When Scholars Burn Books

 

When Scholars Burn Books

Ulama is a picture of religious figures or leaders, especially in the conception of Islam, it is not always directly proportional to the meaning contained in it, namely people who are knowledgeable (ulama is the plural form of 'alim), smart, wise, and other positive equivalents. There are ulama, who actually love science, but are actually hostile to science itself, through various actions such as burning books which may be considered contrary to their principles and beliefs.

Nuruddin Muhammad bin Hasanji al-Hamid al-Syafi'i al-Asy'ari al-Raniri, or commonly known as Nuruddin Al-Raniri, was an important figure in the spread of Islam in the archipelago, especially in the Aceh region. His thinking is considered by many to have succeeded in establishing the influence and domination of Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah, the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. Azyumardi Azra (1999) mentions the gait and role of Al-Raniri as the most important reformer (mujaddid) in the archipelago of the 17th century AD.

Al-Raniri's case

Al-Raniri is widely known by the Indonesian people not only as an ordinary cleric, but also as an expert on Sufism who represents neo-sufism. The term neo-sufism, as explained by Fazlur Rahman (1979) is a renewed Sufism, stripping away its ecstatic and metaphysical characteristics and content, and being replaced with content that is none other than the postulates of Islamic orthodoxy.

This Sufism model emphasizes and renews the moral factors and puritanical self-control in Sufism at the expense of the excessive characteristics of deviant Sufism (unorthodox Sufism). The center of attention of neo-sufism is the socio-moral reconstruction of Muslim society. And Al-Raniri is considered to meet the criteria as a pioneer of neo-sufism, although in fact there are several important notes attached to it. He had served as mufti (Syekh Al-Islam) in the Kingdom of Aceh during the era of Sultan Iskandar Tsani and Sultanah Shafiatu al-Din.

According to history, Al-Raniri lived in Aceh for seven years (1637-1644) as a pious, mufti, and prolific writer who opposed the existential doctrine (Manunggaling Kawula Gusti) which he believed to be heretical. This understanding refers to the two previous figures, namely the Sufism thoughts of Hamzah Fansuri and Syamsuddin Sumatrani. Al-Raniri on behalf of a group that understands Ahlussunah wal Jama'ah and on behalf of pure Sufism rejects Fansuri and Sumatrani Sufism which he views as deviant and infidel Sufism.

Al-Raniri declared that the false teachings taught by Fansuri and Sumatrani and their followers were legally apostates, it was lawful to fight if they did not repent and return to the right path. In addition, books or works by Fansuri and Sumatrani were burned in front of the Baiturrahman Mosque, and their loyal followers were hunted down and killed, including the Sultan's own siblings. The anti-Fansuri and anti-Sumatran campaigns were massive at that time, and few of their followers survived.

This fact raises the perception that the title of mujaddid in Al-Raniri, if we agree with that title, is accompanied by "political sacrifices" in the form of many casualties. Al-Raniri has become a "mastermind" in cases of disbelief to groups who do not share his beliefs. Ironically, as a scholar who should be able to be controlled by his scientific blessings, he actually becomes the "main role" in the book burning.

Hamka's Case

Al-Raniri's thoughts and ideology later continued to flow, reproduced and inspired generations after him, even today, although perhaps in different contexts.

Just to mention another example, the ulema who was in line with Al-Raniri, struggled with fatwa matters, and in the end justified heresy and even burned books was Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (HAMKA).

Hamka's character is widely known as a literary figure, great writer, religious person (ulama), and even a politician, who also served as the first Chairman of the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) in 1977. different, he also displays a paradoxical side with his scholarly predicate.