Traditionalist and Modernist Islamic Thought at IAIN North Sumatra, 1973-2014

This historical research explores the intellectual contestation between traditionalist and modernist Islamic thought at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) of North Sumatra from 1973 to 2014. Using historical methods heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography this study collects data through literature review, interviews, and archival research. The study reveals that traditionalist thought, rooted in Ashʿari theology and Shāfiʿī jurisprudence, dominated in the early decades, while the modernist wave emerged through lecturers educated in Jakarta and abroad who introduced rationalist, contextual, and pluralist Islamic approaches. The coexistence of both currents shaped the academic and theological discourse at IAIN North Sumatra. This research contributes to understanding the intellectual development of Islamic higher education in Indonesia.