MEULABOH – Students of the Master of Sharia Economics (MES) Program of the State Islamic College (STAIN) Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh received an injection of valuable knowledge from national academics in a guest lecture themed "Religious Literacy, Sharia Economics and Sustainable Peace: Discourse and Practice".

The lecture, which took place online, presented the Director of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Zulkifli MA, as the main speaker. This activity is part of the odd semester academic program for the 2025/2026 academic year and was attended by dozens of S2 Sharia Economics students at the STAIN TDM Postgraduate Campus, Gampa Meulaboh.

The Head of the MES STAIN TDM Study Program, Dr. Mukhsinuddin, MM, said that this lecture aims to enrich students' understanding of actual issues related toSharia Economicsin the broader religious and societal framework.

"We present Prof. Zulkifli because he is not only an influential academic, but also a thinker in the field of religious literacy that is relevant to the current direction of development policies and the global economy," he said.

In his presentation, Prof. Zulkifli emphasized the importance of building a complete religious literacy as a foundation to understand the interaction of religion with cultural, economic, social, and political systems across time and place.

"Good religious literacy allows a person to read reality from an integrative and adaptive perspective. This is important in the context of a complex and constantly changing world," said Prof. Zul.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the economic system cannot be separated from the social and structural context. He said that the sustainability of global peace is greatly influenced by how religious literacy is applied in people's economic policies and behavior.

"Religious literacy is not only about worship, but also how these values affect economic patterns and social relations. In the global context, this literacy can be a means of mitigating conflicts that are often rooted in economic and political inequality," he added.

The lecture was closed with an interactive discussion session. The students seemed enthusiastic about responding to the material presented, especially in the context of the relationship between global crises, economic inequality, and the importance of a religious value-based approach in finding solutions.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of STAIN TDM, Dr. Syamsuar, in his speech said that the STAIN TDM Sharia Economics Study Program is indeed designed to equip students with strategic competencies in the fields of Islamic finance, business, and public policy.

"We hope that through guest lectures like this, students will not only master technical aspects, but also have a critical perspective and noble values that they can bring to the world of work and the wider community," he said.

He also added that activities like this will continue to be strengthened to add insight and expand students' academic networks with national figures and practitioners in the fieldSharia Economics.

By presenting national-level speakers, STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh shows its commitment to producing graduates of the Master of Sharia Economics who are not only scientifically capable, but also ready to make a real contribution to realizing a fair, inclusive, and sustainable economy.

This article has been published in SerambiNews.com with the title Kuliah Tamu Prof Zulkifli di STAIN Meulaboh Kupas Literasi Keagamaan dan Ekonomi Syariah.