The Tree, the Compass, and the Mirror: Toward a Sacred Philosophy of History in Sarawak
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33736/jbk.9602.2025Keywords:
Sacred Philosophy of History, Tawhidic Epistemology, Sarawak Political Memory, Contemplative History, Post-Truth CrisisAbstract
This article proposes a sacred philosophy of history grounded in Sarawak’s political memory, symbols, and contemplative traditions. In an age of post-truth, where knowledge is often reduced to emotion, spectacle, and data, there is an urgent need to recover meaning in how history is studied, remembered and shared. Guided by Tawhidic Epistemology, this paper reimagines history not merely as a record of events, but as a field of signs and responsibilities that connect human life to higher truths. Through the metaphors of the tree (rooted memory), the compass (sacred tradition), and the mirror (collective reflection), it draws on the works of Sarawakian historians such as Sanib Said, Suffian Mansor, and Adibah Yusuf to show that a contemplative, spiritually grounded approach to history already exists within local traditions. The proposal resonates with the metaphysical insights of Muhammad Umar Faruque and responds to Jason Stanley’s critique of political knowledge in the post-truth era. By calling for a reintegration of the humanities and social sciences with science and technology, the article suggests that Sarawak’s unique historical consciousness may offer a path toward restoring meaning, dignity, and balance in education, leadership, and global civilizational discourse.
Abstrak:
Makalah ini mengusulkan satu falsafah sejarah yang bersifat sakral, berakar dalam ingatan politik, lambang-lambang budaya, dan tradisi kontemplatif Sarawak. Dalam zaman pasca-kebenaran, apabila ilmu semakin dikurangkan kepada emosi, tontonan dan data semata-mata, keperluan untuk memulihkan makna dalam cara sejarah dikaji, diingati dan dikongsi menjadi sangat mendesak. Berpandukan Epistemologi Tauhidik, makalah ini menafsirkan semula sejarah bukan sekadar sebagai catatan peristiwa, tetapi sebagai medan tanda dan tanggungjawab yang menghubungkan kehidupan manusia dengan kebenaran yang lebih tinggi. Melalui tiga metafora yakni pokok (ingatan yang berakar), kompas (arah suci), dan cermin (pantulan kolektif), penulisan ini merujuk kepada karya tokoh-tokoh sejarah Sarawak seperti Sanib Said, Suffian Mansor, dan Adibah Yusuf untuk menunjukkan bahawa pendekatan sejarah yang kontemplatif dan berteraskan kerohanian sudah pun wujud dalam tradisi tempatan. Cadangan ini sejalan dengan pandangan metafizik Muhammad Umar Faruque dan memberikan respons terhadap analisis Jason Stanley berkenaan krisis ilmu dalam era pasca-kebenaran. Dengan menyeru agar bidang kemanusiaan dan sains sosial digabungkan semula bersama sains dan teknologi, makalah ini mencadangkan bahawa kesedaran sejarah Sarawak yang unik mampu membuka jalan ke arah pemulihan makna, maruah dan keseimbangan dalam pendidikan, kepemimpinan, dan wacana peradaban global.
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