this issues being infused in the Muslim countries especially in the Malay world.
How the Muslims in the Malay world deal with such viruses which is originally not from their own tradition?. At the same time, these viruses are still going on in the mind of Muslims world and human society will continue to change with time, consistent with different element it faces.
Everything keeps changing right now. We have to find a way to more equitable development of the world's resources without ignoring the spirits and the souls with balancing the worldly matter and the day afterlife. It means that worldly matter is a tool to open a way to the knowledge and love of God. This knowledge is 'the noblest and highest' due to the true intention which is only for Him.
One of the solution is holding conversation on Islamic tradition to keep in building a great civilization that has been established by the Muslim scholars. Knowing our own tradition could build our confidence to be a Muslim. In other words, whenever the world changing his trend, yet, our spirit still in line with the True path. Its like a big tree that has stems and leafs and never forgetting the fundamental exists of the roots. it has no problem with ongoing changing of the stems and leafs, yet, the source is still remained exist.
Note of summarizing from the last week seminar (more detail), here we are analysing Muslim ulama - intellectuals rose in different parts of the Malay world to lead and guide the ummat in its confrontation with the foreign civilization, toward reform or social transformation. Among them were Shaykh Daud al- Fatani of South Malaysia, Munshi Abdullah, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady, Tok Kenali and Za'ba of Malaysia, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani, Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Hamka and Harun Nasution of Indonesia. each of them has contributed significantly in transforming the Malay/Islamic social landscape.
Most of them are continuity of thought in line with Islamic tradition as taught in the Holy Koran and Prophetic tradition, yet, they still keep on responding the condition and social condition without directly attacking with the conflict. such as Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady and also there were some traditionalists (Sufism) such as Hamka, Tok Kenali, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani.
However, some of them are recognized changing rather than the continuity such as Munshi Abdullah and Harun Nasution. Anyway, still we should analyze it critically especially Harun Nasution thought because he changed most of the philosophy of IAIN (State Institute of Islamic Studies) into western philosophy approach rather than Islamic approach which has different world view. For more detail please read these books 'a Critical Evaluation of Harun Nasution's Thought' and 'Reclaiming the Conversation Islamic Intellectual Tradition in the Malay Archipelago'
Finally, the way we understand history affects our perception of the present which influences the alternatives we postulate to solve existing problems. To reclaim the conversation with our intellectual tradition is to always examine the tradition in order to understand its possible meanings, hence enabling us to relate reality of the present and to understand the future challenges with the different planning and strategies while still using the same path (revelation) and Prophetic tradition which is applicable anywhere and anytime.
This new trend in learning has led to the loss of meaning education. At the same way, education is aimed to the material pursuit and the hedonistic lifestyle where the souls and spirits are ignored. This issues I thought has been raised by many Muslims scholars, yet, it has fallen on deep ears by the most people. Worse still, education has been reduced to the "dehumanisation' of human beings that lead people into such a machine rather than human being itself. Moreover, this issues being infused in the Muslim countries especially in the Malay world.
How the Muslims in the Malay world deal with such viruses which is originally not from their own tradition?. At the same time, these viruses are still going on in the mind of Muslims world and human society will continue to change with time, consistent with different element it faces.
Everything keeps changing right now. We have to find a way to more equitable development of the world's resources without ignoring the spirits and the souls with balancing the worldly matter and the day afterlife. It means that worldly matter is a tool to open a way to the knowledge and love of God. This knowledge is 'the noblest and highest' due to the true intention which is only for Him.
One of the solution is holding conversation on Islamic tradition to keep in building a great civilization that has been established by the Muslim scholars. Knowing our own tradition could build our confidence to be a Muslim. In other words, whenever the world changing his trend, yet, our spirit still in line with the True path. Its like a big tree that has stems and leafs and never forgetting the fundamental exists of the roots. it has no problem with ongoing changing of the stems and leafs, yet, the source is still remained exist.
Note of summarizing from the last week seminar (more detail), here we are analysing Muslim ulama - intellectuals rose in different parts of the Malay world to lead and guide the ummat in its confrontation with the foreign civilization, toward reform or social transformation. Among them were Shaykh Daud al- Fatani of South Malaysia, Munshi Abdullah, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady, Tok Kenali and Za'ba of Malaysia, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani, Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Hamka and Harun Nasution of Indonesia. each of them has contributed significantly in transforming the Malay/Islamic social landscape.
Most of them are continuity of thought in line with Islamic tradition as taught in the Holy Koran and Prophetic tradition, yet, they still keep on responding the condition and social condition without directly attacking with the conflict. such as Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady and also there were some traditionalists (Sufism) such as Hamka, Tok Kenali, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani.
However, some of them are recognized changing rather than the continuity such as Munshi Abdullah and Harun Nasution. Anyway, still we should analyze it critically especially Harun Nasution thought because he changed most of the philosophy of IAIN (State Institute of Islamic Studies) into western philosophy approach rather than Islamic approach which has different world view. For more detail please read these books 'a Critical Evaluation of Harun Nasution's Thought' and 'Reclaiming the Conversation Islamic Intellectual Tradition in the Malay Archipelago'
Finally, the way we understand history affects our perception of the present which influences the alternatives we postulate to solve existing problems. To reclaim the conversation with our intellectual tradition is to always examine the tradition in order to understand its possible meanings, hence enabling us to relate reality of the present and to understand the future challenges with the different planning and strategies while still using the same path (revelation) and Prophetic tradition which is applicable anywhere and anytime.
