Azyumardi Azra, a figure known by various titles due to his contribution in the world of academics. He was born in Lubuk Alung, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra on March 4, 1955. His higher education began as an undergraduate student at the Faculty of Tarbiyah IAIN Jakarta in 1982, then received funding support from the Fulbright scholarship to continue at Columbia University in 1988 and get a Master of Art (MA) by the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.

Not stopping there, he also became part of the Columbia President Fellowship scholarship from Colombia University again with an MA degree in 1989 by the Department of History. In 1992, a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree was also obtained from the Department of History, Columbia University, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree with a dissertation entitled "The Transmission of Islamic Reformism to Indonesia: The Network of Middle Eastern and Malay-Indonesian 'Ulama in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries". In 2004 the revised dissertation was published simultaneously in Canberra (Allen Unwin and AAAS), Honolulu (Hawaii University Press), and Leiden, The Netherlands (KITLV Press).

His services and contributions make him known in many places, such as at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta he is known as the Rector (1998-2006), Lecturer at the Faculty of Adab and Faculty of Tarbiyah UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, as well as Professor of History at the Faculty of Adab UIN Jakarta (1992-2022). And there are still many known in other places as well.

The titles he received varied from various places, such as the CBE title that unexpectedly came from the British Empire. CBE or Commander of the Order of the British Empire is a British royal title from the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The CBE award was given to Azyumardi Azra by the British Ambassador, Martin Hatfull at the official residence of the British Ambassador in Jakarta on September 28, 2010.

The award was presented to Azyumardi Azra for his services and contributions in strengthening interfaith relations in the global arena, especially between Indonesia and the UK. His contributions were seen when he served as Co-Chair of the UK-Indonesia Islamic Advisory Council, an institution established by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Tony Blair in March 2006. The Council regularly organizes programs in both countries to maintain and empower close relations among Muslims and with people of other faiths.

UIN Jakarta, especially the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, is also proud of the honorary title embedded in the name of Prof. Azyumardi as the first Indonesian to receive the award. In fact, he is also included in the category of the first person to get a CBE degree from a non-commonwealth country and the territory of the United Kingdom.

Author: Fadhilah Ayu