KUCHING: ‘Ummah’ (communities with Islamic values) in the Nusantara need to master various matters including halal industry, Islamic finance, waqaf, digitalisation of the ummah as well as science and technology.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg, domination in the field is capable of propelling the future of the Nusantara as a scientific region.
“The success of Islamic civilisation and civilisation in the Nusantara is measured by the achievement of three main aspects, namely Islam as the core religion of the regional population; Bahasa Melayu with Jawi as the lingua franca medium found in the main classical works and the high culture of Nusantara comprising manners, character and morality.
“This reality is a fact as Ibn Khaldun asserted that the success of a civilisation is measured based on their control over Umran or knowledge,” he said.
Abang Johari said this at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th Nadwah Ulama Nusantara in Dewan Majma ‘Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Sarawak Islamic Complex, last Wednesday night.
He added that Muslims in Nusantara should seize the opportunity to emerge as a conducive region to develop Umran and scientific traditions.
“Indeed, the Nusantara has achieved this success in the past, but it is almost invisible and financially diminished by decades of colonialism and colonisation in Nusantara,” he said.
Nadwah like this should take a step forward to become the main forum at the Nusantara level to achieve the idea of the ‘The Region of Wisdom’ agenda.
“Nadwah Ulama Nusantara needs to find the latest ideas and ideas that can be synthesised to empower the ummah as a whole.
“The existing pondok and peasantry traditions need to be explored and searched for the best recipes for life with a balanced reference to naqli and aqli knowledge,” he said.
The programme hosted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in collaboration with the Sarawak government, saw 2,000 participants joining the three-day symposium starting yesterday with the theme of ‘Synergy of Ulama in Ummah Awakening’ which collected 82 work papers.
