Auditorium Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SP NEWS – The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 1661st Doctoral Promotion Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA on Monday, February 9, 2026 with promovenda Amiroh Nichayatun Munir Azizah.

Amiroh is a student of the Doctoral program in Islamic Studies with a concentration in Arabic Language and Literature. His dissertation was entitled "Literature and Social Transformation (A Historical Realist Review of the Novel al-Zaynī Barakāt by Jamāl al-Ghīṭānī)".

Amiroh dissects how a work of fiction can be a sharp mirror for historical upheavals. He cited the legendary novel by Jamāl al-Ghīṭānī which is set during the transition period of the Mamluk Dynasty in Egypt as the main object of his research.

This research departs from anxiety about how Islamic civilization in Egypt often experiences deep social crises. Amiroh sees al-Zaynī Barakāt's  novel as not just an ordinary historical narrative, but an instrument of criticism that records the traces of the transformation of society in the midst of political and power pressures.

Specifically, Amiroh delves into the practices of the social life of the Mamluk Dynasty before the leadership of Barakāt bin Mūsā. He tries to unveil the veil behind the idea of Jamāl al-Ghīṭānī, the author, who uses the past to talk about the reality of the crisis that is happening in the present.

Using qualitative methods and the analytical knife of Marxist literary criticism, Amiroh succeeded in dissecting the text in depth. She explores the relationship between class structure, power, and how social transformation is forced or fought for in the literary narrative.

The findings of this study are very interesting, where the figure of Muhtasib Barakāt bin Mūsā is represented as an agent of change. Amiroh noted that there are four main pillars of transformation carried out by these figures, starting from the enforcement of social justice through the improvement of the state system that is more in favor of the collective interests of the community.

In addition, this dissertation highlights the bold steps of Zayni Barakāt in minimizing corruption. In his analysis, Amiroh showed how the eradication and strict punishment of corruptors were important keys in restoring people's trust in state authority at that time.

The humanitarian aspect is also a crucial point, where Amiroh finds the existence of a narrative of gender justice and civil liberties. The effort to free women from confinement and real concern for the rights of the small people shows that the breath of democracy has been blown in this literary work as a form of "government for the people".

Interestingly, Amiroh's research stands tall in support of the theory that literature has significant power to represent the reality of life. It reinforces the arguments of previous experts who believe that the characters, setting, and plot in a novel are real reflections of the social dynamics that occur in the real world.

On the other hand, Amiroh challenges the current of thought that considers literature to be a world separate from social practice. With the success of this doctoral promotion, he proved that literature is not just an aesthetic entertainment, but an agent of transformation that has direct access to influence the perspective and social structure of society.

Amiroh successfully defended his dissertation under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Achmad Satori Ismail, MA and Prof. Dr. R. Yani'ah Wardani, M.Ag, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Achmad Satori Ismail, MA, Prof. Dr. R. Yani'ah Wardani, M.Ag, Prof. Jajang Jahroni,  MA, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Iik Arifin Mansurnoor, MA and Dr. Rizqi Handayani, MA.

After paying attention to the dissertation writing, the comments of the examiner team and the promovenda's answers, the examiner team determined that Amiroh graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Amiroh Nichayatun Munir Azizah is the 1661st Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, doctoral program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (JA)