Hidden Treasures from Aceh
For a long time, people in various parts of the world indirectly applied mathematics to their daily activities. For example, in Banda Aceh, people have long been building mosques, markets, housing, schools, printing rice fields, digging drains, etc. which involve knowledge of size, space and shape.
From the story of history we know the expertise of some of the citizens of this city in making cannons that require precise calculations and magnitude. Similarly, blacksmiths, carpenters, stone carvers, gold and silver jewelry craftsmen always pay attention to the accuracy and balance of their products. Also weaving mats and various webbing, embroidery, kasab and various handicrafts that always wrestle with symmetrical motives.
In addition to activities with objects in the form of objects, various social and cultural activities also involve mathematics. For example, trade always counts, both in conventional and sharia economics. Agriculture requires knowledge of seasons and units of measure. The dance performs regular movements following a pattern. Even special worship, namely prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj are loaded with mathematics because it involves calculating direction, time, number, and magnitude. Mathematics has a special place for Muslims, because it matches the character of Islamic thinking about oneness and abstraction. For Muslims, mathematics is not considered secular, but is a tool to achieve the world of knowledge based on perceived things (Mohamed, 2000).
These examples are lived with full understanding, appreciation, skills and expertise. This positive view is actually what is needed in mathematics, in contrast to the general view of society about the word mathematics which is often considered only in school, formal, difficult, rigid, stored in books that have no meaning and benefit.
Mathematical function
Furthermore, mathematics is judged to only play a role in education, especially only needs to be studied in order to pass the exam. Whereas without realizing it, our activities are always in contact with mathematics, and we are also quite mastered in various methods. Often mathematics is also connoted with the speed of counting numbers, like a calculator. In fact, the speed of the calculation of numbers is not a top priority in mathematics, but rather on understanding various phenomena.
Experts give different views on the meaning of mathematics, but all these meanings actually expand the notion of science itself. Some experts interpret mathematics as a science of space, magnitude, structure, and change. The Muslim philosopher Ibn Khaldun viewed mathematics and logic as material to support understanding Islam.
By utilizing the uniqueness of its culture and conditions, the mathematical creativity of the young generation of Banda Aceh can be raised in two directions, namely the re-extracting of the history of science that has been embedded, and the wisdom in studying the natural conditions of the city. These two things aim to create innovation, which requires the ability and mastery of basic mathematics.
Higher education institutions have been established in Banda Aceh since the beginning of the 16th century, when Sultan Ali Mughayatsyah (1511-1530) led the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam by establishing Jami'al-Bayt al-Rahman (Baiturrahman University) as soon as he became king. At least 3 of the 17 faculties are related to mathematics, namely Daar al-Hisaab, Daar al-Aqli, and Daar Khazaanah Bait al-Maal.
In the manuscript entitled Kitab Tazkirat al-Tabaqat Qanun Syara 'Kingdom of Aceh by Sheikh Syamsulbahri, the obligation of the Acehnese people was declared a royal tree or the basis of government, consisting of 21 chapters. Chapter 4 states that the obligation of the Acehnese people is to teach and learn to become goldsmiths, copper cleverbathers and flower carvings. Chapter 14 mentions teaching wood and stone carvings with writing and flowers using sand, clay, brick, cough, and coating (Alfian, 2005).
Ethnomathematics is a study that studies the elements of mathematics built by certain communities based on their local culture and thinking. Various benefits can be obtained from the activities of developing ethnomathematics fields, specifically the appreciation, preservation, and development of the cultural objects under study (Ismail, 2014).
Ethnomatics study
The city of Banda Aceh as the capital of Aceh Province has a unique and interesting cultural wealth, with the involvement of mathematical elements in it. Thus, the ethnomatics study has the potential to be developed in Banda Aceh by exploring the treasures of science stored in Aceh manuscripts from the past.
As regional residents based on Islamic law, the young generation of the city of Banda Aceh can deepen their knowledge of sharia principles in various fields of development such as religion, politics, law, social and economics. Mathematics plays an important role in describing problems in these fields, for example Islamic financial mathematics problems including banks, cooperatives, insurance, taxes.
Here the principles are used without interest (usury), mid-level profit (wustha), and tolerance. The problem of inheritance division (fara'idh) refers to the Koran (QS. An-Nisa: 7, 11, 12, and 176) which are loaded with fractions and require mathematical abilities about numbers and their combinations. This problem can also refer to manuscripts in the knowledge of Aceh's history that have achieved glory in the economic and legal fields.
Mathematical studies in carving patterns, literature, traditional Acehnese agriculture can also be developed. Likewise with traditional houses that are beautiful and resistant to disasters, so that their architecture and local wisdom can be maintained.
The natural condition of Banda Aceh, which was split by Krueng Aceh and had two estuaries to the Malacca Strait which encircled a part of the city, a low plain surrounded by surrounding mountains, invited the young generation to study and maintain the city environment. Disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis require mathematical abilities to understand them. Coastal wave mathematical modeling and disaster evacuation are needed to understand the coastal environment so that it can be managed in the right way.
Disaster mitigation is needed such as mathematical modeling for mangroves and various animals there, which has always been a coastal safeguard as a local wisdom of the community, which now needs to be encouraged again. Historical relics in the form of artifacts that have been buried in the soil, need to be mapping with radar technology so that the layout can be known, so that it can be further investigated.
* Dr. Salmawaty Arif, M.Sc., Staf Pengajar Jurusan Matematika FMIPA Universitas Syiah Kuala (Unsyiah) Banda Aceh. Email: salmawaty@unsyiah.ac.id
Artikel ini telah tayang di serambinews.com dengan judul Khazanah Matematika, http://aceh.tribunnews.com/2017/10/14/khazanah-matematika?page=all.
Editor: bakri
From the story of history we know the expertise of some of the citizens of this city in making cannons that require precise calculations and magnitude. Similarly, blacksmiths, carpenters, stone carvers, gold and silver jewelry craftsmen always pay attention to the accuracy and balance of their products. Also weaving mats and various webbing, embroidery, kasab and various handicrafts that always wrestle with symmetrical motives.
In addition to activities with objects in the form of objects, various social and cultural activities also involve mathematics. For example, trade always counts, both in conventional and sharia economics. Agriculture requires knowledge of seasons and units of measure. The dance performs regular movements following a pattern. Even special worship, namely prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj are loaded with mathematics because it involves calculating direction, time, number, and magnitude. Mathematics has a special place for Muslims, because it matches the character of Islamic thinking about oneness and abstraction. For Muslims, mathematics is not considered secular, but is a tool to achieve the world of knowledge based on perceived things (Mohamed, 2000).
These examples are lived with full understanding, appreciation, skills and expertise. This positive view is actually what is needed in mathematics, in contrast to the general view of society about the word mathematics which is often considered only in school, formal, difficult, rigid, stored in books that have no meaning and benefit.
Mathematical function
Furthermore, mathematics is judged to only play a role in education, especially only needs to be studied in order to pass the exam. Whereas without realizing it, our activities are always in contact with mathematics, and we are also quite mastered in various methods. Often mathematics is also connoted with the speed of counting numbers, like a calculator. In fact, the speed of the calculation of numbers is not a top priority in mathematics, but rather on understanding various phenomena.
Experts give different views on the meaning of mathematics, but all these meanings actually expand the notion of science itself. Some experts interpret mathematics as a science of space, magnitude, structure, and change. The Muslim philosopher Ibn Khaldun viewed mathematics and logic as material to support understanding Islam.
By utilizing the uniqueness of its culture and conditions, the mathematical creativity of the young generation of Banda Aceh can be raised in two directions, namely the re-extracting of the history of science that has been embedded, and the wisdom in studying the natural conditions of the city. These two things aim to create innovation, which requires the ability and mastery of basic mathematics.
Higher education institutions have been established in Banda Aceh since the beginning of the 16th century, when Sultan Ali Mughayatsyah (1511-1530) led the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam by establishing Jami'al-Bayt al-Rahman (Baiturrahman University) as soon as he became king. At least 3 of the 17 faculties are related to mathematics, namely Daar al-Hisaab, Daar al-Aqli, and Daar Khazaanah Bait al-Maal.
In the manuscript entitled Kitab Tazkirat al-Tabaqat Qanun Syara 'Kingdom of Aceh by Sheikh Syamsulbahri, the obligation of the Acehnese people was declared a royal tree or the basis of government, consisting of 21 chapters. Chapter 4 states that the obligation of the Acehnese people is to teach and learn to become goldsmiths, copper cleverbathers and flower carvings. Chapter 14 mentions teaching wood and stone carvings with writing and flowers using sand, clay, brick, cough, and coating (Alfian, 2005).
Ethnomathematics is a study that studies the elements of mathematics built by certain communities based on their local culture and thinking. Various benefits can be obtained from the activities of developing ethnomathematics fields, specifically the appreciation, preservation, and development of the cultural objects under study (Ismail, 2014).
Ethnomatics study
The city of Banda Aceh as the capital of Aceh Province has a unique and interesting cultural wealth, with the involvement of mathematical elements in it. Thus, the ethnomatics study has the potential to be developed in Banda Aceh by exploring the treasures of science stored in Aceh manuscripts from the past.
As regional residents based on Islamic law, the young generation of the city of Banda Aceh can deepen their knowledge of sharia principles in various fields of development such as religion, politics, law, social and economics. Mathematics plays an important role in describing problems in these fields, for example Islamic financial mathematics problems including banks, cooperatives, insurance, taxes.
Here the principles are used without interest (usury), mid-level profit (wustha), and tolerance. The problem of inheritance division (fara'idh) refers to the Koran (QS. An-Nisa: 7, 11, 12, and 176) which are loaded with fractions and require mathematical abilities about numbers and their combinations. This problem can also refer to manuscripts in the knowledge of Aceh's history that have achieved glory in the economic and legal fields.
Mathematical studies in carving patterns, literature, traditional Acehnese agriculture can also be developed. Likewise with traditional houses that are beautiful and resistant to disasters, so that their architecture and local wisdom can be maintained.
The natural condition of Banda Aceh, which was split by Krueng Aceh and had two estuaries to the Malacca Strait which encircled a part of the city, a low plain surrounded by surrounding mountains, invited the young generation to study and maintain the city environment. Disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis require mathematical abilities to understand them. Coastal wave mathematical modeling and disaster evacuation are needed to understand the coastal environment so that it can be managed in the right way.
Disaster mitigation is needed such as mathematical modeling for mangroves and various animals there, which has always been a coastal safeguard as a local wisdom of the community, which now needs to be encouraged again. Historical relics in the form of artifacts that have been buried in the soil, need to be mapping with radar technology so that the layout can be known, so that it can be further investigated.
* Dr. Salmawaty Arif, M.Sc., Staf Pengajar Jurusan Matematika FMIPA Universitas Syiah Kuala (Unsyiah) Banda Aceh. Email: salmawaty@unsyiah.ac.id
Artikel ini telah tayang di serambinews.com dengan judul Khazanah Matematika, http://aceh.tribunnews.com/2017/10/14/khazanah-matematika?page=all.
Editor: bakri
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