NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL ERA: A STUDY OF SCIENTIFIC TRIHLAH IN THE MUSLIM INTELLECTUAL TRADITION

Abstract

One of the traditions in studying is known as rihlah 'ilmiyah. This paper will discuss the definition of scientific rihlah and the factors that encourage its development, the practice of scientific rihlah by presenting several samples of scholars both from outside and within the archipelago, and the role of scientific rihlah in the intellectual world. Scientific rihlah is defined as any journey that aims to gain knowledge, find a good place to study, find a more authoritative teacher, or also the journey of a scientist to various places, whether formally conducting academic activities or not. The practice of scientific rihlah is motivated by religious orders, the spread of scholars, extraordinary assistance and facilities from the government, and so on. Some samples of scholars who conducted scientific rihlah include Ibn 'Arabi, Ibn Bathuthah, while scholars from the archipelago are Muhammad Yusuf Al-Maqassari, 'Abd Al-Ra'uf Al-Sinkil and Nur Al-Din Ar-Raniri. The function of scientific rihlah in the intellectual world, namely: as an effort to find a good teacher, as a way to broaden horizons, as a mode of spreading knowledge, as a knitter of the unity of Islamic civilization.