In conjunction with his visit to Malaysia, Dean of Faculty of Humanities, UNIDA Gontor visited Ma’had Tahfiz and Arabic Al-Gontory in 7th September 2023. This Islamic boarding school is located in Lot 3938 Jalan Rizab Masjid Kg Bukit Hijau 45800 Jeram Selangor. The Dean was welcomed so warmly by al-Ustadz Septian (the founder of Ma’had), al-Ustadz Syarifuddin bin Mustafa (Director of Ma’had), al-Ustadz Abdul Hakim (senior teacher), all teachers (asatidzah) and students who counted almost 120. The visit unwittingly coincided with Tahsin program of Quranic recitation in which the Ma’had invited a prolific Quranic lecturer from Egypt al-Syaikh Muhammad Musthafa. The arrival was then even more celebrated.
During the session, the Dean was invited to deliver a speech entitled “Cultivating Islamic Political Culture in Pondok Tahfiz Arabic al-Gontory“. This session was part of his International Community Service in Malaysia. In his speech, the Dean asserted close connection between Islam and Politics. Quoting al-Ghazali’s view on politics, he revealed that religious affairs would never be settled unless the political affairs were tranquil. This worldly life is like a rice-field to the afterlife. The latter is undoubtedly dependent of the former. In Islam, politics occupied precious position as it assembled the differing people under the banner of unity and mutual assistance in life. The Dean also made clear that, according to Islam, political leadership is highly pivotal as it handed on the prophethood to protect and sustain religion and manage the worldly affairs. As such, Muslim’s political culture be accorded to the very principle of Islam.
