South Tangerang, FAH Online News – The Master’s Program in the History of Islamic Civilization, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for the Writing of the History Book of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta with the theme “Positioning the History of Institutional Transformation (From IAIN to UIN Jakarta)”. The event was held on Friday (08/05/2026) in the Main Conference Room of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities.

The FGD was a follow-up to the mandate of the Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Asep Saepudin Jahar, to the Faculty of Adab and Humanities to reexamine the history of the institutional transformation from the State Institute for Islamic Studies (IAIN) into the State Islamic University (UIN). This activity also served as an appreciation of the historical journey and institutional development of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

The event featured several speakers who have contributed to and paid close attention to the historical development of UIN Jakarta, namely Said Agil Husin Al Munawar, Muhammad Atho Muadzhar, and Husni Rahim.

Also present were the Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, Ade Abdul Hak, along with the vice deans, the Head of the Master’s Program in the History of Islamic Civilization, Jajat Burhanudin, and senior lecturers from the program.

In his remarks, Dean Ade Abdul Hak stated that the activity was a form of appreciation for the Rector’s mandate to revisit the history of the evolution of IAIN into UIN Jakarta from various perspectives.

“This event is a form of appreciation in response to the Rector’s mandate to reexamine the history of the evolution from IAIN to UIN Jakarta through perspectives of scholarship, thought, and supporting facilities and infrastructure, involving figures who directly experienced the transformation. It is expected to become valuable input for the future of UIN Jakarta, especially for the History Study Program in the Faculty of Adab and Humanities in writing the history of the evolution from IAIN to UIN Jakarta,” he said.

The event became a forum for prominent figures and history lecturers of UIN Jakarta to gather and reassess information regarding the transformation process from IAIN to UIN Jakarta.

On this occasion, many historical witnesses shared their experiences. As conveyed by Said Agil Husin Al Munawar, former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs (2001–2004):

“The initial idea of transforming IAIN into UIN came from Mr. Tarmizi Taher, who wanted IAIN to resemble Al-Azhar University in Cairo, where religious and general faculties are integrated within one educational institution. During the transformation process, there were many protests from several parties, arguing that religious study programs would lose applicants because many students would prefer general faculties. This became our main challenge,” he emphasized.

Another perspective was delivered by Muhammad Atho Muadzhar, former Rector of UIN Yogyakarta (1997–2001), who emphasized that UIN was established as an open academic space for all groups without abandoning Islamic values.

“At UIN, lecturers who teach do not necessarily have to be Muslim, and students also do not necessarily have to be Muslim, but the courses must still instill Islamic teachings within them. In this way, UIN becomes an open place of learning for all groups without eliminating Islamic teachings,” he stressed.

He also explained that Azyumardi Azra at that time promoted the concept of reintegration, not merely integration, within the scientific system of IAIN. The concept aimed to renew the educational system without eliminating the scientific foundations that had previously existed. In addition, the transformation into UIN Jakarta was considered to create greater opportunities for increasing student enrollment through the establishment of general faculties.

In line with this, Husni Rahim explained that the selection of IAIN Jakarta to transform into UIN was inseparable from Jakarta’s position as the face of Indonesia.

“The selection of IAIN Jakarta for transformation into UIN was because Jakarta represents the face of Indonesia. Therefore, it was decided to approve the transformation of IAIN into UIN Jakarta, although many questions arose during the transformation period, such as whether after becoming UIN Jakarta the general faculties would improve and attract many applicants. These questions became the foundation for the development of UIN Jakarta as it is today,” he said.

Through the various perspectives of these figures, the transformation of IAIN into UIN Jakarta is understood as an effort to integrate general and religious faculties within one educational institution without eliminating Islamic values and teachings. The transformation was also inseparable from the support and approval of the government at that time, which became an important part of the historical journey leading to the establishment of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

Writers: Ahmad Daffa Rasyidi / Kasih Nur / Deny Saputra
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