Jakarta, FU Online News — The Faculty of Ushuluddin at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially commenced the construction of its new building through a groundbreaking ceremony held on Wednesday, April 23, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The event took place at Jl. Kertamukti, Pisangan, Ciputat Timur, South Tangerang.

The event was attended by the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A., the Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., along with their respective delegations, the Advisor of Dharma Wanita Persatuan of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hj. Helmi Nasaruddin Umar, the Director of Islamic Higher Education (PTKI), Prof. Dr. Phil. Syahiron, M.A., the Dean of the Faculty of Ushuluddin, Prof. Ismatu Ropi, M.A., Ph.D., as well as other deans, heads of centers, vice deans, heads and secretaries of study programs, administrative officials, and invited guests.

The event proceeded in an orderly and solemn manner with the following agenda: opening ceremony; screening of the Faculty of Ushuluddin profile video; remarks by the Minister of Religious Affairs; remarks by the Rector; charity for orphans; symbolic inauguration through a button-pressing ceremony by the Minister, Rector, Director of PTKI, and the Dean, followed by a presentation of the building design video; group photo session; prayer and groundbreaking ceremony; closing; and friendly gathering.

In his remarks, the Minister emphasized that the Faculty of Ushuluddin has long been the epicenter of Islamic studies in Indonesia. He highlighted that many prominent scholars in religious studies have emerged from this faculty. Looking ahead, he expressed hope for the development of a unique epistemology of knowledge at UIN that distinguishes it from institutions in other countries, particularly emphasizing cleanliness and effectiveness.

He further stressed the importance of optimizing the use of facilities. According to him, the building must serve the community and not merely stand as a physical symbol. “It is better for it to wear out through use than remain pristine but unused. This is not a decorative object, but a place to empower the community,” he stated. He also noted that Ushuluddin serves as the mother of all faculties within the university.

Meanwhile, the Rector stated that this development is a form of ongoing charitable contribution (amal jariyah) for the university. He encouraged all members of the academic community to continue loving and caring for UIN as their shared home. He also revealed that the building is planned to be named “Prof. Nasaruddin Umar Building.”

The new Faculty of Ushuluddin building will be constructed on a 2,889.7 square meter plot, with a total building area of 4,554 square meters and consisting of seven floors. It is expected to support academic activities, research, and community service, while strengthening the faculty’s role as a center of excellence in Islamic studies in Indonesia.

The groundbreaking ceremony began with a prayer led directly by the Minister of Religious Affairs, seeking blessings, smooth progress, and long-term benefits for the academic community and society. This was followed by the symbolic laying of the first stone by the Minister together with university leaders, marking the beginning of a development expected to bring significant advancement to the Faculty of Ushuluddin.

With the commencement of this construction, the Faculty of Ushuluddin reaffirms its commitment to advancing inclusive, progressive, and impactful Islamic scholarship for the wider community.

(Ishma/FU)