South Tengarang - FAH News Online - Faculty of Adab and Humanities UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta is again holding the Islamic History and Culture Master's Program (MSKI) thesis exam on Wednesday, August 6 2025. Located in the Thesis Courtroom on the 4th floor, this exam presents a team of examiners and is attended by three students with research topics that reflect the diversity of approaches and themes in the study of Indonesian history.

Syaidina Sapta Wilandra, presented a thesis entitled Imagining Indonesia: State and Nation Imagination in the Sarekat Islam Movement (1916–1933). In this research, he examines the nationalist thinking formulated by Sarekat Islam figures during the early period of the national movement. Using a historical approach, he revealed that the imagination about the Indonesian nation had developed since the beginning of the 20th century, with a different character from Western nationalism as stated by Bennedict Anderson. Sarekat Islam offers an alternative form of nationalism that combines national identity and universal Islam, influenced by transnational ideologies such as Pan-Islamism and communism. This thesis received input and responses from an examining board consisting of Prof. Jajat Burhanudin, MA, Ph.D., Dr. Imas Emalia, M.Hum., Dr. Awalia Rahma, MA, Prof. Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, and Dr. Mauidlotun Nisa, M. Hum.

Furthermore, Fathzry Ardilah, raised a contemporary theme in his thesis entitled The Nuruls' Efforts in Identity Negotiations in Urban Communities Jakarta, 2021–2023. This research discusses an urban Muslim women's community known as “The Nuruls”, which actively voices spirituality and self-expression through social media during the pandemic. Through a symbolic interactionism approach, this thesis shows how the women in these communities redesign their identities by blending Islamic values with modern urban life. The thesis also highlights the important role of Halda figures as public representations of these communities. The presence of communities such as The Nuruls shows a new dynamic in the formation of urban Muslim women's identities, especially in the context of digital spaces and modern lifestyles. This thesis exam was attended by an examining team consisting of Prof. Jajat Burhanudin, MA, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, MA, Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahid Hasyim, MA, Dr. Awalia Rahma, MA, , and Dr. Mauidlotun Nisa, M. Hum.

Meanwhile, Dirga Fawakih presented the results of his research entitled Woven Hat Industry in Tangerang from the XIX Century to the XX Century: From Traditional Crafts to Global Commodities. Using historical methods and a cultural commodification approach, this research reveals that the change in woven hats from traditional crafts to global commodities is caused by the link between natural resources and the traditional skills of the population which are able to produce valuable craft products, the role of intermediary traders in the commodification of woven hats, as well as a market for woven hats which was driven by the development of haute couture (haute couture) and hat culture in the 19th to 20th centuries, especially in Europe and the United States. The implication of such commodification is dependence on export trade that is vulnerable to global determinism. The blow of the Economic Depression in 1930 had caused a destructive impact on the industry. Even though they experienced setbacks, the craftsmen were able to maintain this heritage— which later helped shape the cultural identity of Tangerang Regency in the post-independence period. This thesis was tested by Prof. Jajat Burhanudin, MA, Ph.D., Siful Umam, MA, Ph.D., Dr. Imas Emalia, M.Hum., Dr. Awalia Rahma, MA, and Dr. Mauidlotun Nisa, M. Hum.

This series of thesis exams shows MSKI's important contribution in producing academic studies that are reflective and relevant to the historical and socio-religious context of Indonesia. Through various approaches, MSKI students show courage in raising strategic issues in the study of Islamic history and culture. The Faculty of Adab and Humanities at UIN Jakarta continues to be committed to becoming a center for critical, inclusive and impactful scientific development for the wider community.

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