UIN Jakarta's 10th International Conference Emphasizes Islam's Role in Building Peace
FDI Building, UIN News Online- Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah (FDI) UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta successfully held an International Conference, the 10th International Dirasat Islamiyah Conference (IDIC), entitled “Daur al-Islām fī al-Hurriyah wa al-Salām wa al-Hadhārah,” (The Role of Islam in Freedom, Peace and Civilization) which took place on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The conference, which was opened solemnly through the recitation of the Holy Quran and joint prayers, presented a number of expert speakers, academics, and practitioners from various countries.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah, Dr. Yuli Yasin, M.A. expressed his appreciation and welcome to all invited guests, both those who attended directly at the event location and those who joined through online platforms. "Welcome and join this international academic forum. Hopefully this will be our moment to improve research collaboration and quality education," he said.
During the opening, Dr. Yuli Yasin revealed the history of the establishment of the Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah as a result of strategic cooperation between UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. From the beginning, this faculty was designed to adopt the curriculum of Al-Azhar University, both in terms of course structure and scientific approach. “The majority of lecturers in this faculty are Al-Azhar graduates, and all lectures are delivered in Arabic,” he said.
The Dean also expressed his gratitude to the Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Prof. Dr. Asep Saepudin Jahar for the full support given in organizing this event. Gratitude was also expressed to the entire organizing committee for the hard work and dedication that has been given so that this conference can be held well, smoothly, and meaningfully.
The event was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Ahmad Tholabi Kharlie, who in his speech said that this conference is an important moment in the university's academic and research journey. He emphasized that UIN Jakarta is always committed to being a living space for scientific dialog and a fertile ground for serious research.
"We believe that knowledge exchange is the main way to build a shared future based on mutual understanding, peace, and sustainable development," he said.
The professor of the Faculty of Sharia highlighted the importance of returning to the true values taught by Islam, which is a religion of mercy, justice, and respect for human dignity. He stressed that freedom, including freedom of religion and thought, is a central principle in Islam, which is affirmed in the Qur'an and practiced in the history of Islamic civilization.
Furthermore, he stated that Islam is not just a spiritual religion, but also a source of great civilization that upholds science, justice, and openness to diversity. "The Islamic civilization that once stretched from Andalusia to Samarkand has played a major role in developing science and philosophy that influence the world to this day," he said.
The conference was attended by participants from a number of countries, both offline and online, showing high enthusiasm for the issues raised. In addition to enriching academic insights, this activity is also expected to become a forum for international collaboration in the future. Among the keynote speakers were Prof. Dr. Abdullah Sarhan from Al-Azhar University Cairo, Prof. Dr. Amani Lubis from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Mubarak Saif Hadi al-Hajiri from Kuwait University, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mahmud Gamal from Qatar University, Dr. Faraj al-Shiddiq Ali from al-Asmariyah Islamic University Libya, and Dr. Musthafa Abu Bakr from Yubi University Nigeria.
In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Mubarak al-Hajiri emphasized that the Prophet Muhammad was the main exemplary figure in fighting for freedom, peace, and civilization building. He elaborated that the freedom taught by the Prophet covers various aspects, ranging from freedom of belief, freedom of opinion, to freedom in managing personal property.
In terms of peace, said Professor Mubarak, the Prophet Muhammad showed an attitude of prioritizing peaceful solutions as long as it was possible, as reflected in the Hudaibiyah Agreement. While in terms of civilization building, he gave a progressive example in the midst of the reality of war at that time, such as by asking prisoners of war to teach reading and writing as a form of ransom, which actually encouraged the creation of a literate society.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Mohammed el-Gammal highlighted the importance of the concept of freedom in Islamic law. He emphasized that the system of taklif in Islam is actually the liberation of humans from submission to fellow creatures to total obedience to Allah SWT. Furthermore, he showed how the Shari'ah gradually encouraged the abolition of slavery, by making the freeing of slaves a form of expiation for certain offenses.
From a Sufistic perspective, Dr. Farag emphasized the meaning of true freedom according to the teachings of Sufism. He states that the essence of freedom in Sufism lies in man's ability to break away from the domination of lust. For Sufism scholars, liberation from the impulses of the nafsani is the most basic and essential form of freedom.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Sarhan from Al-Azhar University Cairo Egypt explained that the Quran uses a beautiful and rhetorical language style in conveying messages of freedom and peace. Various balaghah devices such as majāz (metaphor) and uslūb al-qaṣr (restriction style) are found in verses that reinforce these values. According to him, the beauty of the Qur'anic language is not merely aesthetic, but has a deep influence in meaning on its readers, both explicitly and implicitly.
From UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Amani Lubis explained how Islamic organizations in Indonesia, whether led by men or women, have contributed greatly to instilling the values of freedom, gender equality, education, and socio-economic development. She also highlighted the global challenges such as globalization, violence in the name of religion, and natural disasters that Indonesia faces. However, all Islamic organizations are able to respond to these challenges with concrete solutions, including through women's empowerment, family strengthening, and peace education.
And Dr. Musthofa emphasized that Islam gives high respect to women. He explained various Quranic and Hadith texts that show the noble position of women as mothers, wives, children, and siblings. According to him, respect for women's rights is an important part of realizing freedom, peace, and a just civilization, of course within the framework of Islamic law. She also quoted the Prophet's sermon during the Wada' Hajj which emphasized the importance of paying attention to women's rights as a central element of society.
The conference is expected to be a strategic space to renew Islamic discourse and global thought, while showing Islam's contribution to true freedom, lasting peace, and the development of an inclusive and just human civilization. It is also a forum for exchanging ideas and strengthening international academic networks in the field of Islamic studies, as well as strengthening the position of the Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah as a globally superior Islamic higher education institution. (MH/Aidha A)