Indonesia Book Fair discusses Relationship between Religion, Culture

The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion at the Indonesia International Islamic Book Fair organized a cultural seminar titled "The Role of Religion in Promoting Cultural Diversity." The seminar was presented by Dr. Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, the former Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Prof. Oman Fathurrahman, a professor of Jurisprudence of Language at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Mukhlis Muhammad Hanafi, Director of the Branch Office of the Muslim Council of Elders in Indonesi, and was attended by many exhibition visitors, students from religious institutes, and university students.

At the beginning of the seminar, participants praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders and its active role in spreading and enhancing the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity through its inspiring initiatives and projects, including the dialogue between the East and the West, international peace convoys, and its diverse publications that contribute to forming an enlightened intellectual awareness. This is in addition to organizing seminars and conferences aimed at establishing constructive intellectual dialogue on contemporary issues and challenges.

Dr. Lukman Hakim Saifuddin stated that the Council plays a crucial and strategic role in preserving the valuable heritage left by the righteous ancestors, not only by safeguarding it but also by updating and developing it to align with the rapid changes occurring in the world today, to ensure the continuity of this legacy and its ability to engage with present challenges. He explained that religion and culture form an interconnected unity that cannot be separated, despite their differences, citing the Indonesian model as a global example due to the integration of religion and culture within it.

The former Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia added that religion carries divine values that need a practical framework to translate them into tangible reality, and this framework is culture. Without culture, religious values remain merely theoretical principles without activation. Culture represents the way people deal with their challenges and turn them into habits and traditions. He noted that culture is essential for activating religious teachings in daily life, making religious values part of reality. Despite the diversity of cultures, the fundamental religious values remain constant and non-negotiable.

Dr. Oman Fathurrahman emphasized the importance of the integration between religion and culture in promoting cultural diversity. He noted that cultural diversity is a distinctive feature of Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Looking at the development of writing traditions in Indonesia since the 16th century, Indonesian scholars began using the Jawi script (Malay language in Arabic script) in writing, which significantly contributed to the spread of Islam outside the Arabian Peninsula, making culture a fundamental factor in expanding the reach of Islam.

The professor of Jurisprudence of Language at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta pointed out that the oldest known Indonesian manuscript is "Sultan of Sultans," which recounts the history of the kings of Pasai and is written in Malay using Arabic script. The development of Arabic script writing was not limited to the Java region but also included other areas in Indonesia. He explained that this development in writing reflects the role of culture in promoting the spread of Islam, and the diversity in Islamic civilizations including Arab, Turkish, American, and Indonesian, highlighting how culture contributed to the widespread and diverse spread of Islam across different geographical and cultural regions.