The Intellectual Tradition of the Malay World in the Land of Kalimantan: The Sufism Endeavor of Sheikh Muhammad Nafis Al-Banjary

Abstract

This study aims to dissect the construction of the tasawuf thought of Sheikh Muhammad Nafis Al-Banjari as the main pillar of the intellectual tradition of the Malay World in the Land of Kalimantan. Thus far, the discourse on Islamic civilization in the archipelago often positions the upstream region of Kalimantan merely as a peripheral area, whereas this region has proven capable of producing a world class masterpiece of divine philosophy. This research employs a qualitative library study approach utilizing the lens of intellectual history analysis. The primary source analyzed is the manuscript of Ad Durrun Nafis, alongside various supporting secondary literature, through a series of stages including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation of meaning, and historiography. The research results prove that Sheikh Muhammad Nafis successfully bridged the depth of esoteric knowledge and obedience to the sharia comprehensively, without any deviant physical amalgamation. The achievement of the degree of a perfect human, or insan kamil, is formulated systematically through the spiritual ascent of fana and baqa, as well as tracing the origins of the creation of the universe through the seven levels of martabat tanazzul. A comparative study also reveals a highly robust intersection of thought with Sheikh Abdussomad al Falimbani, confirming the existence of a network of archipelago scholars who agreed to formulate a uniform spiritual curriculum. Furthermore, this teaching does not at all direct the community to isolate themselves from the world, but rather educates humans to possess grounded superior character traits, ranging from the purity of creed, physical resilience, intellectual brilliance, to economic independence. In conclusion, the tasawuf thought inherited from Sheikh Muhammad Nafis Al-Banjari is not merely a discourse of inner mysticism, but a blueprint for character building education of civilization that is highly relevant for curing the moral crisis of humanity in the modern era.