UIN Jakarta Inaugurates Prof. M. Yakub as Professor of Islamic History and Civilization
Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Online News—The Open Senate Session for the Inauguration of Professors at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially conferred the title of Professor in the field of Islamic History and Civilization upon Prof. Dr. H. M. Yakub, M.A., following the issuance of a Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (KMA). The event was attended by the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., and the Chair of the UIN Jakarta Senate, Prof. Dr. KH. Dede Rosyada, M.A., along with members of the university leadership, and was held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).
A professor and lecturer at the Faculty of Da‘wah and Communication (FDIKOM), Prof. Yakub began his higher education at the Faculty of Da‘wah and Communication, IAIN North Sumatra, graduating in 1998. He later completed his master’s degree at the same institution in 2004 and earned his doctoral degree from UIN Jakarta in 2010.
His long academic track record became the main foundation of his inaugural lecture. In his address entitled “Spiritual Ecology, History, and Islamic Civilization: Reconstructing the Path Home for Humanity and the Universe,” he explored ideas related to spiritual ecology, particularly within the context of Islamic spirituality in Indonesia, with a specific focus on perspectives offered by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
Prof. Yakub’s career journey began from modest roles. He once served as a teaching assistant at IAIN North Sumatra until 1992, then became a permanent lecturer at the Faculty of Da‘wah and Communication, IAIN North Sumatra, from 1994 to 2017. He also held various academic leadership positions, including Secretary of the Islamic Broadcasting Communication (KPI) Study Program, Head of the Quality Assurance Unit, and Vice Dean for Academic and Institutional Affairs. In 2018, he decided to continue his academic service at UIN Jakarta, where he remains active today.
In the social sphere, Prof. Yakub has been actively involved as a member of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Da‘wah Commission for the 2020–2025 period, a member of the Association of Islamic Broadcasting Communication Study Programs (ASKOPIS) since 2025, and a member of the Indonesian Lecturers Association since 2006. Amid his busy schedule, he frequently engages directly with the community by delivering religious lectures at mosques and majlis taklim.
Challenges and Struggles Toward Professorship
The journey toward attaining the rank of professor was not easy for Prof. Yakub. In a special interview following the inauguration, he revealed several major challenges, particularly related to the requirement to publish in reputable international journals. According to him, publication in Scopus-indexed journals often requires substantial financial resources to ensure timely publication.
“The main obstacle for colleagues who lack sufficient funds is publication in Scopus-indexed journals. Yet again, God is Most Gracious. An academic who relies solely on a salary may find it difficult, but God opens other sources of sustenance when we serve the people and society,” he said gratefully.
Scholarly Works and Intellectual Contributions
As an intellectual, Prof. Yakub has authored several books as well as journal articles published both offline and online. His published books include Historiography of Informal Historians: A Review of the Works of Joesoef Sou’yb; Humanist Da‘wah; Essays on Islamic Historiography: From Classical to Modern; History of Islamic Civilization: An Analysis of Key Events Across Historical Moments; Interpreting Disasters: Essays on Religion, Environment, Socio-Politics, and COVID-19; Da‘wah in Building Civilization; Dynamics of Da‘wah Institutional Thought; Media Literacy as the Key to Community Empowerment; Introduction to Islamic Studies: Selected Thematic Topics; and Islam and Public Relations.
His published articles and journals include Qur’anic Character Leadership in the Course of Islamic History (2014), Key Aspects in Historical Writing (A Review of the Historical Works of Joesoef Sou’yb) (2011), Themes of Early Islamic Historiography, Historiography in Perspective (From Conventional to Modern) (2012), Qur’anic Character Leadership in the Course of Islamic History (2014), and Islam and Social Solidarity: The Development of Islamic Society in the Medina Period (2019).
Message to Students: Consistency and Passion
As an educator, Prof. Yakub shared specific advice for students and young lecturers who aspire to follow a similar path. The key, he emphasized, is to avoid complacency and maintain academic consistency.
“For undergraduate students, never feel satisfied too quickly. Aspire to continue your studies to the master’s and ultimately doctoral levels. Start focusing early on where your passion lies. Do not let your academic path become a zigzag,” he concluded.
Prof. Yakub’s success is inseparable from the support of his beloved family—his wife, Dra. Nurlely, and their three children: Mhd Habib Akbar, Mhd Hafiz Zuhdi, and Zuwina. For him, family harmony is the primary source of energy that drives his continued dedication to serving religion and the nation.
The full inaugural lecture at the Open Senate Session of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/rMhZXzVNBaU?si=OnP1iY--nU6BaAtx
(Mu’ainun Mubin/Zaenal M./Syandana Mazna Aisyah)