DARUSSALAM INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC STUDIES

Written By  Taufiq
Situated amidst vast rice fields in a remote village in Ponorogo, East Jawa Indonesia, Darussalam Institute of Islamic Studies (known as ISID – Institut Studi Islam Darussalam) is unique among its kind in the country. With Arabic and English as the medium of instruction and communication among its students and teachers, furnished with modern learning and research facilities, and guided by a clear vision and mission, ISID has attracted students and scholars from various parts of Indonesia and beyond. The institute was founded by the three brothers–the late KH Ahmad Sahal, KH Zainuddin Fananie and KH Imam Zarkasyi, not long after they had founded the Modern Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Modern) “Darussalam” in Gontor, Ponorogo, Indonesia in 1926. The school’s rapid progress and its brilliant achievement soon led to the idea of establishing a world-class Islamic university. It was their cherished desire to establish an Islamic institute of higher learning that can produce genuine and authoritative Muslim scholars (‘ulamâ). The first attempt carried out by the founders after the school had its first graduate in 1942, was establishing higher education the so called Underbow and Bovenbow. However, due to colonial and war situation, the program could no longer be carried on.  Thus in the 1958 Waqf Charter of Darussalam Modern Islamic Education Institution they made it clear, among others, that the school is no longer their personal property since it belongs now to the Waqf for the Muslim ummah, and that it must be further developed into an Islamic university and become a major center for Arabic and Islamic Studies. Despite all constraints and after a great effort, the idea was realized on the 1st day of Rajab 1383 / 17th November 1963 with the establishment of Darussalam Institute of Education (IPD – Institut Pendidikan Darussalam). In his inaugural speech, Imam Zarkasyi, the acting Rector, stated that the institute should become like the centuries-old al-Azhar University in Egypt, which has survived the vicissitudes of time as the leading center for Islamic studies in the world. The hope was also that the institute would follow in the footstep of Aligarh Muslim University in India, which has become a symbol of the Muslim revival through its inculcation of both Islamic and Western knowledge. Two other institutions namely Syanggit in Mauritania and Shantiniketan in India were mentioned for their spirit of sincerity and simplicity. Initially the institute ran only two faculties: Usuluddin and Education. Subsequently, in 1996, with the introduction of a new study program in Islamic aw that was to become the Faculty of Sharî‘ah, the institute was renamed “Darussalam Institute of Islamic Studies” (ISID – Institut Studi Islam Darussalam). This was followed by the setting up of a new campus in 1996 located at Siman, Ponorogo, about 3 miles away from the old campus or the school. With the newly established postgraduate program in Islamic studies, the Institute is now preparing to embark on the next agenda of setting up an Islamic university as conceived by its founding fathers: the Darussalam University.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 15:25  CENTER FOR ISLAMIC AND OCCIDENTAL STUDIES  The Center for Islamic and Occidental Studies (CIOS) is a bureau of research and scientific development at the Institute. It was established based on the idea that Islam is both a religion and civilization that is now confronting challenges from other civilizations, especially that of the West. However, such a challenge is not new in the history of Islamic civilization, since from the very beginning Islam had the experience of encountering foreign civilizations such as Greek, Persian, Indian and others. It is worth noting that when Muslim scholars in the past encountered foreign civilizations, their understanding of the basic concepts of Islam was very strong. They mastered, for example the knowledge about al-Qur’an and Hadith, science of interpretation of the Qur’an (Tafsir), the sciences of Hadith (Ulum al-Hadith), Jurisprudence (Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh), theology (Aqidah), and the likes. As a result, they were able naturally and successfully to appropriate those foreign elements, adopting and adapting them to be developed within the framework of Islamic thought. This process is what we call the Islamization of contemporary knowledge. Today, however, Muslims are facing serious problems to carry out such scientific process. This is due to two reasons: a weak understanding of Islam and overwhelming influence of foreign concepts in the mind of Muslim ummah. They lack mastery of the Islamic sciences and are at the same time unfamiliar with the modern sciences of Western civilization. Indeed, many of them are more acquainted with the Western ideas than they are with Islamic concepts, causing them to adopt un-Islamic ideas and theories uncritically. It is to remedy this situation that CIOS was established. The aim is to rediscover the key concepts in Islam through the thought of al-Salaf al-Salih, and at the same time to study the key concepts of Western civilization. It is hoped that through this scientific approach, the Islamic concepts could be clarified, elaborated and applied in various areas such as economics, education, politics, culture, science, etc. creatively, so as to meet the contemporary challenges. At the same time, the Western concepts will be studied critically and selectively, before they are adapted into Islamic concepts. Advisory Board : Headmasters of Darussalam Modern Islamic Education Institution Gontor and Rector of ISID Experts Council : Dr. Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi (Gontor) Dr. Hidayat Nur Wahid (Jakarta) Prof. Dr. Dien Syamsuddin (Jakarta) Dr. Mustafa Dasuki Kisbah (Egypt) Director : Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi Executive Director : Dr. Dihyatun Masqon Aims The Centre for Islamic and Occidental Studies (CIOS) is established with the following aims: To study all aspects of Islamic thought and civilization, particularly the fundamental concepts in various areas of Islamic sciences. To study all aspects of Western civilization, its worldview, history, and fundamental concepts. To study current issues in Islamic thought and civilization and their ramifications. To find new solutions for the Islamic thought, particularly in response to the problems of globalization, modernization and Westernization. Activities The main activities of the Center are: Workshop on Islamization of contemporary knowledges, training on scientific writing        Publication of books and scientific reports. Seminar on Islamic economics, Dinar and Dirham as the solution of Global finance, hermeneutic; Christian theology., Ahmadiyah, Shi’ah in Indonesia, Arabic language in Islamic universities. Cosmography, Islamic heritage. Routine scientific discussion every week related to the problem of Islamic thought and civilization and the West. Workshop and seminar on the challenge of Liberalization of Islamic thought. Symposium on the methodology of Islamic economics. Workshop and seminar on the misguided religious sects in Indonesia. Seminar on Zakat in Indonesia.” Seminar on the educational philosophy of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas.  Seminar and training on journalism.