Building Civilization Through Libraries: The Role of Baitul Hikmah in Education During the Abbasid Era
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37812/fikroh.v18i3.2157Keywords:
Baitul Hikmah; Islamic Education; Abbasid Era; Knowledge Integration; Character FormationAbstract
This study explores the role of Baitul Hikmah (House of Wisdom) as a pioneering educational institution during the Abbasid era and its relevance to contemporary Islamic education. The research examines how Baitul Hikmah functioned beyond a mere library or translation center, serving as a hub for scientific discourse, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the integration of religious and rational sciences. Using a qualitative library research method, this study analyzes classical and modern scholarly sources to reconstruct the educational structure, curriculum, and epistemological paradigm of Baitul Hikmah. Departing from previous studies that primarily focus on its historical function as a translation center, this research offers a new contribution by dissecting the internal mechanisms of education, including its dynamic curricular structures and interactive pedagogical methodologies. The findings reveal that the institution embodied an inclusive and integrative educational model combining theology, philosophy, and empirical sciences supported by a meritocratic system that valued intellectual excellence regardless of religious background. The study concludes that the Baitul Hikmah model remains relevant for modern Islamic education through its holistic approach, ethical scholarship, and balance between faith and reason. Its educational philosophy provides a foundation for developing a curriculum that integrates religious values, scientific inquiry, and moral responsibility, serving as a model for addressing contemporary challenges such as disinformation, radicalism, and the crisis of scientific ethics.
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