The Role of Ulama in Building Islamic Civilization during the Abbasid Dynasty A Study of Scientific Contributions

Pisdoni Mardianto

Authors

Pisdoni Mardianto Universitas Islam Negeri Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar Author

Keywords:

Abbasid Dynasty, Islamic Civilization, Ulama

Abstract

The intellectual and scientific flourishing of Islamic civilization during the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE) has long been acknowledged, yet the multidimensional role of ulama in this advancement remains underexplored. This study addresses the limited understanding of how ulama contributed not only to religious orthodoxy but also to the development of rational and empirical sciences. The main objective of this research is to critically examine the scholarly contributions of ulama during the Abbasid period and their central role in shaping classical Islamic civilization. Employing a qualitative library research approach with a historical-critical perspective, data were obtained through the analysis of classical manuscripts and contemporary scholarly works related to the Abbasid era, prominent ulama, and Islamic civilization. The study reveals that ulama were key intellectual agents who bridged religious knowledge with rational sciences, significantly influencing fields such as medicine, astronomy, philosophy, and literature. Their integration of sacred and secular knowledge established a unique epistemological model that propelled the Islamic world to the height of its civilizational glory. This research offers a fresh theoretical contribution by highlighting the overlooked integrative role of ulama and provides practical implications for contemporary Islamic scholarship, especially in restoring a balanced approach to knowledge. While limited to textual analysis, this study opens opportunities for future empirical research on the enduring influence of Abbasid scholarship in modern Muslim societies

References

Achmadi, H. A. (2021a). Sejarah kebudayaan Islam Madrasah Aliyah kelas XI. Bumi Aksara.

Achmadi, H. A. (2021b). Sejarah kebudayaan Islam Madrasah Aliyah kelas XI. Bumi Aksara.

Akmal, A. N., Maelasari, N., & Lusiana, L. (2025). Pemahaman Deep Learning dalam Pendidikan: Analisis Literatur melalui Metode Systematic Literature Review (SLR). JIIP-Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 8(3), 3229–3236. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v8i3.7442

Al Fahmi, F. F., Ulfa, N., Pujiastuti, R., Pauji, A., & Purnama, M. P. (2025). Sejarah keemasan Islam: Dinasti Abbasiyah dan kontribusinya. Maulana Atsani: Jurnal Pendidikan Multidisipliner, 1(3), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.51806/30cevq06

Amalia, A. R. (2022). Sejarah Peradaban Islam: Perkembangan Ilmu Pengetahuan pada Masa Pemerintahan Diinasti Bani Abbasiyah. Rihlah: Jurnal Sejarah Dan Kebudayaan, 10(01), 53–64. https://doi.org/10.24252/rihlah.v10i01.38405

Bustomi, B., Ismail, I., Ismail, F., & Zuhdiyah, Z. (2025). Pola Gerakan Intelektual Islam Klasik. Jurnal Multidisiplin Dehasen (MUDE), 4(3), 387–394. https://doi.org/10.37676/mude.v4i3.8881

Darusti, F., Syamsuddin, S., & Usman, U. (2023). Kemunduran Pendidikan Islam Abad Pertengahan: Daulah Abbasiyah Dan Daulah Umayyah. SETYAKI: Jurnal Studi Keagamaan Islam, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.59966/setyaki.v1i2.276

Farikhah, I., Astutik, Y., & Ashari, M. Y. (2024). Perkembangan Pendidikan Masa Daulah Abbasiyah. Ats-Tsaqofi: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Manajemen Islam, 6(1), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.61181/ats-tsaqofi.v6i1.387

Farozdaq, A. T., & Alindra, B. M. (2024). Komparasi Sejarah Pendidikan Agama Islam Era Bani Umayyah dan Abbasiyah: Urgensinya pada Pembelajaran Saat ini. Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 14(2), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.15642/jkpi.2024.14.2.207-217

Fitria, R. P. W. (2024). Dinamika Hubungan Islām Dan Peradaban Modern Dalam Pearadigma Alternative Modernities. Mawaizh: Jurnal Dakwah dan Pengembangan Sosial Kemanusiaan, 15(1), 53–83. https://doi.org/10.32923/maw.v15i1.4086

Hazim, M., Firmansyah, H., Zuhri, M. T., & Munawaroh, N. (2025). PEMIKIRAN DAN PERADABAN ISLAM DINASTI UMAYYAH DAN ABBASIYAH: KAJIAN HISTORIS DAN RELEVANSI WARISAN INTELEKTUAL DAN PERADABAN ISLAM DALAM DUNIA KONTEMPORER. AL-MUADDIB: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Kependidikan, 7(2), 629–642. https://doi.org/10.46773/muaddib.v7i2.1794

Hidayah, U. (2023). Islamisasi Integrasi Interkoneksi Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Agama Islam: Model Keilmuan di Perguruan Tinggi Islam. Al-Muaddib: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Kependidikan, 5(2), 306–320. https://doi.org/10.46773/muaddib.v5i2.897

Husaini, A. (2020). Filsafat Ilmu: Perspektif Barat & Islam. Gema Insani.

Irawan, D., & Putra, R. S. (2022). Integrasi Ilmu Pengetahuan: Kajian Interdisipliner, Multidisipliner dan Transdisipliner Ilmu Pendidikan Islam Kontemporer. Attaqwa: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 18(1), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.54069/attaqwa.v18i1.96

Kosasih, A. (2024). Epistemosufi: Rahasia Ilmu Dalam Pandangan Sultanul-Auliya Al-Jailani: Epistemosufi: Rahasia Ilmu Dalam Pandangan Sultanul-Auliya Al-Jailani. Kabuyutan, 3(2), 129–135. https://doi.org/10.61296/kabuyutan.v3i2.258

Nurjuman, I., Anggraeni, U. S., Fachrurozi, M. I., Hasyudi, I., Zuhri, M. T., & Munawaroh, N. (2025). DINAMIKA PERADABAN DAN PEMIKIRAN ISLAM PADA MASA DINASTI UMAYYAH DAN ABBASIYAH: SUATU KAJIAN HISTORIS-FILOSOFIS. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(02), 370–380. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v10i02.24995

Pertiwi, G. R., & Nirmayuni, D. (2024). Tinjauan Kritis Peradaban Islam Pada Masa Bani Abbasiyah. QOSIM: Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial & Humaniora, 2(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.61104/jq.v2i1.297

Rahman, A., & Nurjannah, M. A. (2025). SEJARAH PEMIKIRAN PENDIDIKAN ISLAM. Greenbook Publisher.

Suryadi, A. (2024). Filsafat Pendidikan Islam: Perspektif Tradisional dan Kontemporer. CV Jejak (Jejak Publisher).

Zaitun, A. (2024). Pengaruh Dinasti Abbasiyah Terhadap Kemajuan Peradaban Islam. Asas Wa Tandhim: Jurnal Hukum, Pendidikan Dan Sosial Keagamaan, 3(2), 113–124. https://doi.org/10.47200/awtjhpsa.v3i2.2362