FAH Theater Building, FAH Online News – The Doctoral Program in Islamic History and Civilization at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta organized the Islamic History Symposium on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Abdul Ghani Theater Hall on the fifth floor of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities. The symposium was held to critically reexamine and rewrite the history of Islam in the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago (Nusantara) through the study of historical sources, scholarly networks, and the social transformations that have shaped Indonesian society.

The event was initiated by students of the Doctoral and Master's Programs in Islamic History and Civilization. It featured distinguished speakers including Dr. Restu Gunawan, M.Hum., Director General of Culture and the Protection of Traditional Cultural Heritage; Prof. Dr. Singgih Tri Sulistiyono, M.Hum., Professor of Maritime History at Diponegoro University; Prof. Dr. Jajat Burhanuddin, M.A., Professor of History at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta; and Dr. Ade Abdul Hak, S.Ag., S.S., M.Hum., Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The symposium was warmly welcomed by lecturers and students of the Islamic History and Civilization Study Program.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ade Abdul Hak, Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, emphasized the importance of the symposium in renewing the body of historiography and the study of Islamic history in the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago by embracing the rapid advancement of modern technology.

"The purpose of this symposium is not to alter existing historical sources, but rather to renew and enrich our perspectives in understanding them. Technological advancements should serve as tools that enable historians to preserve historical records more effectively and discover new perspectives from existing sources," he stated.

Reinforcing this perspective, Dr. Restu Gunawan, Director General of Culture and the Protection of Traditional Cultural Heritage, explained that understanding history should not rely solely on paper-based documents, texts, and manuscripts. Historical studies must also incorporate artifacts, archaeological remains, and other forms of historical evidence while considering the social transformations surrounding them.

"As Islam developed in Arabia and spread to various regions during the first century, it is reasonable to consider the possibility that Islam may also have reached the Malay-Indonesian Archipelago during that same period. The challenge, however, lies in identifying the evidence. Therefore, historical claims must be substantiated through multiple sources. History students should not depend exclusively on written documents or textual records, but should also utilize artifacts, archaeological remains, and other historical discoveries. Furthermore, Indonesia is a nation characterized by remarkable religious and cultural diversity. Consequently, understanding social change is essential for interpreting historical sources and generating more comprehensive historical findings."

Dr. Restu also encouraged history students to actively conduct field research, participate in the discovery of historical evidence, and develop the confidence to present historical facts based on rigorous scholarly investigation.

The symposium continued with presentations by Prof. Dr. Singgih Tri Sulistiyono, M.Hum., Professor of Maritime History at Diponegoro University, and Prof. Dr. Jajat Burhanuddin, M.A., Professor of History at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The session was moderated by Aryo Majapahit.

Toward the conclusion of the symposium, participants engaged in an interactive discussion and question-and-answer session. Researchers, master's students, and doctoral candidates in history enthusiastically raised questions to both speakers regarding the issues presented during the symposium.

Through this symposium, it is expected that scholarship on historiography and the discovery of historical sources related to Islam in Indonesia will continue to advance. The forum also aims to encourage new historical findings that enrich the discipline while respecting and building upon the contributions of previous scholarly research.

Written by: Ahmad Daffa Rasydi / Kasih Nur

Documentation: