From Ice Seller to Professor: UIN Jakarta Inaugurates Prof. Kholid Al-Walid
Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Online News—The Open Senate Session of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially inaugurated Prof. Dr. KH. Kholid Al-Walid, M.Ag., as Professor in the field of Islamic Philosophy. This highest academic achievement marked an extraordinary turning point in the life of Kholid, who in his youth once worked as an ice seller and public minibus conductor to help support his family. The inauguration took place at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).
His academic journey began at IAIN Raden Fatah Palembang, where he graduated in 1995 with the distinction of Best Undergraduate Thesis. Prof. Kholid’s perseverance led him to pursue advanced Islamic studies (Hauzah Ilmiyah) in Qom, Iran, before earning his doctoral degree from UIN Jakarta with summa cum laude honors in 2008.
Throughout his career, he has been widely recognized for his productivity, authoring at least 23 books and dozens of national and international journal articles that have enriched the discourse of Islamic philosophy in Indonesia. He currently serves as a lecturer in Islamic philosophy at the Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Jakarta, and has been entrusted as Chair of the Association of Islamic Creed and Philosophy (AAFI) since 2022.
His extensive intellectual experience, both domestically and internationally, is reflected in his current scholarly vision. In his inaugural lecture entitled “Reconstructing the Epistemology of Tawhid in the Humanities and Modern Sciences,” he proposed a framework aimed at bridging the divide between Islamic sciences, the humanities, and modern science.
“The use of the epistemology of Tawhid is an effort to bridge the gap between Islamic sciences, the humanities, and modern science. We need a mode of reasoning that integrates intellect and intuition so that our religious attitudes do not become dogmatic and rigid,” he stated.
This highest academic honor was achieved through remarkable perseverance, as he once lived as an ice seller, a public minibus conductor, and a newspaper vendor at various mosques to finance his education.
He dedicated this achievement especially to his mother, as a tribute to the family’s struggles during difficult times.
“Mother, your child stands here today. You are the one most deserving of this honor. You carried all the suffering; may the blessing of this honor heal every wound in your heart,” he said emotionally.
He also delivered a powerful message to the younger generation, emphasizing that economic background should never be a barrier to achieving one’s dreams.
“That ice seller is now me. Never give up, never stop. The future is worth fighting for. Success does not belong only to certain people, the wealthy, or those with privileges. Success belongs to those who are willing to struggle for it,” he asserted.
The inauguration was attended by various national figures as well as representatives from the International Al-Mustafa University.
The full inaugural lecture can be watched at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/rMhZXzVNBaU?si=OnP1iY--nU6BaAtx.
(Amanda Fathiyah A./Zaenal M./Syandana Mazna Aisyah)