Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS:  The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held a Studium Generale event and the launch of the book "Tarekat Sammaniyyah in Indonesia: Transmission, Diversification, and Transformation" by Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, on Monday, August 4, 2025. The event which took place at the Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta was opened by the speaker, Desty Eka Putri Sari, a student of SPs UIN Jakarta, who guided the smooth running of the event. This event was also attended by SPs Leaders, lecturers, as well as master's and doctoral students from UIN Jakarta.

The Studium Generale presented two main speakers, namely, Prof. Arif Zamhari, M.Ag, Ph.D, Professor of Sociology of Religion from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and Tommy Christomy, SSA, Ph.D, Lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences from the University of Indonesia. This event was hosted by Risa Alivia, a student of the UIN Jakarta Graduate School who acted as the moderator.

This book by Prof. Zulkifli presents an in-depth and comprehensive analysis. Using the perspective  of traveling theory, this book explores the long journey of the Sammaniyyah Order. In his explanation, Prof. Zulkifli said that this institute not only moves from one place to another, but also evolves.

He explained how the Sammaniyyah Order started in Medina, then spread to Indonesia. This journey does not run in a straight line, but rather creates various new centers and branches in the country. From here, various unique variants emerged, which differed from the original in Medina.

Prof. Zulkifli explained that in each of these variants, there is a significant transformation. This order not only became a spiritual practice, but also transformed into a social movement. This transformation includes jihad, political, and cultural movements.

This transformation is a logical consequence of the long journey of the order. This order stops, develops, runs again, and transforms according to the local context. As a result, the products of this transformation are often different, not even in their original form when they first appeared in Medina.

This dynamic shows that the journey and development of the tarekat is always contextual. The order cannot be separated from the social, political, and religious conditions of a particular place and time. This is what makes the journey of the Sammaniyyah Order from Medina to Indonesia so rich and full of twists.

Prof. Arif Zamhari in his presentation, provided an in-depth analysis from the perspective of the sociology of religion. He reviewed how the Sammaniyyah Tarekat interacts with the social and religious dynamics in Indonesia, as well as how this tarekat has successfully adapted and developed in the midst of a diverse society. This view provides a new understanding of the role of the tarekat in shaping the social and spiritual identity of its followers.

Meanwhile, Tommy Christomy brings a different perspective, namely from a cultural perspective. He explained how the Sammaniyyah Tarekat is not only a religious entity, but also an integral part of the nation's cultural heritage. Tommy explores how the teachings, rituals, and practices of this institute are intertwined with local traditions, creating a unique and interesting form of syncretism to study further.

The enthusiasm of the participants was evident throughout the event. They actively ask questions and interact with the speakers. This very interesting discussion showed how important the topic raised by Prof. Zulkifli was.

This event is not only a place to launch a book, but also a valuable intellectual forum. This opens up new insights into how a religious teaching can adapt and transform over time and space, and proves the importance of historical and sociological research in understanding the dynamics of religion in Indonesia. (JA)