Now when I hold the smartphone, I hold the Qur’an. I then tested the smartphone’s smarts by asking through a search engine: “God tests believers?” The smartphone answered in the blink of an eye by displaying successively: Surah Al-Baqarah verse 249, Ali Imran verse 166, and Al-Ma’idah verse 94. Allah says: “And what happened to you when there was a meeting (battle) between the two armies was by Allah’s permission, and that Allah might test those (true) believers.” (Ali ‘Imran verse 166).
Human civilization on earth stretches from Prophet Adam AS to Prophet Muhammad SAW until today. In 2021, the world population will be around 7,854,965,732. In a long period, perhaps hundreds of centuries, human civilization experienced ups and downs. In each prophetic period, mankind experienced different tests. In the millennial century, we, the human race, have received a fairly severe test from our creation-humans themselves, namely smart robots. It might be good to realize that there is currently a contestation between humans versus smart robots, which is summarized in a contemporary academic debate, anthropocentrism versus info centrism.
Subtly, slowly, humans are alienated from one another. In the family, fathers, mothers, and children are busy with their respective gadgets, interacting intently with something or someone or a group of people far away. Gadgets keep the near and bring the far ones closer. Man can be alienated from society, alienated from his family, alienated from himself. When humans have lost their spiritual awareness and social spirit, they are very similar to the smart robot. Thus, is it true that humans who have resembled robots can be replaced with smart robots?
In this context, it seems no exaggeration that pesantren is one, if not the only, answer key in responding to today’s challenges. In pesantren, Kiai educates and teaches students about science and etiquette, monotheism, morals, and fiqh, hopefully in the not too distant future, as well as technology.
Wa Allah a’lam bi al-Shawab.