(STIBA.ac.id) Makassar – The School of Islamic Sciences and Arabic Language (STIBA) Makassar organized a Studium Generale featuring Prof. Dato’ Arif Perkasa Dr. Mohd. Asri bin Zainul Abidin as the speaker. The event was attended by thousands of participants, including lecturers, students, and the general public. It took place at the Anas bin Malik Mosque on the STIBA Makassar campus and was livestreamed on the STIBA TV and PROmediaTAJDID YouTube channels on Thursday (6/1/2023).
The Mufti of Perlis Malaysia shared the story of his visit to STIBA Makassar, which took place when he met with the General Leader of Wahdah Islamiyah, Ustaz Zaitun Rasmin, at the Southeast Asian Ahlus Sunnah Multaqa on May 20, 2023.
“Thank you for welcoming me to this gathering. I came here to extend the greetings of Islamic brotherhood. I traveled from afar after getting acquainted with Sheikh Dr. Zaitun and learning about Wahdah and STIBA here,” he said.
Ustaz Zaitun explained that the Southeast Asian Ahlus Sunnah Multaqa, which was held in Perlis recently, aimed to strengthen the brotherhood of Muslims.
“I discussed with Dr. Zaitun that I am making an effort to unite the large Muslim community in the Nusantara region, specifically Indonesia and Malaysia. We are a great community, with Indonesia having a population of approximately 300 million and Malaysia having over 20 million Muslims. However, we are sometimes divided by various matters, separated by the boundaries created by colonizers, with the British in Malaysia and the Dutch in Indonesia,” said the Mufti of Perlis.
Meanwhile, according to Prof. MAZA, as he is affectionately known, we often read the words of Allah in the Qur’an:
“And We have certainly created you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Quran, Al-Hujurat: 13)
Another verse states:
“Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” (Quran, Al-Anbiya: 92)
“We often fail to become one community because we are separated by peripheral issues, insignificant matters, separated by Malaysian batik and Indonesian batik, separated by superficial issues. Yet we forget that we are one community, we are brothers,” he explained.
This is clearly illustrated in the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that every believer is a brother, and therefore, brotherhood should be supported by faith and always promote unity.
“With my visit here, I hope it will help me in Perlis to establish the Council of Nusantara Scholars, including inviting prominent figures from Makassar who will frequently be invited to Perlis. This way, we can have a platform, a stage, or a place for us to have discussions and dialogue on how to advance our community,” he stated.
Prof. MAZA emphasized that Indonesian Muslims should not only think about advancing the Indonesian community, but also think about helping Malaysian Muslims, and vice versa. Similarly, they should think about helping Muslims in other countries.
“If the Arab world fails to unite, we, the Malay Muslim nation, should be an example to the Arab world that we can indeed achieve unity, God willing,” he concluded.
Prof. MAZA is also scheduled to deliver the Friday sermon at the Anas bin Malik Mosque (02/06/2023).
