Contextualizing Thought of Islamic Modernist Towards Islamic Education in Indonesia

Clash of civilizations between Islam and the West is a reality that can not be avoided. For several centuries, the Islamic world has been experiencing pressure of Western imperialism which then causes deterioration in various fields. Islamic education is recognized by many Muslim scholars and thinkers as one of the best alternative to restore the glory of the Muslims. Besides functioning as a process to improve the quality of human life, Best practice of Islamic education will also prepare a new generation for better future. This study reveals the influence of modernist thought leaders in improving the system of Islamic education in Indonesia. By using a historical approach, the author attempts to analyze thought of modernist leaders as a critisism and improvement towards traditional Islamic systems which tends to be out of date. The advancement of technology should motivate Muslim awareness not fixated on the traditional education systems when returing to the comprehensive of Islamic concept, then there is no dichotomy between sciences and Islamic education systems. The objectives that need to be addressed in this study is the process of implementation of the thought modernist leaders when linked to the reality of Indonesian Muslim nowadays