Auditorium Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS: The Graduate School of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta held the 2783rd Thesis Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, on Friday, August 22, 2025 with candidate Tanzila Feby Nur Aini.

Tanzila is a student of the Master of Islamic Studies study program with a concentration in Islamic Studies. Tanzila wrote a thesis entitled "Ecophilosophical Studies of the Thought of Ikhwān al-Ṣafā': An Ontological, Epistemological, and Axiological Review".

This thesis presents a powerful and compelling argument: that the thought of the Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ, an anonymous group of philosophers and scientists from the 10th century, was able to offer a significant alternative paradigm for building ecological consciousness based on Islamic values.

This study uses Gadamer's philosophical approach and hermeneutic methods to analyze the three main pillars of Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ thought, namely ontological, epistemological, and axiological. Through an in-depth study of the primary source, the book Rasā'il Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ, Tanzila managed to identify how the group's holistic worldview could be the foundation for a strong environmental ethics.

Ontologically, this thesis highlights how the Brotherhood of al-Ṣafāʾ views the cosmos as a hierarchically structured spiritual entity, in which God is the source of all beings. The key concept revealed is that nature is not just an inanimate object, but a living entity that has a universal soul and is closely connected to man and the Creator. This view is fundamentally different from the modern view which often reduces nature to a mere material commodity.

Furthermore, from an epistemological aspect, this thesis reveals that the Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ rejects the separation between rational, empirical, narration, and revelational knowledge. Instead, they combine all these sources of knowledge to understand reality in its entirety. This directly rejects the modernist argument about the mechanization of nature rooted in a materialistic view, which has become one of the main causes of the current environmental crisis.

The axiological aspect, or values, is the fulcrum of this thesis in offering solutions. The thought of Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ  is loaded with ecological values that emphasize the importance of harmony, justice, and compassion for all beings. Awareness of the reciprocal relationship between humans, nature, and God is the foundation for developing an ethics of behavior that is responsible for the environment.

Tanzila's thesis not only stands alone, but also corroborates the findings of previous researchers. He supports the argument of Abdullah Darraz (2014) who sees the cosmology of the Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ as an alternative paradigm in the midst of an ecological crisis. In addition, this study also agrees with the findings of Sarra Tlili (2014) which shows the sharp criticism of Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ against anthropocentrism, which is a view that places humans at the center of everything.

This thesis is an important contribution to the treasures of Islamic scholarship, complementing previous studies that have examined the political aspects (Media Zainul Bahri, 2004), art (Muwafiq, 2016), and science (Renanda Ardi, 2024) of the Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ. With its focus on ecological discourse, this thesis succeeds in demonstrating the relevance and depth of Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ thought in the face of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. It is a reminder that solutions for the future may be found by re-digging into the wisdom of the past.

Tanzila Feby Nur Aini successfully defended her thesis under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Rd. Mulyadhi Kartanegara, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA, Prof. Dr. Rd. Mulyadhi Kartanegara, Prof. Dr. Bambang Irawan, M.Ag and Dr. Kholid Al Walid, M.Ag.

After paying attention to the thesis writing, the comments of the examiner team and the candidate's answers, the examiner team determined that Feby Tanzila Nur Aini graduated with the predicate of Laude. Tanzila Feby Nur Aini is the 2783rd master in the field of Islamic Studies, in the master's program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (JA)