The Role of Islamic Institution in Developing Civil Society
Muhammad AR
Dosen Fakultas Tarbiyah IAIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh
Abstract
The title of this paper is “ The Role of Islamic Instititution in Developing Civil Society”. It cannot be denied that the role of Islamic institutions or Islamic universities in
developing and improving the quality of people both in the past and nowadays. These institutions have developed and changed students’ personality to think, to do, to work, and even to behave among the people where they are living. Every citizen has right to talk, to think, to give opinion to the government without intimidating and discriminating and the like.
Therefore everybody has to be recognized his/her rights and choice in civil cociety, and the state has to respect this kind of claim from the people. In this case, the government themselves need to support university or instutition by giving them opportunity to manage and run their own program and to give complete facilities. Anyway, the society themselves have to work hard to develop the country and give much attention and advice to the ruling class for the sake of country.developing and improving the quality of people both in the past and nowadays. These institutions have developed and changed students’ personality to think, to do, to work, and even to behave among the people where they are living. Every citizen has right to talk, to think, to give opinion to the government without intimidating and discriminating and the like.
In reality, most of autocratic and dictatorial government often underrate the problems of civil society. This always happen in the third world contries where the democratic system is not applying properly. If the government give rights to Islamic university or Islamic institution especially in improving society’s pattern of thinking, this will help the government easy and safe to run the country without any significant hinderance or obstacle and later on the civil society will be helpful for them to some extent. Truly speaking, the civil society is usually achieved in the strong, stable and prosperious country.
Islamic institutions or university, together with their role and great endevour, could create civil society who have to be tolerant to the different people with different opinion and faith. We have to share ideas among the various community background, different political point of views, different tradition and different religion itself. Civil society is a group of people who live in a country to work hand in hand, help each other, support the poor and the needy, and respect each other eventhough having different political background and different organizations.
To some extent, the role of Islamic institutions and Islamic universities need to be involved in developing civil society in the future. In addition, the government also have to understand their position and role in developing the civilized society for producing the people not only to achieve the knowledgeable but also the best conduct society among us. This had been done by Islamic institution in Indonesia before and after the early independent of this country.
Introduction
We agree with the opinion arising and spreading in the community that university either belongs to the government or the private one had played much important role among the community particularly in educating students. This had been proved that all people who are working both in the government offices or in the private sectors were graduated from the university. In Aceh, the existence of State Islamic Institute of Ar-Raniry (IAIN Ar-Raniry), Sekolah Tinggi Islam Al-Muslim Matang Glumpang Dua, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Cot Kala, Langsa, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Malikusaleh Lhokseumawe, Islamic Traditional Institutions (Dayah) and others cannot be denied their role in developing Acehnese community. Most Islamic universities or Islamic institutions have tried their best and have done something in developing students’ atmosphere and their way of thinking as well as their character for preparing themselves to live harmoniously in the community. All of these things are the ways to create civil society that enable them develop their dignity, improve their civilization and their interaction among the plural society.
It is not exaggeration to say that the role of Islamic universities or Islamic institutions in improving the community’s knowledge can be experienced by them either in the past or nowadays. In addition, the Islamic institutions have contributed very much for creating civil society by inculcating Islamic teachings and other kinds of disciplines into the students’ mind and heart so that they could live hand in hand among the people after completing their study. The civil society which is understood here is those who can run their life among the community without creating chaos and criminal as well as controversy among them. Their tolerance with those who have different religions or different faith can be proved in their life and in the way they interact one another. In addition, the alumnies of Islamic institutions have done something among the community where they live in and have done a lot of changes particularly in term of community’s thoughts and their capability in doing their activities in their life and their contribution to the people.
Most of experts and observers are in the opinion that civil society (in Arabic term it is called al-mujtama’ al-madany) is being formulating in Indonesia. This can be proved through the discussion about the acceleration of democracy in Indonesia always discussed everywhere, the emergence of middle economic class coming from higher-educated people and more freedom to access information anywhere and anytime.
The civil society which was developed during the era of the prophet peace be upon him in Madinah is far different from the ones understood by the people in Eastern Europe. They utilize civil society to launch demonstration against the government, to overthrow the ruling government and annihilate dictatorship or autocratic government by force. Probably such atmosphere is not recommended in Islamic way of life because it is opposing with moral values and the eastern culturein general. Anyway, Islam has it own way how to choose and to discharge leaders either for regional or national leader.
Islamic Universities/Institution and their Role within the Community
There are two kinds of Islamic institutions found in Aceh, they are state Islamic Institutions and Traditional Islamic Institutions which are called Dayah or pesantren. The Dayah institutions have played a very important role among the Acehnese community since the existence of this institution in the past when Islam was first spread in this archipelago. Dayah is the traditional institution which provides knowledge and instruction in Islamic tenet (Muhammad AR, 2001).[1] This institution has been rooted among the Acehnese since Islam was first introduced in this archipelago. The system, curriculum and methodology used in transfering knowledge are also the as it used to.
Islam came to this archipelago in the year 850 Hijriyyah. It was first brought by Muslims du’at (preachers) from Gujerat in India and Arabia to Peureulak, Aceh. During this time the dayah was first established in Aceh. In this institution practical and theoretical religious instructions are given. This istitution plays an important role in cultivating the people to become knowledgeable.[2]
After Indonesia got independent, Islamic institution of Ar-Raniry and University of Syiah Kuala were established in Aceh. Nowadays, there are more universities estsblished all over Aceh. Sekolah Tinggi Islam Malikulsaleh Lhokseumawe, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Zawiyah Cot Kala Langsa, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Teungku Di Rundeng Meulaboh, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Al-Aziziyah in Samalanga Kabupaten Bireuen, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Syech Abdul Rauf in Singkil, Sekolah Tinggi Islam al-Hilal in Sigli, Sekolah Tinggi Islam Segenap Sepakat in Kutacane and etc. In addition, Universitas Islam al-Muslim in Matang Glumpang Dua, Universitas Muhammaddiyah Aceh, Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Universitas Malikulsaleh, Lhokseumawe, Universitas Samudra Langsa and etc. All these universities and institutions have done very much especially in developing Acehnese way of thinking and interaction among the community. They have provided many kinds of disciplines to students in order to enable them run their life properly among the people.
State Islamic Institute (IAIN) or STAIN is a kind of higher institution which develops Islamic way of life of society to be manifested in their life as well as to improve their skill in accordance with their interest, talent, and their own background of knowledge. The implication of this way is to develop Islamic education for improving the quality of faith and devotion and even to become Islamic leaders among the believers as it is found in the Qur’an.[3]
The existence of IAIN is the desires of Indonesian Muslims in order to improve and spread Islamic teachings in Indonesia (TIM, 1976). IAIN is really expected to produce Muslim thinkers, Islamic leaders, and Muslim scholars. They have to implement Islamic ideas and can adjust themselves in the modern era and the institution is also really expected to be a place for preparing the candidate of Muslim leaders and Muslim scholars in the future. In addition, the institution should also produce Muslim intellectuals who have owned the best conduct and they can be examples or model for the people where they live in.[4]
Islamic Institution and Civil Society
When we are talking about Islamic institution and civil society, we automatically feel that between the institution and society cannot be separated for it is located in the middle of community. Also, it cannot be denied that the institution is built or established under the support of the people and, of course, this first program is to empower the people/community and to produce something beneficial to them beside creating harmonious life among the people. Actually, the civil society had been established under the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in the early age of Islam in Madinah.
Principally’ Azyumardi Azra (1999) says that Islam supports the emergence of civil society. The prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, had established and developed a pure Islamic civil society in Madinah in the early age of Islam. He had run the country in Madinah and he could have created harmonious community under his power. This proof is not only found in Madinah Constitution, but also found in the way of changing the name of Yastrib to Madinah. This term is also closely related to civil society.
In the nineteenth century, the concept of civil society had been implemented in western Europe when Lech Wales, in Poland, launched a Solidarity Movement against the ruling government under General Jeruzelski. In this resistant movement, he used civil society as a basic way of his struggling against the autocratic government. This model or pattern was later penetrated to eastern Europe, Chekolslovakia and at the same time the Communist regime of Soviet Union was collapsed. [5]Anyway, the civil society which we mean here is not a specific movement as it was in Poland, but it is a harmonious society having tolerance among the people or citizen where they are living and a society who are living in peace and caring each other. The existence of Islamic institution is to produce such tolerant people who can run their life in peace and helping one another.
In regard to the above, in fact, the university or higher institution is established to prepare young generation knowledge to be ready to handle any problem faced in community development in the future. The institution’s objective is to formulate universal human being (al-insan al-kully), or al-insan al-kamil (completed mankind) in case of their interaction with other people in this world and their closest relation with God as Creator of all things in this universe. This kind of mankind who can strengthen their unity in spreading Islamic theology (Oneneness of God). This is the duty of ulul albab (Muslim intellectuals) having knowledge, wisdom, and empirical experiences (Fuaduddin dan Cik Hasan Bisri ed., 2002).[6] It seems that the point of view is suitable and properly implemented within the community where we live in. Because the role of those who have ever experienced and searched knowledge in the university or in the highest institution. They have to support their community and distribute their knowledge to those who know nothing in the rural village or isolated area.
Actually, the civil society is those who can respect others whether in giving their opinion, in implementing their faith, in doing something which is accordance with their point of view, or in making decision based on their desires and choices. This is the real meaning of civil society which is experienced and felt by most people in the world nowadays. It seems that such things have been apllied by those who have graduated from the higher Islamic institutions whether in Aceh or in Indonesia.
Conclusion
The role of Islamic institution or Islamic university in developing civil society has been done and implemented within the community. This has been showed by the graduates when they are in the community. At least they have implemented in their life how to behave, how to act and how to interact among the people or among the plural society in Indonesia in general. In Islamic teachings this kind of tolerance and cooperation had been practiced during the life of the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in Madinah when he was leading the Islamic country. Our prohet had established and run the country fairly and implemented social justice to all people without having any intimidation, discourtesy and injustice. They lived hand in hand with other people who had different ways of life for it is one of the prophet’s message to Muslim to respect those who have different religions since they are disturbing our religion, our economic system as well as our state safety.
This was the civil society established by our prophet in the past. I think it is also done by those who have ever experienced and studied in any Islamic institution in our country. Suffice it to say that the role of higher Islamic institution in our country has been proved through the action or interaction done by the graduates when they are living among the people. Anyway, the meaning of civil society understood by the West and Islam are varied. In general, there is no significant differences since the meaning
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Azyumardi Azra. (1999). Pendidikan Islam: Tradisi dan Modernisme Menuju Milenium Baru. (Jakarta: Logos Wacan Ilmu).
Fuaduddin dan Cik Hasan Bisri ed., .(2002). Dinamilka Pemikiran Islam Di Perguruan Tinggi.(Jakarta,:Logos wacana Ilmu).
Hendro Prasetyio dan Ali Munhanif, dkk. (2002). Islam dan Civil Society.(Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama dan PPPPIM-IAIN Jakarta).
Muhaimin. (2004). Wacana Pengembangan Pendidikan Islam. (Surabaya: Pusat Studi Agama, Politik dan Masyarakat ).
Muhammad AR, “The Curriculum of Islamic Studies in Traditional and Modern Dayahs in Aceh. A Comparative Study”, Al-Jami’ah, Journal of Islamic Studies, Volume 39, Number 1 January-june 2001.
Tim Penyusun. (1976) Buku Pedoman IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah. (IAIN Jakarta).
[1] Muhammad AR, “The Curriculum of Islamic Studies in Traditional and Modern Dayahs in Aceh. A Comparative Study”, Al-Jami’ah, Journal of Islamic Studies, Volume 39, Number 1 January-june 2001.
[2] Ibid.,
[3] Muhaimin, Wacana Pengembangan Pendidikan Islam, (Surabaya: Pusat Studi Agama, Politik dan Masyarakat, 2004).
[4]Azyumardi Azra, Pendidikan Islam: Tradisi dan Modernisme Menuju Milenium Baru, (Jakarta: Logos Wacan Ilmu, 1999)
[5] Hendro Prasetyio dan Ali Munhanif, dkk. (2002). Islam dan Civil Society.(Jakarta: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama dan PPPPIM-IAIN Jakarta).
[6]Fuaduddin dan Cik Hasan Bisri ed., Dinamilka Pemikiran Islam Di Perguruan Tinggi, (Jakarta,:Logos wacana Ilmu 2002).
0 comments:
Posting Komentar