AL-GHAZALI^S EDUCATIONAL MEDIA ON THE CONCEPT OF QALB (HEART) IN SUFISM
Suwito

IAIN Purwokerto

Abstract

This study aimed to explore and discuss the educational media used by Al-Ghazali (d. 1111 AD) relevant to essential concepts in Sufism. This study focused on describing the idea of qalb (Heart) used by al-Ghazali. The role of the qalb in Sufism is very urgent in human life and for every Muslim. Because of this, Al-Ghazali has been very intense in describing this complex concept in the long discussion in his book. The explanation of qalb is fascinating and unique because al-Ghazali has managed to break down complex concepts into simple ones using the media he used. There are at least four media used to explain the miracle of the existence and the role of qalb in humans, namely 1) cities and their apparatus, 2) mirrors, 3) fortresses, and 4) lakes. The data of this study were collected by a literature study, especially in the book Ihya ^Ulum al-Din Part III, and Bidayat al-Hidayah. The collected data were then read through Learning Media Theory, namely Dale^s Cone of Experiences Theory. The results of the research showed that al-Ghazali used the media to convey Sufism concepts, such as 1) media objects familiar to people living in the 12th century (such as mirrors, fortresses, and lakes), 2 ) environmental media such as the environment of the community and the role of the apparatus. The media used by al-Ghazali can stimulate a detailed mental image from the lowest to the highest levels of ability, namely imagination (al-quwwah al-khayaliyah), estimation (al-quwwah al-wahmiyah), and thinking (aqliyah), which in Bruner^s term is called symbolic, iconic, and enactive.

Keywords: Sufism, qalb, al-Gahazali, Islam, media

Topic: Religious Studies