Copyright © 2023 The Author(s): This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
*Corresponding author: Arif Fahtur Rohman
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ISRG Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (ISRGJAHSS)
ISRG PUBLISHERS
Abbreviated Key Title: ISRG J Arts Humanit Soc Sci
ISSN 2583-7672 (Online)
Journal homepage: https://isrgpublishers.com/isrgjahss
Volume -1 Issue-1V (July-August) 2023
Frequency: Bimonthly
ILMU FALAK : THE INTEGRATION OF ASTRONOMY AND ISLAM
( IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARADIGM OF UNITY OF SIENCE)
Arif Fahtur Rohman
UIN Walisongo Semarang
| Received: 07.07.2023 | Accepted: 19.07.2023 | Published: 21.07.2023
*Corresponding author: Arif Fahtur Rohman
UIN Walisongo Semarang
Introduction
Ilmu falak is still not very familiar to the ears of most Indonesian
people, if it is called that way. But if pronounced with other
synonyms; "astronomy", I'm sure some of us will immediately
understand the terminology of the science. Why is that? In our
opinion, because astronomy is a very rare branch of science.
Unlike mathematics, for example, which is taught in almost all
schools and at all levels of education. In addition, the
characteristics of Indonesian’s falak which are identical with
"Islamic boarding schools"
1
and "ancient Islam" increasingly make
this science "haunted" for some people, even for Muslims
themselves.
1
The history of the entry of ilmu falak cannot be separated from
the network of Ulama and Pesantren Indonesia, who at that time
studied a lot in the Arabic. Like Muhammad Manshur al-Batawi, it
turned out that his monumental book "Sulam an-Nayyirain" came
from the results of his studies while in Arabic. Look at Ahmad
Izzuddin, Analisis Kritis Hisab Awal Bulan Qomariyyah dalam
Kitab Sullamun Nayyirain (Semarang: Skripsi Fakultas Syariah
IAIN Walisongo Semarang, 1997).
Astronomy actually has a fate that is not much different from ilmu
falak. This branch of science, because it is so difficult, does not
really have room for interest by the Indonesian people. But at least,
if people are asked about astronomy then they will immediately
imagine about everything that is beyond Earth, for example; Sun,
Moon, Stars, Asteroids, Comets, even Aliens. Because astronomy
is synonymous with things like that in the minds and heads of our
society. Falak does not have this kind of thing. Never mind
imagining, hearing the phrase "ilmu falak" alone is not common in
the ears.
Ilmu Falak and astronomy, from a linguistic point of view, are the
same thing. If we look at the Arabic-Indonesian translation, falak is
a translation of the word astronomy itself.
2
But epitymologically,
falak comes from Arabic which means; The orbit or orbit of a
2
Look at online dictionary Mu'jam al-Ma'āni and google translate.
'Ilm al-falak is translated as the science of astronomy.
Abstract
This study examines the phenomenon of ilmu falak which is often considered different from astronomy. In fact, if we examine
further, both are the same science. The narrowing of definitions occurred between the two, along with the long history of the two
sciences. Until then, today's definition narrows the terminology of ilmu falak as practical astronomy that is used to help the needs
of Muslims in worship. Then the polemic occurred when ilmu falak was entered as a major taught at several Islamic universities in
Indonesia. Is the application a "tragedy" dichotomy of science, or is it the opposite, an effort to implement the paradigm of the
unity of science itself? Based on the literary method using a phenomenological descriptive approach and a unitary science
paradigm approach, the results of the study show that ilmu falak and astronomy are actually the same scientific unit. The
narrowing of the definition of astronomy occurs, because of the long history of science. And ilmu falak approach as a major/course
at several Islamic universities in Indonesia, is an implementation of the paradigm of integration of science itself, namely between
astronomy and Islamic jurisprudence.
Keywords: Ilmu Falak, Astronomy, Integration, Science, Paradigm