UMSU Lecturer Teaches Astrolabe at SMA Sains Plus and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tj. Morawa
Medan, Lecturers of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) taught Astrolabe (Astronomical Instruments) at SMA Sains Plus and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tanjung Morawa, Saturday (5/6/21).
This activity is a Community Partnership Program (PKM) funded by UMSU and chaired by Dr. Hasriyan Rudi Setiawan, M.Pd.I and Dr. Arwin Juli Rakhmadi Butar-Butar, MA.
The “Utilization of Astrolabe Instruments in Falak Science Subjects” activity occurred while still implementing the COVID-19 health protocol.
Hasriyan Rudi Setiawan said that in its implementation, students were given explanations related to the history, functions, and uses of Astrolabe, and students were also given Astrolabe prototypes so that students could directly practice the tool.
“As for the focus of study in this activity is the use of astrolabe in calculating prayer times,” said Hasriyan Rudi Setiawan in his written statement, Sunday night (6/6/21).
The SMA Sains Plus and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tanjung Morawa welcomed this program because it is in line with one of the school’s goals, which is to produce a generation that masters science through the treasures of Islamic thought and civilization.
Hasriyan explained that Astrolabe is a science that examines the procedures for knowing the position of the stars more efficiently and accurately, including the altitude, sunrise-sunset, the Qibla zenith, and the latitude of the place.
He revealed that Ibrahim al-Fazzari was the first Muslim to make an astrolabe astronomical tool (d. ± 180/796). Al-Bīrūnī (d. 440/1048) was also recorded to have used a mechanical astrolabe to determine the lunar-solar calendar.
“Al-Bīrūnī has a monumental work on this tool entitled “Istī’āb al-Wujūh al-Mumkinah fī San’ah al-Usthurlāb,” said Hasriyan.
Heru Mataviani, Head of the Science Institute of Science Plus High School and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tanjung Morawa, in her remarks, said that learning about Astrolabe is very important, even mandatory for students to learn.
According to Heru Mataviani, the use of Astrolabe has developed since the Islamic civilization (Middle Ages), whose use extends to the interests and uses related to worship such as determining prayer times, Qibla directions, and others.
“Moreover, SMA Sains Plus and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tanjung Morawa teach Falak Science, which is included in the curriculum, so this PKM is very suitable and helps students understand Falak Science more deeply through the use of astronomical instruments,” Heru said.
At the end of the activity, Hasriyan Rudi Setiawan symbolically gave the Astrolabe prototype to the Head of SMA Sains Plus and Tahfidz Qur’an Al-Ammar Tanjung Morawa, Fauziah, with the hope that this activity can continue and can continue to work together. **
