Sumatra Floods: UIN Jakarta and Kemenag RI Hold Charity Concert with Wali

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Online News — The Directorate of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenag RI), in collaboration with Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, organized the “Donasi Peduli Sumatra” (Sumatra Care Donation) event together with the Indonesian music group Wali at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Friday (12 December 2025).

The event was attended by the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. K.H. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A.; the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D.; the Advisor to the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hj. Dra. Helmi Halimatul Udhma; the Director General of Islamic Community Guidance (Bimas Islam), Prof. Dr. H. Abu Rokhmad, M.Ag.; the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development, H. Arsyad Hidayat, Lc., M.A.; as well as expert staff members, interfaith leaders, and members of the academic community of UIN Jakarta.

In his welcoming remarks, the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Religious Affairs for entrusting UIN Jakarta as the host institution for this humanitarian initiative. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting disaster recovery efforts.

“This is an important momentum to build collective awareness. UIN Jakarta has deployed volunteers from several student activity units, including UKM Ranita, Arkadia, PMI, and the Student Regiment (Menwa), to disaster-affected areas in West Sumatra. The donations collected through this event are highly relevant to meeting the basic needs of our brothers and sisters,” the Rector stated.

In a similar vein, the Director General of Bimas Islam, Prof. Abu Rokhmad, emphasized that the activity was not merely ceremonial. “This disaster is a test of faith as well as a moment to demonstrate our humanitarian values. Our presence here today represents a concrete expression of ethical conduct (adab) and social concern to help alleviate the burden faced by communities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra,” he asserted.

Speaking to the media after the event, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. K.H. Nasaruddin Umar, outlined the Ministry’s strategic post-disaster measures. He stressed that disaster management efforts should not focus solely on immediate impacts but also consider the long-term future of younger generations and religious facilities.

“It is important for us to think rationally about the future of the next generation so that they do not lose their prospects. At present, we have begun collecting data on the extent of the damage, including the number of mosques and houses of worship that require revitalization, as well as the number of casualties,” the Minister explained.

Furthermore, the Minister expressed particular concern for students originating from Sumatra who are currently pursuing their education on the island of Java. He confirmed that the ministry is preparing assistance schemes to ensure that their education is not disrupted due to the impact of the disaster on their families in their hometowns.

“We are currently identifying the number of students in Java, including those in East Java and Central Java, who have been affected. We will seek to issue further announcements regarding scholarship assistance or tuition relief so that they may continue their studies,” the Minister added.

As part of the fundraising efforts, the renowned Indonesian music group Wali contributed by auctioning two personal helmets belonging to its members, which were sold for IDR 15 million and IDR 55 million, respectively, totaling IDR 70 million. The proceeds of the auction were channeled through the Ministry of Religious Affairs to disaster-affected areas in Sumatra to support both physical and non-physical recovery processes.

The event concluded on a high note with a performance by Wali, who performed several of their popular songs, including “Yank,” “Cari Berkah,” and “Nenekku Pahlawanku.” The performance served as a fitting conclusion, uniting the audience in a shared spirit of solidarity and compassion to rise together with communities in Sumatra.

In addition, the Social Trust Fund (STF) of UIN Jakarta has opened a donation channel accessible via https://www.stfuinjakarta.org/. Any contribution, regardless of its amount, will meaningfully support humanitarian efforts and assist communities affected by the disaster.

(Mu’ainun Mubin / Zaenal M. / Syandana Mazna Aisyah / Photo: Rajif Ramadhan)