Jakarta, FU Online News — The Open Senate of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially conferred the title of Full Professor upon Prof. Dr. KH. Kholid Al-Walid, M.Ag. in the field of Islamic Philosophy. The inauguration ceremony was held solemnly at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.

This inauguration marks an important milestone in the life and academic journey of Prof. Kholid. Coming from a modest family background, he once undertook various jobs—ranging from ice vendor, public minibus conductor, to newspaper seller—to support his family’s economy while financing his education. His perseverance and unwavering determination ultimately led him to attain the highest academic rank.

Prof. Kholid’s academic career began at IAIN Raden Fatah Palembang, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1995 and received the distinction of best undergraduate thesis. His intellectual journey then continued to Qom, Iran, through studies at the Hawzah ‘Ilmiyyah, before he earned his Doctoral degree with summa cum laude honors from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta in 2008.

As an academician, Prof. Kholid is known for his productivity and consistency in scholarly development. To date, he has authored at least 23 books and dozens of scientific articles published in national and international journals, particularly in the field of Islamic philosophy. He currently serves as a lecturer in Islamic Philosophy at the Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Jakarta, and has been entrusted as the Chairman of the Association of Islamic Creed and Philosophy (AAFI) since 2022.

In his inaugural scientific oration entitled “Reconstructing the Epistemology of Tawhid in the Humanities and Modern Science,” Prof. Kholid presented a critical argument on the need for a tawhid-based epistemological approach as a bridge between Islamic sciences, the humanities, and modern science. He emphasized that the integration of reason and intuition is essential to prevent the development of knowledge from falling into dogmatism or scientific arrogance.

According to him, contemporary modern science often tends to prioritize domination and exploitation of nature, thereby contributing to environmental degradation, threats to humanity, and the emergence of technologies that are not fully aligned with the preservation of life. Therefore, science must be developed within a framework of moral responsibility, harmony, and civilizational sustainability.

Prof. Kholid dedicated his professorial title to his mother as a tribute to the struggles and sacrifices of his family during difficult times. He also conveyed an inspirational message to the younger generation, urging them not to allow economic limitations to extinguish their dreams.

“That ice vendor is now me. Never give up and never stop. The future is worth fighting for, because success does not belong to a certain group, but to those who sincerely strive for it,” he affirmed.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by various national figures as well as representatives from Al-Mustafa International University. As part of the Inauguration of Seven Full Professors of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the Faculty of Ushuluddin once again contributed a newly inaugurated professor, reaffirming its commitment to the development of Islamic scholarship grounded in the values of tawhid, humanity, and civilizational sustainability.

The full inaugural oration can be accessed via the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/rMhZXzVNBaU?si=OnP1iY--nU6BaAtx

(Author: Ishma/PIH | Photo: Faculty of Ushuluddin)