Journal title : Suhu: Journal of Sufism and Humanities Short title : Suhu Abbreviation : Suhu J. Sufis. Humanit. Frequency : 2 issues per year E-ISSN : 3124-9086 DOI : 10.69548 Editor in Chief : Dr. M. Agus Wahyudi, M.Psi., M.Ag. (Scopus | Sinta | Orcid) Publisher : LaKaspia Subject Area : Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences Citation Analysis : Google Scholar | Garuda | Harvard Library SUHU: Journal of Sufism and Humanities is a high-quality, peer-reviewed research journal published by published by LaKaspia (Aceh Institute for Social and Political Studies). The journal is bilingual, featuring publications in Indonesian and English, and is committed to providing a prestigious global platform for scholarly research in Sufism, Islamic Philosophy, Islamic Theology, Islamic Mysticism, Islamic Thought, Psychology, and the Humanities. With a comprehensive approach, it integrates diverse interdisciplinary perspectives to enrich academic discourse. SUHU: Journal of Sufism and Humanities publishes peer-reviewed articles that explore the historical, cultural, social, psychological, philosophical, political, anthropological, digital literary, and artistic dimensions of these subjects across various temporal and geographical contexts. The journal aspires to serve as a leading global academic forum for innovative research and scholarly discussions in these fields.
The Concept of Sulūk in Yogyakarta’s Masangin Tradition: Reinterpreting the Symbolism of Spiritual Journey
Objective: The Masangin tradition at Alun-Alun Kidul, Yogyakarta, has long been understood as a ritual in which blindfolded participants attempt to walk through the narrow passage between two banyan trees in the hope of attaining good fortune or fulfilling personal wishes. This predominantly mythological interpretation has confined scholarly discussions to the domains of folklore, tourism, and Javanese cosmology, leaving its potential relationship with the Sufi concept of sulūk largely unexplored. This study therefore aims to reinterpret Masangin as a symbolic process of spiritual transformation through the lens of Sufi metaphysics. Method: This study employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis to collect data. The data were analyzed following Creswell’s qualitative analysis procedures, including data organization, coding, thematic categorization, interpretation, and the presentation of findings through analytical tables. Results: The findings reveal that the Masangin tradition embodies a coherent sequence of symbolic stages corresponding to the Sufi spiritual journey (sulūk). The blindfold symbolizes detachment from worldly perception (takhallī), walking in a straight direction represents steadfastness on the spiritual path (istiqāmah), passing between the two banyan trees signifies spiritual striving (mujāhadah), maintaining bodily balance reflects the purification of the soul (tazkiyah al-nafs), and successfully reaching the destination symbolizes spiritual proximity to God (qurb ilā Allāh). These interconnected symbols demonstrate that Masangin functions not merely as a cultural ritual but also as a symbolic representation of progressive spiritual formation. Conclusion: This study proposes the Sulūk Symbolism Framework, which repositions the Masangin tradition from a wish-fulfillment myth into a systematic model of Sufi spiritual education. The framework offers a new theoretical perspective for understanding Javanese cultural practices as vehicles for the internalization of Sufi values while enriching scholarly discussions on the intersection between local traditions, Islamic metaphysics, and symbolic spiritual pedagogy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nashrul Mu'minin, Nuraini Rahmawati, Wathanan Srinin, Mowafg Abrahem Masuwd, Taufik Nughro (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Algorithmic Ulama: Generative AI, Religious Authority, and the Reconfiguration of Da'wah Communication Ethics in Indonesian Islam
Objective: This study aims to examine how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming religious authority and da’wah (Islamic propagation) communication ethics in Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population. Specifically, it seeks to analyze the implications of AI for the production, circulation, and legitimacy of religious knowledge and guidance within the Indonesian Islamic public sphere. Method: The study employed a systematic literature review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Forty peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed sources published predominantly between 2021 and 2026 were analyzed using thematic synthesis. The review focused on five analytical domains: institutional AI adoption within Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, the epistemic reliability of AI-generated religious guidance, algorithmic mediation and fragmentation of religious authority, ethical tensions in AI-mediated da’wah communication, and comparative global perspectives on digital Islamic authority. Results: The findings indicate that generative AI simultaneously functions as an enabling and destabilizing force in Indonesian Islamic communication. On the one hand, AI enhances the reach, personalization, and efficiency of da’wah communication. On the other hand, it destabilizes the traditional isnad-based model of religious legitimacy, introduces risks of misattribution and doctrinal oversimplification, and creates new forms of algorithmically mediated religious influence operating outside conventional institutional accountability structures. The study further identifies a significant asymmetry between the rapid pace of AI adoption and the comparatively slow development of ethical and regulatory frameworks governing AI-mediated religious communication. Conclusion: This study proposes the concept of the algorithmic ulama to describe the emerging hybrid configuration of human and machinic religious authority, and develops a preliminary ethical framework for AI-mediated da’wah grounded in Islamic communication ethics (akhlaq al-i‘lam) and mediatization theory. It contributes a theoretically integrated, context-specific account of AI’s implications for Islamic communication scholarship and offers practical recommendations for religious institutions, media regulators, and communication educators in Indonesia.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Fatimah, Murjazin, Muhammad Abdul Kharis (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Transformation of Sufi Spirituality-Based Dawar Practices in Dance Communities in Contemporary Indonesia
The growing presence of Sufi dance communities across Indonesia reflects a public search for religious communication that is gentle, reflective, and grounded in experiential spirituality. Da‘wah practices that once relied primarily on verbal preaching have shifted toward performative-aesthetic approaches in which rotational movement, rhythmic remembrance, and interpretations of Jalaluddin Rumi’s poetry serve as vehicles for internalizing spiritual values. Objective: This study aims to examine the transformation of Sufi dance into a contemporary medium of Islamic da‘wah in Indonesia and to analyze its spiritual, communicative, and socio-cultural functions. Method: The study employs a library research methodology by systematically reviewing national and international literature on Sufism, performance studies, cultural da‘wah, and contemporary Sufi dance communities in Indonesia. Results: The findings reveal that Sufi dance functions as an alternative model of da‘wah that integrates aesthetic expression, spiritual practice, and social interaction. The localization of Mevlevi traditions has enabled Sufi dance to reach broader audiences, including women and younger generations, while digital media has significantly expanded its dissemination. At the same time, the increasing circulation of Sufi dance through digital platforms has created a tendency for performances to be appreciated primarily as visual spectacles, thereby reducing their spiritual substance. Conclusion: The study concludes that Sufi dance represents a relevant form of contemporary Islamic da‘wah that combines artistic performance with spiritual communication. Beyond preserving Sufi traditions, it offers an inclusive and emotionally engaging approach to religious outreach, contributing to spiritual development and social cohesion within contemporary Indonesian society.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alvin Noor Sahab Rizal, M. Rais Ribha Rifqi Hakim, Ayna Jamila Salsabila (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
The Interplay of Sufi Movements, Arts, and Cultural Expression in the Contemporary Era
Objective: This study examines the relationship between Sufi movements and the arts in the contemporary era. While previous scholarship has primarily explored Sufism as a spiritual and theological tradition, comparatively little attention has been given to the role of the arts as a medium of cultural expression, religious communication, and social transformation within contemporary Sufi movements. Method: This study employs a library research design using a descriptive-historical approach. Data were collected through a systematic review and critical analysis of scholarly literature on Sufism, the arts, culture, and contemporary Sufi movements to identify recurring themes and conceptual patterns. Results: The findings reveal that the relationship between Sufi movements and the arts operates through two complementary dimensions. The first is the esoteric dimension, in which the arts function as an integral component of spiritual practice and a means of inner refinement for Sufi practitioners, particularly within the ṭarīqa tradition. The second is the exoteric dimension, in which the arts serve as a medium for communicating Sufi teachings and transmitting spiritual values to wider audiences through culturally embedded, aesthetically engaging, and socially inclusive forms of expression. Conclusion: This study concludes that the arts should be understood not merely as vehicles of aesthetic expression but also as strategic instruments for communicating and transmitting Sufi teachings in contemporary society. By conceptualizing the esoteric and exoteric dimensions of Sufi art, this research contributes to the development of Islamic Sufism studies by offering a more comprehensive framework for understanding how Sufi movements negotiate spirituality, culture, and social transformation in the modern era.
Copyright (c) 2026 Syahuri Arsyi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
The Urgency of Spiritual Care Training for Islamic Chaplains
Objective: This article examines the urgency of spiritual care training for newly appointed Islamic chaplains and its contribution to strengthening their professional competencies in healthcare and social service settings in Indonesia. Method: This study employs a library research approach by critically reviewing scholarly literature on spiritual care, chaplaincy education, holistic healthcare, and the competencies required of Islamic chaplains. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify major themes related to training needs and competency development. Results: The findings reveal that the increasing demand for services addressing patients’ physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs has positioned spiritual care as an essential component of patient-centered healthcare. Nevertheless, Islamic chaplains in Indonesia continue to face challenges, including the lack of standardized competency frameworks, systematic training curricula, and professional practice guidelines. The reviewed literature indicates that structured spiritual care training significantly improves chaplains’ knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies in assessing spiritual needs, delivering appropriate spiritual interventions, communicating religious values with cultural and spiritual sensitivity, providing emotional and existential support, and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Furthermore, such training facilitates the internalization of core Islamic values, including ṣabr (patience), tawakkul (trust in God), ḥusn al-ẓann (positive regard toward God and others), compassion, and sincerity, into professional practice. Conclusion: Developing and implementing a standardized Islamic-based spiritual care training program is a strategic initiative to enhance the quality of spiritual care services, strengthen the professional identity of Islamic chaplains, and address the growing need for holistic, integrated, and patient-centered healthcare and social services in Indonesia.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jarir Jarir Idris, Anni Nurul Hidayati (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Gender Issues in Keluarga Berencana Programs: An Analysis of the Concept of Mubadalah and the Islamic Perspective on Male Contraception
Objective: This study examines the application of the mubādalah approach in promoting the equitable distribution of reproductive responsibilities between husband and wife and analyzes the Islamic perspective on male contraception within family planning (Keluarga Berencana). Method: This study employs a library research approach by critically reviewing books, scholarly journal articles, and classical and contemporary Islamic legal literature on family planning, mubādalah, gender relations, and Islamic jurisprudence. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, while source triangulation enhanced the credibility of the findings. Results: Previous studies on family planning from an Islamic perspective have primarily focused on the permissibility or prohibition of contraceptive methods, with limited attention to gender inequality in reproductive responsibilities. In Indonesia, contraceptive use remains dominated by women, whereas male participation is relatively low. The mubādalah approach offers an alternative framework emphasizing reciprocity, partnership, and shared responsibility between spouses in reproductive decision-making. According to Islamic law, temporary male contraceptive methods, including ‘azl (coitus interruptus) and condoms, are generally permissible when intended for birth spacing and when they do not cause harm. Conversely, permanent methods such as vasectomy are generally prohibited unless justified by legitimate medical necessity. Conclusion: Integrating the mubādalah approach into family planning discourse promotes gender-equitable reproductive responsibility, strengthens shared decision-making between spouses, and provides a normative foundation for increasing male participation in family planning programs in Indonesia.
Copyright (c) 2026 Avrizal Akhmad Setiawan, Aza Ria Audina (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Aborsi akibat Pemerkosaan: Analisis Fikih Perempuan Perspektif Kiai Husein Muhammad dan Santri Lirboyo Kediri
The issue of abortion due to rape is one of the complex problems in contemporary women's fiqh, as it involves a conflict between the right to life of the fetus and the protection of victims of sexual violence. Objective: This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the views of Kiai Husein Muhammad and Santri Lirboyo Kediri on abortion due to rape and to explore the similarities and differences between the two in the perspective of contemporary women's fiqh. Method: This study is a qualitative study with a comparative approach. The research data was obtained through a literature study by examining the writings and thoughts of Kiai Husein Muhammad and Santri Lirboyo Kediri, as well as other academic sources relevant to the research topic. Results: This study shows that Kiai Husein Muhammad represents a humanistic-progressive fiqh style that emphasizes the preservation of the psychological condition and dignity of women who are victims of sexual violence (hifz al-'Aql), while Santri Lirboyo Kediri is based on traditional-conservative fiqh that emphasizes the protection of fetal life as a form of respect for human rights (hifz an-Nafs). Conclusion: However, the differences between these two views do not necessarily indicate a contradiction, but rather enrich the contemporary fiqh of women on the issue of abortion due to rape by presenting a balance between human values, morality, and submission to the principles of Islamic sharia.
Copyright (c) 2025 SUHU: Journal of Sufism and Humanities
Praktik Khalwāt dan Spiritualitas: Pengalaman Religius Santri di Pondok Pesantren
Objective: This study aims to explore the meanings and dynamics of the religious experiences of students undertaking khalwāt at Al-Hikmah Islamic Boarding School in Gatak, Sukoharjo. Method: A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Data validity was ensured through method and source triangulation. Results: Khalwāt is perceived not merely as a spiritual ritual but as a process of constructing personal and transformative religious meaning. Participants reported significant changes across affective, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions, including increased inner tranquility, greater discipline in religious practice, and deeper self-awareness. They also experienced mystical phenomena, interpreted as part of spiritual testing and purification. Conclusion: Khalwāt functions as a strategic inner spiritual space that strengthens spirituality and fosters the sustained development of students’ religious subjectivity.
Al-Ghazali’s Theory of Resilience: A Tawakkul-Based Islamic Therapeutic Approach for Bullying Victims
Bullying phenomena in Indonesia, particularly among students, demonstrate a high prevalence and generate serious psychological consequences for victims, including depression and suicidal tendencies. Objective: This study aims to explore the role of the concept of tawakkul in enhancing the resilience of bullying victims. Method: This research employs a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis through a literature review that includes indexed scientific articles, books, online media sources, and other reliable academic references. Results: The findings indicate that tawakkul, from the perspective of al-Ghazali, contributes to strengthening individual resilience through dimensions of spirituality, self-acceptance, and complete trust in divine decree. Conclusion: This study asserts that tawakkul may function as an Islamic-based psychotherapeutic approach to support psychological recovery among bullying victims. In conclusion, tawakkul has the potential to serve as a therapeutic foundation for improving resilience and preventing long-term psychological impacts.
Sufism, Orthodoxy, and Spirituality: A Critical Reading of Imam Muhammad Abu Zahrah’s Thought
Objective: This study examines the theoretical foundations of Sufism through the intellectual framework of Imam Muhammad Abu Zahrah, aiming to uncover his interpretive methodology and his position in reconciling Sufi spirituality with Islamic orthodoxy. Method: Employing a qualitative critical-analytical method based on textual analysis of Abu Zahrah’s writings, classical Sufi literature, and secondary theological studies, supported by historical contextualization, the research situates his thought within the broader development of Islamic mysticism and its key figures. Result: The findings reveal that Abu Zahrah adopts a balanced mediating stance: affirming the ethical and spiritual value of Sufism while critiquing speculative excesses and mystical extremism. He advocates for a purified, ethically grounded Sufism aligned with Qur’anic rationality and Islamic creed, thereby distancing it from esoteric deviations. Conclusion: The study concludes that Abu Zahrah’s approach provides a valuable framework for rethinking the role of Sufism in modern Islamic thought, demonstrating its continued relevance for contemporary spiritual renewal and intellectual reform within the Muslim world.
Bimbingan Kelompok sebagai Intervensi Humanistik untuk Mengurangi Kebiasaan Merokok pada Santri di Pondok Pesantren Miftahul Huda
Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effect of group guidance services on smoking habits among santri at Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School, Bojonegoro. Smoking behavior among adolescents, including santri, constitutes a serious problem due to its detrimental impact on physical health, psychological well-being, and academic performance. Group guidance services are considered an effective intervention to prevent and reduce smoking behavior through supportive and constructive group dynamics. Method: This research employed a quantitative experimental approach using a one-group pretest–posttest design. The sample was selected through purposive sampling, focusing on santri who met the criteria as active smokers. Data were collected using a smoking habit scale that had been tested for validity and reliability. Data analysis was conducted using the Paired Sample t-Test. Results: The findings revealed a statistically significant difference in smoking habits before and after the intervention, as indicated by a decrease in the mean score of smoking behavior following the implementation of group guidance services. Conclusion: These results indicate that group guidance services are effective in reducing smoking habits among santri at Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School, Bojonegoro. This study highlights the potential of group-based counseling interventions as a preventive and corrective strategy for addressing health-risk behaviors within the pesantren educational context.
Peran Pesantren Mahasiswa sebagai Katalisator Transformasi Akhlak
University students are widely regarded as agents of future social transformation, and the consequences of their actions inevitably reverberate within society. In recent years, however, increasing instances of students exhibiting unethical behavior and deviating from established social norms have raised serious concerns. Misguided social interactions and unfavorable environments have been identified as contributing factors to this moral decline. This study examines the role of student pesantren as catalysts for moral transformation among university students. The research aims to analyze how student pesantren function as formative spaces capable of fostering positive changes in the character of students at UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employs interview techniques within a case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with three purposively selected students residing in a student pesantren. The findings indicate that the pesantren environment contributes significantly to students’ moral development. The regulatory framework, disciplinary practices, and structured religious learning embedded within the pesantren cultivate disciplined and ethically sound behavior. Moreover, the social and spiritual atmosphere of the pesantren provides an enabling environment that reinforces moral refinement. Consequently, student pesantren emerge as a viable alternative for nurturing and strengthening commendable character among university students.
Beyond the Code: Recovering Iḥsān as the Antidote to Modern Islamic Legalism
This study examines the crisis of legalism in contemporary Islamic thought, characterized by an overemphasis on outward legal compliance (Sharīʿah) at the expense of inward spiritual cultivation (Tazkiyah) and moral excellence (Iḥsān). The research employs a qualitative analytical methodology combining textual hermeneutics of classical Islamic sources with historical analysis of colonial and postcolonial transformations, supplemented by contemporary sociological data from Muslim communities globally. Primary sources include Qur'anic exegesis, Prophetic traditions, and spiritual treatises by al-Ghazālī, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Ibn al-ʿArabī, while secondary sources encompass colonial archives and contemporary ethnographic studies. Findings reveal that modern legalism represents an unprecedented epistemological rupture caused by colonial codification, nation-state formation, and identity politics, which severed law from its spiritual-ethical framework. The systematic marginalization of classical sciences of the heart (ʿUlūm al-Qulūb) has produced psychological pathologies including religious scrupulosity, social fragmentation, and ethical minimalism. The study identifies iḥsān—worshipping God as though seeing Him—as the essential corrective that historically integrated external compliance with internal transformation. The research concludes that healing this dichotomy requires comprehensive pedagogical reform integrating spiritual texts into curricula, establishing urban spiritual centers, developing contemporary spiritual literature addressing modern challenges, and fostering grassroots community initiatives, thereby restoring Islam's holistic vision where law serves as a vehicle for spiritual realization rather than an end in itself.
Copyright (c) 2025 SUHU: Journal of Sufism and Humanities https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Relevansi Pemikiran Pendidikan KH. Hasyim Asy’ari terhadap Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter
Pemikiran K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari sebagai pendiri Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap sistem pendidikan Islam, termasuk di SMK NU Gebang. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis nilai-nilai pendidikan Hasyim Asy’ari yang diimplementasikan dalam kurikulum, metode pembelajaran, dan budaya sekolah di SMK NU Gebang. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus melalui observasi, wawancara, dan analisis dokumen. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa prinsip-prinsip seperti al-muhafadzatu ‘ala al-qadimi al-shalihwa al-akhdzu bi al-jadid al-ashlah (melestarikan tradisi lama yang baik dan mengadopsi inovasi baru yang lebih baik) menjadi landasan dalam pengembangan pendidikan kejuruan berbasis pesantren. Selain itu, penanaman akhlak mulia, keseimbangan ilmu dunia-akhirat, serta penguatan keterampilan vokasional sesuai kebutuhan masyarakat menjadi fokus utama. Implementasi pemikiran Hasyim Asy’ari di SMK NU Gebang tidak hanya membentuk lulusan yang kompeten secara teknis tetapi juga berkarakter religius dan berintegritas. Temuan ini memperkuat relevansi pemikiran tradisionalis-progresif Hasyim Asy’ari dalam konteks pendidikan modern
Tantahara Nadipmal Ilaga Adwitiya Laksana
Ibn Taimiyyah, Samā‘, dan Raqṣ: Kritik Tradisionalis terhadap Estetika Tasawuf dalam Islam
This article analyzes Ibn Taimiyyah’s critical views on the practice of samā‘ (Sufi music) and raqṣ (Sufi dance), as part of his epistemological and theological project of purifying Sufism. Using a desk study approach and a historical-critical examination of primary texts such as Kitāb al-Samā‘ wa al-Raqṣ, al-Istiqāmah, and the views of his disciple Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, the article also compares Ibn Taimiyyah’s arguments with those of figures such as al-Ghazālī and places them in a contemporary context. It finds that Ibn Taimiyyah’s critique was not merely a rejection of art, but a rejection of a spiritual epistemology not grounded in sharia. This finding is reinforced by contemporary studies by Arjan Post, Fadlou Shehadi and Yaron Klein. This article recommends a hermeneutical-contextual approach in rereading the legacy of aesthetic criticism in Islam.
Transformasi Pembelajaran melalui Ensiklopedia Android berbasis Teknologi, Keislaman dan Humanisme
Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan ensiklopedia berbasis Android sebagai sumber belajar digital untuk meningkatkan pemahaman siswa sekolah dasar terhadap konsep IPA, khususnya materi suhu, kalor, dan sifat-sifat zat. Latar belakangnya adalah keterbatasan media pembelajaran konvensional yang kurang menarik dan tidak sesuai dengan karakteristik generasi digital. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan Research and Development model Borg and Gall melalui tahapan analisis kebutuhan, desain, implementasi, dan evaluasi. Subjek penelitian adalah 41 siswa kelas V MI Mafatihul Huda Bangsanangan Kediri, dibagi dalam kelompok eksperimen dan kontrol. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa media yang dikembangkan sangat layak digunakan, dengan penilaian ahli media dan materi di atas 80%, serta nilai kepraktisan oleh siswa sebesar 86,7%. Analisis post-test menunjukkan peningkatan signifikan pemahaman konsep IPA pada kelompok eksperimen dibanding kontrol, dengan effect size 91,9%. Media ensiklopedia Android terbukti efektif, layak, dan praktis sebagai solusi pembelajaran IPA yang kontekstual, interaktif, dan sesuai perkembangan teknologi pendidikan dasar saat ini.
Menggali Krisis Psikospiritual dan Akhlak Manusia melalui Lensa Tasawuf
The psychosocial crisis holds significant relevance in understanding the moral decline in modern society. This study integrates a psychospiritual approach with the Sufi framework to analyze the root causes, implications, and potential resolutions of the moral crisis. Employing a qualitative literature-based method and hermeneutical analysis of al-Ghazālī’s thought, the research explores the interrelation between psychological dynamics, spirituality, and moral formation. The findings indicate that the moral crisis stems from a disharmony among the elements of qalb (heart), ‘aql (intellect), nafs (desire), and rūḥ (spirit), exacerbated by modernization, social pressures, and the dominance of madhmūmah traits such as envy (ḥasad), arrogance (takabbur), and unchecked desire (shahwah). From a Sufi perspective, this imbalance disrupts both the vertical relationship with God (hablun min Allah) and the horizontal relationship with fellow human beings (hablun min al-nas). As a comprehensive remedy, Sufism proposes practices such as tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the soul), muraqabah (spiritual vigilance), tawakkul (trust in God), and tafakkur (contemplation), which aim to rehabilitate the individual’s inner integrity while simultaneously fostering social cohesion.
Etika Sufisme Pakubuwana IV: Piwulang dalam Serat Wulangreh
Artikel ini mengkaji bagaimana konsep etik-sufisme yang diwedarkan oleh Pakubuwana IV dalam wedaran Wulangreh. Konsep ajaran etik yang ada di dalam Serat Wulangreh berlandaskan dari al-Quran dan Sunnah sebagai sumber ajaran Islam. Konsep etik-sufisme ini diambil dari kerangka konsep tasawuf yang menjadi hal yang paling subtil di dalam kerangka ajaran Islam karena mengambil hal yang paling inti berupa batin. Ajaran sufisme yang dikembangkan oleh Pakubawana IV mengajarkan manusia untuk bisa berbuat baik, tidak melanggar larangannya, tidak tamak, tidak suka kepada hal yang sifatnya duniawi secara berlebihan dan menjaga supaya hatinya tetap bersih itu semua konsep ihsan. Dengan menggunakan metode library research dan kerangka teori hermeuntika yang dikembangkan oleh Gadamer, dengan kerangka piwulang dan ajaran merupakan suatu reaksi dari si pelaku yang ada hubungan horizontal kepada sang maha Aku untuk menerima ajaran itu sendiri yang di mana kemudian menjadi pengetahuan untuk diajarkan kepada masyarakat yang lebih luas. Maka konsep etik-sufisme menjadi pijakan bagi siapa saja terutama umat Islam secara luas untuk menemukan ke-diriannya dalam menjalankan laku suluk sebagai salik. Sebab etik-sufistik merupakan salah satu dari sekian banyak yang harus dilalui oleh manusia menuju manusia paripurna atau Janma Utama. Tahapan-tahapan ini harus dilewati oleh semua salik dari mulai tingkat yang paling rendah yakni sembah raga atau dalam tataran syariat, kemudian sembah cipta dalam tata tarekat, kemudian tangga berikutnya sembah karsa dalam tatanan makrifat dan sembah rasa dalam tataran hakikat. Kesemua tahapan ini harus dilewati untuk menemukan konsep man ‘arafa nafsahu faqad ‘arafah rabbah—konsep sufisme yang ingin diwedarkan oleh Sunan demi terwujudnya manusia yang utuh.
Pukubawana IV, Wulangreh, Etika, Sufistik, Hermenutika
Kontestasi Pemikiran dalam Teologi Islam: Iman, Dosa, Perbuatan Manusia, dan Sifat Tuhan
This study examines theological contestation within the tradition of Islamic kalām as an intellectual effort by Muslim scholars to articulate and systematize doctrinal teachings through rational inquiry. Central themes such as grave sin, the nature of faith, divine will, human actions, and the attributes of God represent critical points of divergence among major theological schools. Notably, the Muʿtazilite school espouses the doctrine of manzilah bayna al-manzilatayn (an intermediate status) in relation to grave sinners, while the Ashʿarites maintain that such individuals remain believers as long as they continue to affirm faith in God inwardly. Debates surrounding divine will and human agency illustrate the enduring tension between qadar (predestination) and ikhtiyār (free will) in explaining the relationship between divine sovereignty and human autonomy. Furthermore, differing interpretations of God's attributes raise complex questions about whether such attributes are independent of or identical with the divine essence. This study affirms that kalām not only functions as a guardian of theological orthodoxy but also enriches the intellectual tradition of Islam in its exploration of metaphysical and ethical dimensions.
Artificial Intelligence and Spirituality: Can AI Understand the Divine in Sufism?
Amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) across various domains of life, philosophical and theological questions arise regarding the limitations of AI in understanding the spiritual dimensions of human existence, particularly within the tradition of Islamic Sufism. This research aims to explore the ability of AI to comprehend and represent transcendental spiritual meanings, and to analyze the limitations of AI from spiritual and metaphysical perspectives. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through documentations. The findings reveal that although AI is capable of mimicking religious knowledge verbally, it remains fundamentally incapable of grasping and reflecting esoteric aspects of Sufism, such as the experiential connection with the Divine, due to its lack of consciousness, intuition, and spiritual essence. True spiritual meaning can only be accessed through inner experience and spiritual practice —not through algorithmic processes. In conclusion, this study affirms that artificial intelligence cannot replace the role of spiritual experience in Sufism and highlights the need for a humanistic and ethical approach in the development of technology. The research contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse between Sufism, Islamic philosophy, and modern technology, offering a critical reflection on the epistemological boundaries of AI in religious contexts.
Simfoni Makrifat: Eksplorasi Semiotika Nada dalam Kajian Tasawuf
Musik dalam tradisi tasawuf tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai ekspresi estetika, tetapi juga sebagai sarana transformatif dalam mencapai kesadaran spiritual yang lebih tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi makna simbolik setiap nada dalam perspektif sufistik dengan pendekatan semiotika. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode studi kepustakaan dengan pendekatan kualitatif berbasis hermeneutika sufistik. Sumber primer mencakup naskah-naskah klasik tasawuf, kitab-kitab tentang samā’ dan ḥaḍrah, serta literatur musikologi Islam. Analisis dilakukan pada tiga tingkat makna: denotatif (bunyi sebagai fenomena fisik), konotatif (interpretasi budaya dalam konteks sufistik), dan sufistik (makna spiritual-transendental). Hasil menunjukkan bahwa nada-nada dalam tangga nada dasar memiliki makna simbolik: Do melambangkan tawbah, Re terkait dengan riyāḍah, Mi mencerminkan maʿrifah, dan Si mewakili insān kāmil. Musik dalam praktik ritual seperti samā’ dan ḥaḍrah memainkan peran penting dalam memperdalam pengalaman spiritual sufi. Temuan ini berkontribusi terhadap pengembangan kajian tasawuf kontemporer, terapi musik berbasis sufisme, dan inovasi dalam pendidikan spiritual Islam, khususnya dalam membangun pendekatan pedagogis yang integratif antara nilai-nilai tradisional dan media estetis.