The Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah (FDI) at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta has successfully resumed its annual international conference, the 10th International Dirasat Islamiyah Conference (IDIC). After a one-year hiatus, the event was held once again in a hybrid format—onsite at the FDI Auditorium and online via Zoom—on Wednesday, May 14.

Carrying the theme "Daur al-Islam fi al-Hurriyah, wa al-Salam, wa al-Hadarah" (The Role of Islam in Freedom, Peace, and Civilization), the conference opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Yuli Yasin, MA. This was followed by a keynote speech delivered by Prof. Ahmad Tholabi Kharlie, MA, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at UIN Jakarta, who officially inaugurated the event.

In his keynote address, Prof. Tholabi emphasized that the Qur'an upholds the principle of no compulsion in religion. He further highlighted how the Islamic scripture promotes the value of freedom across multiple dimensions of life, including freedom of thought and expression.

"Islam teaches us to respect the right to life and freedom, and to work toward safeguarding them. Jihad in Islam is not about aggression or expansion, but a legitimate form of self-defense against oppression and aggression," said Prof. Tholabi.

The conference brought together speakers from various countries. Among them were Prof. Dr. Abdullah Abdul-Ghani Abdullah Sarhan from Egypt, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mahmoud Al-Jamal from Qatar, Dr. Faraj Al-Sadiq Ali Ashmeilah from Libya, and Dr. Mustafa Abu Bakr from Nigeria—all of whom delivered their presentations via Zoom. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Mubarak Saif Hadi Al-Hajiri from Kuwait and Prof. Dr. Amany Lubis from Indonesia attended in person to present their ideas.

*Ummul