Darulmaarif.net – Indramayu, 18 August 2025 | 08.00 WIB
There is a paradox that always haunts human civilization: On the one hand, we build knowledge with full dedication; On the other hand, we also often destroy it. Books, as a symbol of the accumulation of science and wisdom, repeatedly become a victim of the lust of power, ideological hatred, to blinding fanaticism.
Today, when the world is filled with unlimited information, we seem to forget that access to knowledge is not always as easy as clicking on the device screen. From Alexandria Library BurningThe destruction of the works of Muslim scientists in Andalusia, to digital sensors in the modern era, history shows that the destruction of books is not just loss of paper and ink, but rather Destruction of the Collective Memories of Humanity.
Why is the book always targeted?
Fernando Báez in his work The book destroys from time to time Revealing how books are considered a threat by authoritarian rulers. Books store ideas, and ideas are dangerous for those who want to maintain absolute power.
Historical Records:
- Emperor Qin Shi Huang (3rd century BC) ordered the burning of the classical text of Confucianism in China because it was considered to interfere with its authority.
- Alexandria LibraryOne of the largest centers of knowledge of the ancient world, was destroyed – a tragedy which until now was considered an eternal wound in intellectual history.
- Time Spanish InquisitionThousands of Arabic manuscripts in Granada were burned to break the heritage of Islamic science in Europe.
- In the 20th century, Nazi Germany Systematically burning books that are considered “not appropriate” with their ideology, including the work of Jewish philosophers, Marxist, and other progressive literature.
In each of these events, we see the same pattern: the destruction of books is the destruction of identity, memory, and alternative ways of thinking.
The main reason behind the destruction of the book
French philosopher, Michel Foucaultonce stated that knowledge and power were interrelated. Those in power determine which knowledge can survive and which must be destroyed. In other words, the destruction of books is not only a physical matter, but also a matter Epistemic Hegemony– Entrepreneurship manages the way people understand the world.
Meanwhile, Hannah Arendt emphasizes that totalitarianism always tries to erase the plurality of ideas. Books, which record freedom of thought, are considered threats. In this context, the destruction of the book is destruction of diversity of reason.
His Majesty Prophet Muhammad also alluded to the importance of caring for knowledge by writing as a memory artifact of civilization. In the hadith, the Prophet asserted:
And for the authority of Abdullah bin Amr, he said: I said: o God’s messenger, did I write what I heard from you? He said: Yes, and wrote, and he in his hand is what he came out except the truth
Meaning: “From Abdullah bin Amr, he said:” I asked, Rosululloh, can I write what I heard from you? “He said:” Yes, write! For the sake of my soul in his hand, he did not come out of him except the truth. “(HR.
In the Book of Al-Qurthubi Al-‘alaq Al-‘alaq Verse 96 explained:
The Almighty person says: “He taught pen” means calligraphy and writing; That is, the science of lines with pen. And Saeed tells the authority of Qatada, who said: The pen is a blessing from God Almighty is great. He shows the perfection of generosity, glory for him, that he is the knowledge of the servants unless they know, and move them from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge, and warns about the virtues of writing science, because of the great benefits that are not surrounded by him except. And what is written by science, or limiting decisions, is also not news from the first two and their articles, or the books of God are not written except by writing; If it wasn’t for religious problems and the world would not be straightened out. And my name is a pen because he dreams; That is, cut, and pruning of nails.
Meaning: “The Word of Allah Ta’ala: “People who teach (humans) with pen ‘ That means writing and character; That is, God teaches people to write with a pen. Sa’id tells from Qatadah, he said: “Pen is a great blessing from Allah Ta’ala. If there is no pen, surely religion will not be upright, and life will not go well.”
This shows the perfection of the mercy of Allah Subḥānahu wa Ta’ālā, because he has taught his servants what they previously did not know, and moved them from the darkness of ignorance towards the light of science. Allah also pays attention to the virtue of writing, because in it there are many great benefits that cannot be counted except by Him.
Without writing, the sciences will not be documented, wisdom will not be maintained, the news of the previous person and their words will not be conveyed, and the books of Allah that are revealed will not be written. So without writing, religious affairs and the world will not be upright.
That’s named Qolam (pen) because of him Boy; i.e. cut (the end). This is where the term Taqlīm al -ẓufr (cutting nails) originating. (Tafsir Al-Qurthubi Online Surat al-‘alaq verse 96, accessed on 17/08/2025, 20.41 WIB)
If the verse “Who teaches pen” and Abdullah bin Amr’s hadith above confirms the importance of writing to maintain knowledge, “Books that destroy from time to time” shows the dark side of history: that the knowledge that has been written is not always safe, even often a victim of systematic destruction. From the burning of the Alexandria library in the ancient Greece era, to the destruction of thousands of Andalusian manuscripts in Granada, all reflects how power often tries to break the collective memory of humans by destroying writing.
In an Islamic perspective, writing a hadith and maintaining literacy is part of the divine mandate, so that the light of knowledge does not go out by the ignorance or intentions of the wrongdoing human. So, the destruction of the book is not just a physical event, but a spiritual and intellectual tragedy that violates the message of Allah: Moving humans from the darkness of ignorance towards the light of knowledge. Herein lies its relevance: Muslims must inherit the spirit of Rosululloh SAW in maintaining knowledge with writing, as well as aware of the real threat of the loss of manuscripts, archives, or books, as recorded in the long history of human civilization.
Relevance to today’s human problems
In the digital age, we might no longer see books burning fire in the square. But “burning“In a new form it continues to occur:
- Digital sensor In various countries limit access to critical information.
- Disinformation On social media that damage the quality of public knowledge.
- Commercialization of knowledgeWhere access to knowledge can only be obtained by those who have privileges.
Thus, the main problem of humanity is no longer just a physical destruction of books, but rather destruction of critical reasoning. When people prefer quick information rather than in -depth understanding, we are dealing with a form of destruction of more subtle but no less dangerous.
Inclusive reasoning as a way out
Build Inclusive reasoning means reviving the spirit of openness towards ideas. He demands us not to be afraid of differences, but rather use it as a dialogue material. Because, as said Socrates“Life that is not examined is a life that is not feasible to live.”
Today, the biggest challenge of humans not only keeps the book intact, but also maintaining common sense and mind openness so as not to be destroyed by the flow of fanaticism and collective ignorance.
The destruction of books from time to time teaches us that humans can lose their own memories if they close the door to the diversity of ideas. This is where we are required to care for knowledge, not only by storing books, but by presenting inclusive reasoning that enlivens dialogue and diversity.
Because in the end, destroying books is to destroy humans; While caring for knowledge is to care for the future of humanity itself.
What do you think, is the current digital era even more dangerous for knowledge than the past?
Hope it is useful. Wallohu a’lam.
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