Understanding the History of Islamic Civilization

There have been many results from ancient times to the present regarding Islamic culture that is constantly developing, for example in the history of the life of the Prophet Muhammad, who has spread Islam in this world. We meet many personalities whose whole lives were devoted to the religion of Allah, and he is known as a person who thought a lot and thought about society seriously, with the firmness and strength of his personality, the Prophet changed the thoughts, customs and morals of the Arab people . He turns a rude person into a civilized one.

The word history in Arabic is called date, which according to the language means the stipulation of the period. While according to the term means "information that has happened among them in the past or in the past. Whereas the following understanding gives historical meaning as a record relating to past events which are enshrined in written reports and in a broad scope, and the subject matter of historical issues will always be full of important experiences concerning the development of the whole condition of society. . Therefore, according to Sayid Quthub "History is not events, but the interpretation of these events, and the understanding of real and unreal relationships, which interweave all parts and give it the dynamism of time and place".

Departing from the understanding of history as stated above, Islamic civilization is a translation of the Arabic word al-Hadharah al-Islamiyah. This Arabic word is often translated into Indonesian with Islamic culture. "Culture" in Arabic is al-Tsaqafah. In Indonesia, as in Arab and Western countries, there are still many people who synonymize the two words "culture" and "civilization". Culture is a form of expression about the deep spirit of a society.

Whereas the manifestations of mechanical and technological progress are more related to civilization. If culture is more reflected in art, literature, religion and morals, then civilization is reflected in politics, economics and technology. According to Koentjaraningrat, culture has at least three forms.

Ideal form, namely the form of culture as a complex of ideas, ideas, values, norms, regulations and others.

The form of behavior, namely the form of culture as a complex patterned behavioral activity of humans in society.

The form of objects, namely the form of culture as objects of work. While the term civilization is usually used for the parts and elements of a refined and beautiful culture.

In the definition of civilization, what is meant here is Islam which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought the Arab nation which was originally backward, ignorant, unknown, and ignored by other nations, to become a developed nation, and rapidly developing the world, fostering a single culture. and civilization which is very important in human history until now.