[ABBASID ULAMA-UMARA’ COLLABORATION AND THE FOUNDATION OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION’S KNOWLEDGE TRADITION] KERJASAMA ULAMA DAN UMARA PADA ERA ABBASIYYAH: ASAS PEMBENTUKAN TRADISI KEILMUAN DALAM TAMADUN ISLAM

Abstract

Abstract

The development of knowledge in Islamic civilization reached its peak during the Abbasid era as a result of strategic collaboration between the ulama and the umara’. This article specifically analyses the forms, driving factors, and implications of this collaboration in shaping the Islamic intellectual tradition. Unlike previous studies that examine Abbasid scientific development primarily through translation movements or individual scholars, this article conceptualises ulama-umara’ collaboration as a civilizational mechanism that integrated political authority and epistemic authority. It introduces a power-knowledge synergy framework to explain how knowledge was legitimised, institutionalised, and transformed into continuous scientific innovation. The study focuses on the positive attitude of the rulers towards knowledge, translation activities, the establishment of scientific institutions, the roles of individuals and wealthy patrons, as well as economic and linguistic factors that supported the growth of knowledge. The analysis shows that collaboration between the ulama and the umara’ in the Abbasid era was not merely a relationship between religion and politics, but constituted a civilizational structure that integrated epistemic authority with governing authority. This synergy enabled the systematic, critical, and innovative development of knowledge, culminating in an Islamic scientific tradition that exerted a significant influence on the history of world civilization.

Keywords: Abbasid; Islamic Science; Knowledge Institutions; Ulama; Umara’

Abstrak

Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dalam tamadun Islam mencapai kemuncaknya pada era Abbasiyah hasil daripada kerjasama strategik antara ulama dan umara. Artikel ini menganalisis secara khusus bentuk, faktor pendorong dan implikasi kerjasama tersebut dalam pembentukan tradisi keilmuan Islam. Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada sikap positif pemerintah terhadap ilmu, aktiviti penterjemahan, penubuhan institusi keilmuan, peranan individu serta para dermawan, di samping faktor ekonomi dan bahasa yang menyokong perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan. Analisis menunjukkan bahawa kerjasama antara ulama dan umara pada era Abbasiyah bukan sekadar hubungan antara agama dan politik, sebaliknya merupakan suatu struktur ketamadunan yang mengintegrasikan autoriti epistemik dengan autoriti pemerintahan. Sinergi ini telah membolehkan perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan berlangsung secara sistematik, kritis dan inovatif, seterusnya melahirkan tradisi keilmuan Islam yang memberikan pengaruh besar terhadap sejarah tamadun dunia.

Kata kunci: Abbasiyah; Sains Islam; Institusi Keilmuan; Ulama; Umara