UIN Jakarta Commemorates Nuzulul Qur'an, Habib Geys Assegaf Highlights the Importance of Sound Methodology in Understanding the Qur'an
Al-Jami'ah Student Center Mosque, UIN Online News — UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta commemorated Nuzulul Qur'an with a special Ramadan gathering and iftar at the Al-Jami'ah Student Center Mosque on Tuesday (10 March 2026). The event served as both a spiritual celebration and an intellectual forum, bringing together university leaders, faculty members, and the academic community.
The gathering was attended by Rector Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., Chair of the University Senate Prof. Dede Rosyada, M.A., distinguished Islamic scholar Habib Geys Abdurrahman Assegaf, Lc., M.A., along with professors and members of the university leadership.
In his opening remarks, Rector Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar emphasized that the holy month of Ramadan provides an ideal opportunity to strengthen solidarity within the university community.
"Ramadan is a season of blessings that also allows us to foster togetherness at UIN Jakarta. It brings together faculty members, administrative staff, and all employees to strengthen our bonds of brotherhood as we work collectively to advance the university," he said.
He added that this spirit of openness and collaboration also helps expand networks and encourages greater participation in charitable initiatives such as zakat, infaq, and sadaqah.
"May we continue to grow together and strengthen our collaboration," he concluded.
Delivering the pre-iftar sermon, Habib Geys Abdurrahman Assegaf presented an insightful discussion on the theological definition of the Qur'an and the importance of employing proper scholarly methodology in interpreting its teachings.
He began by distinguishing between kalam lafzhi—the Qur'an as recited words and sounds—and kalam nafsi, the eternal divine speech that constitutes one of Allah's attributes. He also praised UIN Jakarta as an institution where diverse Islamic perspectives are explored through academic inquiry while remaining firmly grounded in authentic Islamic teachings.
"UIN is a place where diverse ideas are developed into meaningful scholarly work. However, every academic endeavor must adhere to sound methodology, including proper source verification (Mashadir al-Bahts), appropriate legal reasoning (Thuruq al-Istinbath), and the competence of researchers (Shurut al-Bahts)," he explained.
Drawing on his experience visiting convicted terrorism inmates at Nusakambangan Prison in 2013, Habib Geys warned that many extremist interpretations stem from reading the Qur'an purely literally without proper scholarly guidance. He stressed the importance of embodying the Prophet Muhammad's moral character in four dimensions: one's relationship with fellow human beings, the natural world, life events, and intellectual discourse.
"The Qur'an we commemorate today should shape our character. Without the guidance of qualified scholars, people may issue religious rulings without knowledge, leading themselves and others astray," he cautioned.
Concluding his sermon, Habib Geys encouraged the congregation to view fasting as a means of overcoming four major obstacles to spiritual growth: excessive eating (katsrat al-tha'am), excessive talking, excessive sleeping, and excessive socializing without meaningful purpose.
He described fasting as a long-term spiritual investment whose rewards continue beyond one's lifetime.
"Life in this world is remarkably brief. Fasting is one of the paths Allah has given us so that this short earthly journey may determine our eternal destiny in the Hereafter," he concluded.
The event concluded with a communal iftar followed by the Maghrib prayer in congregation, further strengthening the sense of fellowship and spiritual unity among the UIN Jakarta academic community during the holy month of Ramadan.