SPs Theater Room UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS: The Graduate School of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta held the 2765th Thesis Exam in the SPs Theater Room of UIN Jakarta, on Thursday, July 24, 2025 with candidate Ahmad Zulkarnain.

Ahmad Zulkarnain is a student of the Master of Islamic Studies study program with a concentration in Islamic Thought. Zulkarnain wrote a thesis entitled "Relations of Religion and Philosophy in Indonesia: A Study of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and the Driyarkara College of Philosophy"

This research reveals the epistemological approach, teaching practices, and curriculum orientation at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and the Driyarkara College of Philosophy (STF). The main focus is on answering how the two institutions integrate religion and philosophy, the efforts they make, and their similarities and differences. This is crucial considering that there is often a dichotomous assumption between rationality and faith, which Zulkarnain wants to refute.

The findings of Zulkarnain's research show that both UIN Jakarta and STF Driyarkara, although with different approaches, both place philosophy as a reflective and critical instrument of faith. UIN Jakarta develops an integrative-interconnective paradigm, where philosophy becomes a rational supporter of revelation within the framework of Islamic epistemology. On the contrary, STF Driyarkara makes philosophy an autonomous space that reflects faith freely within the horizon of ethics and existentialism.

Despite these differences in approach, both institutions demonstrate a strong commitment to academic freedom and openness to interfaith. They also actively applied philosophy to deal with contemporary social and moral problems, indicating that the relationship between religion and philosophy is not in opposition but dialogical and mutually enriching. These findings challenge the long-standing dichotomy between rationality and faith that has often been debated.

This research also corroborates previous findings that religious institutions in Indonesia tend to be moderate and inclusive in responding to modern intellectual challenges, as described by Ahmad Tsarwat (2024). Furthermore, this research refutes the reductionist view that religious educational institutions are closed to philosophical thought and criticism, an assumption that often appears in some postcolonial or orientalist studies.

Thus, Zulkarnain's thesis emphasizes that in the Indonesian context, religion and philosophy can not only dialogue productively, but together become an important foundation in strengthening critical awareness, public ethics, and reflective religious reasoning in higher education. The results of this research are expected to make a significant contribution to intellectual discourse in Indonesia.

Ahmad Zulkarnain successfully defended his thesis under the guidance of Prof. Arif Zamhari, M.Ag, Ph.D, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA, Prof. Arif Zamhari, M.Ag, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Rd. Mulyadhi Kartanegara and Dr. Kholid Al Walid, M.Ag.

After paying attention to the thesis writing, the comments of the examiner team and the candidate's answers, the examiner team determined that Ahmad Zulkarnain graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Ahmad Zulkarnain is the 2765th magister in the field of Islamic Studies, in the master's program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (JA)