PROBING ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON SUFISM AND TAREKAT

This study sought to examine the perspectives of students’ master program in Islamic religious education towards Sufism and Tarekat (Sufi orders). Specifically, the analysis focuses on their beliefs regarding the influence of foreign practices on Sufism and their explanations of the controversial doctrines associated with Tarekat. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study deployed eight respondents who demonstrated high proficiency in the Sufism course. The research employed documentation studies and in-depth interviews as primary techniques. Before and after the Sufism course, respondents underwent assessments to gauge their attitudes towards the central tenets of Sufism and Tarekat. Results of this study indicated significant shifts in viewpoints, with the majority initially holding opposing perspectives that evolved positively after the course. Many graduates embraced Tarekat under the guidance of a Murshîd (spiritual guide) and accepted doctrines such as dhikr-tarekat, talqin-dhikr, ma'rifat, and wahdat al-wujûd. Consequently, Sufism lectures were found to have a constructive impact on fostering religious moderation among students, countering the negative narrative propagated by the Salafi campaign against Sufism and Tarekat. The findings suggest the importance of delivering Sufism lectures in master's program for Islamic religious education, emphasizing an objective approach due to their effectiveness in shaping graduate students' attitudes towards Tarekat