Integration of Sufi Epistemology and Adherence to the Sharia: A Model for Mainstreaming the Moderation of Islamization at Madrasah Tarbiyah Islamiyah, Indonesia

Abstrak

This study aims to examine the integration of Sufi epistemology and adherence to sharia as a model for mainstreaming Islamic moderation through educational institutions, specifically at  Pondok Pesantren Madrasah Tarbiyah Islamiyah (MTI) Candung, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This is a descriptive qualitative study utilizing an intrinsic case study design. Data collection employed observations, documentation, and interviews. The findings indicate that the integration between Sufi epistemology and adherence to sharia was conducted through a staged curriculum involving the study of taṣawwuf texts, such as Akhlāq li al-Banīn, Murāqī al-‘Ubūdiyyah, Minhāj al-‘Ābidīn, and al-Ḥikam. These texts are integrated with compliance to sharia through the study of Shāfi‘iyyah fiqh literature. This integrative process is reinforced by a hidden curriculum consisting of strengthening worship practices, fostering social ethics, and promoting the synergy between religious teachings and local culture, which includes ziarah (pilgrimage to graves), khidmah al-mujtama‘ (community service), and participation in communal events. The key to successful integration lies in the application of the Sufi principle of al-iṣlāḥ (reform/reconciliation) to build an Islamic paradigm of tawāsuṭ (moderation) and tasāmuḥ (tolerance), which ultimately shapes the perspectives of students (santri) to be non-extremist, moderate, and respectful of local customs without compromising sharia standards. This research contributes an Islamic educational model focused on balancing spiritual depth (iḥsān) with ritual adherence (īmān and islām).