MENGUNGKAP NILAI-NILAI MODERASI ISLAM MELALUI SEJARAH ZAMAN KEEMASAN ISLAM: ISLAMIC GOLDEN AGE

Abstract

The Islamic Golden Age, particularly during the Abbasid Dynasty, was marked by the advancement of science and knowledge through translation, the exchange of knowledge, interfaith and intercultural collaboration, and the support of various scholarly institutions. However, studies on Islamic moderation and studies on the development of science and knowledge during that period still tend to proceed separately. This study aims to identify and analyze the manifestations of Islamic values of moderation in the production and transmission of knowledge during the Abbasid period and to explain the relationship between moderation and the development of Islamic civilization. The study employs a qualitative approach using a narrative literature review method to analyze eight scholarly articles discussing the translation movement, interfaith collaboration, scholarly institutions, the transmission of knowledge, and the values of wasatiyyah. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, which involved the stages of in-depth reading, coding, cross-source comparison, and narrative synthesis. The research findings indicate that Islamic moderation can be understood as a civilizational practice with three main dimensions: epistemic moderation through a critical and transformative openness toward various traditions of knowledge; socio-religious moderation through collaboration between Muslim and non-Muslim scholars; and institutional moderation through patronage, libraries, hospitals, scholarly assemblies, and educational networks. These three dimensions contributed to shaping a knowledge ecosystem that supported the production, exchange, and development of scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, the practice of moderation during the Abbasid period continued to unfold within a context of social hierarchy, competition, conflict, and dependence on political power. Thus, Islamic moderation can be understood not only as an individual attitude but also as a civilizational practice that allows for the productive management of diverse knowledge and actors to support the advancement of science and the sustainability of intellectual traditions.