Alumni Address: Habib Ja’far Urges UIN Jakarta Alumni to Restore Expertise to Its True Nature

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Online News — Young preacher Habib Ja’far called on UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta alumni to restore expertise in knowledge to its inherent nature. According to him, one of the biggest challenges faced by alumni today is the phenomenon of the “death of expertise.”

Habib Ja’far conveyed this in his alumni address at the Open Senate Session for the 136th Undergraduate, Master's, and Doctoral Graduation Ceremony on the second day, Sunday (25/05/2025). “The death of expertise is a major disaster for this country, for this religion, and for civilization,” he stressed.

He explained that the death of expertise is a major challenge in the current era. Many public figures or prominent individuals, he said, express opinions without a scientific basis appropriate to the fields they should master. In fact, many professors who are academically proven are not listened to or even ridiculed, simply because they hold views different from the majority, especially on social media.

Therefore, according to him, the primary and first task of UIN Jakarta alumni is to restore expertise and scholarship to their essential place and function.

“It is forbidden for UIN Jakarta alumni to speak on matters not in accordance with their knowledge,” he stated.

He then invited all alumni to refer back to the message of the Qur’an, Surah An-Nahl verse 43: “And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know.”

According to him, the essence of this message is the importance of asking those who possess remembrance (dhikr)—namely those who not only know but also practice their knowledge. He emphasized that UIN Jakarta alumni are also obligated to speak out, correct, and refute anyone who conveys something not in accordance with their knowledge, as long as we possess knowledge on that matter.

On the same occasion, Habib Ja’far also expressed his pride in graduating from the Faculty of Ushuluddin at UIN Jakarta. In this faculty, the popular preacher completed his undergraduate studies in Aqidah and Philosophy and his Master's in Qur'anic Exegesis.

Currently, he is actively preaching, conveying philosophical ideas, Islamic concepts, and issues relevant to young people. His influence is quite significant, with many young public figures appreciating his lectures.

Habib Jafar said that his current success is inseparable from the knowledge he gained from his teachers in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), up to his university studies at UIN Jakarta. UIN Jakarta, according to him, has taught him to think philosophically and logically, and has shaped his perspective to be able to adapt to the development of times and spaces.

“I am, haqqul yaqin (with absolute certainty), that many people who call me successful, it is not solely because of myself, but because of my parents, my teachers, and the lecturers, the academic community at UIN Jakarta who are part of it,” he explained.

Furthermore, he conveyed that UIN Jakarta has produced many influential figures in various fields of life. Therefore, he reminded the graduates that after this procession, their journey in the world of scholarship is not over. Instead, a new struggle will begin, and challenges like the death of expertise must be faced with high integrity and scholarly responsibility.

(Aida Adha S./Fauziah M./Noeni Indah S./Photo: PIH)