Al-'Arabiyyah Lil Funnun Festival, FITK UIN Jakarta Strengthens Arabic Promotion on Social Media

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN News Online – In a vibrant effort to promote the Arabic language in the digital age, UIN Jakarta successfully held the Al-'Arabiyyah Lil Funnun festival on Monday (14/10/2024) at the Harun Nasution Auditorium. This event, themed Community Building: Creative Strategies to Ground and Popularize Arabic in Social Media, was organized in collaboration with the Arabic Language Education Student Association from the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Sciences (FITK). It brought together 63 educational institutions from across Indonesia.

Representing the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation, Prof. Ali Munhanif, M.A., Ph.D., emphasized the strategic importance of cultural and language festivals like this, especially in preparing students to compete globally.

“Festivals that celebrate both culture and language, like Al-'Arabiyyah Lil Funnun, are crucial as we prepare UIN Jakarta students to excel on the international stage,” Prof. Ali stated.

The event also saw the presence of FITK Dean, Prof. Siti Nurul Adzkiyah, M.Sc., Ph.D., alongside Mukhson Nawawi, M.A., Head of the Arabic Language Education Study Program. They praised the participants for their dedication and highlighted that the competition was not merely about winning, but about sharpening skills that will enhance Arabic language education in Indonesia.

During the Inspiring Speech session, Member of the House of Representatives, Rina Saadah, Lc., M.Si., highlighted the vital role Arabic plays in international politics and diplomacy, especially in fostering relations between Indonesia and Middle Eastern countries. She emphasized that mastering Arabic goes beyond communication—it is a gateway to career opportunities in diplomacy and global affairs.

“Arabic is more than just a language; it’s a tool for building diplomatic ties and advancing in international political careers,” she remarked.

In a similar vein, Dr. Abd Basir, S.Pd.I., M.Pd.I., a Junior Expert Policy Analyst from the Directorate General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, commended the participants for their dedication to mastering Arabic, encouraging them to continue developing their linguistic skills to better serve the nation.

The Al-'Arabiyyah Lil Funnun 2024 festival featured a variety of competitions celebrating Arabic, including Khitobah (speech), Calligraphy, Yellow Book Reading, Debates, Quizzes, Poetry, and News Reading. These competitions were designed to foster a deeper love for the Arabic language while strengthening networks within the Arabic-speaking community in Indonesia.

Beyond the competitions, the event was animated by an Arabic Culture-themed carnival, showcasing the creativity of students from across academic levels. One of the standout segments was the Educational Talk Show, featuring notable speakers such as Hayfa Academy Co-Founder, Tobroni Muhammad Syafi'i, S.IP., and Smiling Teacher and Content Creator, Lucuflix (Bachrul Alam, S.Pd.), who shared insights on using social media as a platform to popularize Arabic among the younger generation.

The festival's overarching goal was to enhance students' Arabic proficiency, boost their confidence, and prepare them for future careers. Additionally, Al-'Arabiyyah Lil Funnun 2024 aimed to strengthen UIN Jakarta’s reputation in the international arena, promoting Arabic language and culture on a larger scale, in line with the university’s mission to produce globally competitive graduates.

This event, organized by the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Sciences, is expected to further solidify UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta’s role as a leader in Arabic language education and cultural promotion.  (Press Release of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Keguruan Sciences UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)