Ulama, Madrasah, and Religious Sciences during Colonial Period: The History of Maktab Islamiyah Tapanuli (1918-1942)

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of the Maktab Islamiyah Tapanuli in preserving Islamic scholarly traditions, responding to colonialism, and contributing to the formation of the religious and intellectual identity of Muslim communities. This research employs a historical approach using document studies and content analysis techniques to explore the development of the Maktab Islamiyah Tapanuli and its contributions to Islamic education and intellectual traditions during the Dutch colonial period. The article presents findings that MIT, established in 1918 by the Mandailing community in Medan, reflects the dynamics of social change through independent religious education. According to Anthony Giddens' theory of social change, MIT functioned as an agent of change, where the community created an educational system aligned with social identity and religious values without colonial government interference. Changes in educational levels and teaching methods demonstrate adaptations to modernization and the interaction between tradition and reform. With a curriculum encompassing various religious sciences, MIT reinforced the community’s role in preserving traditions, developing Islamic scholars, and improving social welfare.