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.

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM

The postgraduate program in Islamic Studies at the Institute is designed to instill authentic Islamic knowledge, which had been developed from its very sources i.e. the Qur’an and Hadith. Since the sources of Islamic knowledge projected the worldview of Islam, the main objective of the program is, therefore, to inculcate Islamic worldview as a framework of Islamic studies.

Based on such a framework authentic Islamic knowledge is studied through Islamic intellectual tradition and enriched with contemporary knowledge. This framework is fairly instrumental for achieving at least two targets: first, for enriching the outlook and vision of the students so that they have a commitment to practice Islamic tenets and intellectually able to develop Islamic knowledge. Second, for effectively increase their consciousness of problems faced by Muslim ummah and persuade their sense of responsibility in resolving those problems, especially in relation to the challenge of ummah that came from modern and postmodern Western civilization.

The main characteristic of the postgraduate program is to be found in its emphasis on solid structure of Islamic framework which is the pivotal foundation of Islamic studies. The framework  refers onceptually to the worldview of Islam projected by revelation and developed by the thought of authoritative  Muslim scholars (ulama) in their respective fields, that resulted in the accumulation of concepts, each of which interrelated and subsequently form the so-called conceptual network

Vision

This Postgraduate program is Centre of Excellence for the development of human resource who master Islamic and contemporary knowledge, and are competence of integrating and Islamizing contemporary knowledge for the development of Islamic civilization.

 

Mission

To realize the above vision the postgraduate program is held with the following missions

1. To create Muslim scholars who have a comprehensive Islamic knowledge with reference to Islamic intellectual heritage and are able to actualize it in the present scientific context.
2. To prepare Muslim intellectual who have the ability to comprehend other civilizations critically and selectively so as to be able to adapt them for further process of Islamization.
3. To produce Muslim scholars who have competency of carrying out the process of integration and Islamization of contemporary knowledge, individually or collectively by collaborating with experts of various disciplines, according to the present need of the Muslim ummah.
4. To provide Muslim scholars who can integrate their moral and intellectual force so as to be able to play their contributive role for the development of Islamic thought and civilization.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of Postgraduate program in general is to master Islamic scientific and civilizational heritage and the Islamization of contemporary knowledge.

Particularly, the objective of postgraduate program is to produce the Muslim scholars who are able to resolve the epistemological problem of the Muslim ummah with the following steps: first, intensive study of some fundamental Islamic knowledge and reconceptualize some important ideas; second, critical study methodology, ideology and key concepts of Western civilization that already intruded the Muslim thought; third, intensification of the technique and method of ghazwul fikri in the form of journalistic, leadership and multimedia training; fourth, persuade the rise of creative idea through scientific activities that could result in new innovation in various aspect of Islamic studies.

Key Personnel

Director

Dr. H. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, MA., M.Phil.

Assistant

Mohammad Muslih, M.Ag

Head of the Program

H. Imam Kamaluddin, Lc., M.Hum

Secretary

H. Khoirul Umam, M.Ec

STUDENT ADMISSION

Academic Requirements

1.  a holder of undergraduate degree from state or private universities, or their equivalent in all areas of study. The foreign university certificate should be  attested by Ministry of National Education

2.  a minimum GPA 3.0 (Exception for lecturer, teacher, government employee or those who have two- year job experience: the minimum GPA required is 2.75)

3.   Passing the admission test, that consists of Arabic, English, and Islamic Studies.

Administration Requirements

1.    Registration Fee

2.  Completing the application forms for admission which can be obtained directly from the office of postgraduate studies or through the website: http://www.isid-gontor.ac.id

3.   Submitting the completed forms along with the supporting documents as follows:

a.   Two certified copies of school-leaving certificate and final transcript

b.   Two letters of recommendation from well-known experts or former supervisors

c.   A sample of  published or unpublished essay on Islamic topics not less than 10 pages

d.   Passport size Photo

Address of Admission Office

Office of Postgraduate Program

Darussalam Institute of Islamic Studies (ISID)

Main Campus Siman Street, Km. 6

Ponorogo, 63471, East Java, Indonesia

Phone/Fax.+62352-488220

Registration Period

New student intake is only once a year, but the registration of new Student is open at any time over a year.

Academic Calendar.

The Postgraduate program at ISID adopts two-semester system, each semester consisting of sixteen (16) weeks with an interval of two weeks between first and second semester,  and two months for Ramadhan break between second and first semester.

Semester I                              :  1   Zulqa’dah – 30 Safar

Inter semester break               :  1    Rabi’ul Awwal – 20 R.Awwal

Semester II                             : 21  R.Awwal – 21 Rajab

Ramadhan Break                    : 22  Rajab – 30 Syawal

CURRICULUM, CREDITS AND COURSES

Curriculum design is basically scientific structure constructed with high coherency. The scientific structure is reflected in the whole courses offered, one course is related paradigmatically to another and forms a complete unity.  Similarxly, the curriculum of postgraduate program at ISID is constructed based on strong epistemological ground and in consonant with the standard of competency decreed by national curriculum. The construction of the curriculum also consider the progress in the field of education especially in responding the need of curriculum innovation and higher education management in Indonesia and in the Muslim world. The structure of postgraduate curriculum is reflected in the list of courses  offered that practically are grouped into four: Courses for Basic expertise, courses for methodology, Courses for expertise  and Courses for specific expertise. The number of courses that have to be taken by the postgraduate students is 16 courses or 48 credits semester including thesis. The courses offered are the following: A. Basic Expertise Courses 1)   Islamic Worldview                           3 Credits 2)   Studies on Al-Quran                        2 Credits 3)   Studies on Hadith                            2 Credits 4)   History of Islamic Civilization           2 Credits B. Methodology Courses 1)   Islamization of Contemporary Knowledge     2 Credits 2)   Logic and Philosophy of Science                   2 Credits 3)   Research Methodology                                 2 Credits 4)   Western Philosophy                                      3 Credits C.  Expertise Courses 1)   Islamic Theology                                   3 Credits 2)   Islamic Philosophy                                 3 Credits 3)   Islamic Mysticism                                  3 Credits 4)   Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh                            3 Credits D.  Elective Expertise Courses 1)   Contemporary Islamic Thought              3 Credits 2)   Islamic Legal Thought                            3 Credits 3)   Islamic Economical Thought                   3 Credits 4)   Arabic Linguistics and Literature             3 Credits 5)   Islamic Educational Thought                   3 Credits 6)   Islamic Political Thought                         3 Credits E. Thesis 1)   Thesis proposal seminar                         0 Credit 2)   Thesis                                                    6 Credits Teaching Staff Prof. Dr. Wan Daud, University of California, Los Angles, USA. Subject: Philosophy of Education, Islamization of Contemporary Knowledge. Prof. Dr. Dien Syamsuddin, University of California, Los Angles, USA. Subject: Islamic Politics. Prof. Dr. Imam Suprayogo, Airlangga University,  Surabaya. Subject: Research Methodology. Prof. Dr. Mudjia Rahardjo,           Airlangga University, Surabaya. Subject: Philosophy of Science. Prof. Dr. Syamsul Hadi, SU, MA,  Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Subject: Lexicography. Prof. Dr. Akhyar Adnan, Wolfgang University, Australia. Subject: Islamic Economics. Dr. H. Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi, MA,  Malaya University, Malaysia. Subject: Theology, Islamic Philosophy, Sufism. Dr. H. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, MA, M.Phil      ISTAC, International Islamic University, Malaysia. Subject: Islamic Philosophy, Contemporary Issues, Trend of Modern Theology, Islamization of Knowledge. Dr. H. Ahmad Hidayatullah Zarkasyi, MA University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Subject: The Politics of Islamic Law. Dr. H. Dihayatun Masqon, MA. Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India.  Subject: Islamic History and Civilization. Dr. H. Fairuz Subakir Ahmad, MA University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Subject: Arabic Language and Arabic Literature Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Subject: Al-Quran and al-Tafsir Dr. Luthfi Fathullah, National  University,  Malaysia. Subject: al- Hadits Dr. Syamsuddin Arief, International Islamic University, Malaysia. Subject: Islamic Philosophy, and Western Philosophy. Dr. Anis Malik Thaha, International Islamic University, Islamabad. Subject: Contemporary Islamic Thought. Dr. H. Taufiq Hulaimi, Ummu Durman University, Khourtum, Sudan. Subject: al-Fiqih and  Ushul Fiqih. Dr. Muhammad, State Islamic University, Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta. Subject Islamic Economics. Dr. Imam Sukardi, M.Ag, State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta. Subject: Islamic Politics. Dr. Ugi Suharto,  International Islamic University, Malaysia. Subject: Islamic Economics. Dr. Adi Setia,  International Islamic University, Malaysia. Subject: Islamic Science.