By Nurul Haziqah Abdul Halim
Foto Ra’ai Osman

BANGI, 28 Feb 2014 – The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FPI) of The National University of Malaysia (UKM) is to work with the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic College of Jakarta (STAINU) in the course of Islam.

A Letter of Intent for such collaboration was signed between the two institutions at FPI here today by its Dean Prof Dr Mohd Nasran Mohamad and STAINU Rector, Mujib Qulyubi.

Prof Nasran hoped for a strong and productive relationship between FPI and STAINU focussing on Islamic studies, research and their applications.

Prof Nasran welcomed the STAINU delegation to UKM and Malaysia and stressed the need for stronger ties between Malaysia and Indonesia to focus more on Islamic studies, research and application.

The sharing of ideas and learning from each other is the best way to find depth in the Al-Quran verses, Islamic texts and new ways to approach dakwah, Prof Nasran said.

Mujib Qulyubi hopes the LoI will enable them to learn from each other, not just for Islamic studies but also Islam in the context of each other’s culture. Understanding both the Malaysian and Indonesian cultures will go a long way towards understanding Islam as it is practised in both countries.

Mujib was here as head of a delegation from STAINU visiting FPI to build a strong bridge of knowledge and friendship between the two institutions in particular and Malaysia and Indonesia in general.

Both parties were in agreement that because of the similarity and proximity between Malaysia and Indonesia, with Islam being the biggest religion in both countries, both UKM and STAINU should work together to make Islam stronger.

The two institutions agreed to work together to help erase prejudices towards Islam from the outside world, to help defend Islamic causes and to collaborate on research, journals and books on Islam.