Competing Against 900 Abstracts, Two Research Papers by UNU Jogja Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies Students Selected for Mu’tamad 2026 International Conference

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Two research abstracts submitted by students of the Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies (SII) Study Program at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) have been selected for the Al-Multaqa Ad-Dawli Lid-Dirasah Al-Islamiyah Wal Insaniyah Wal Hadariyah (Mu’tamad), or the 2026 International Conference on Islamic, Humanitarian, and Civilizational Studies. Out of approximately 900 participants from Islamic boarding schools and Islamic higher education institutions across several countries, the two abstracts were among 200 selected entries in the selection process organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The academic forum carries the theme “Towards Transformative Islamic Boarding Schools in Islamic, Humanitarian, and Global Civilizational Studies.” In line with this theme, the two research projects by UNU Jogja SII students seek to connect Islamic studies with issues facing contemporary society. They explore two distinct topics: young people's concerns in navigating the quarter-life crisis and the interpretation of the Islamic value of tawakal (reliance on God) in digital preaching.

Fatin Afiyati's research is entitled “The Relevance of the Teachings of Tawhid in the Book Tijan Ad-Darari in Addressing the Quarter-Life Crisis Phenomenon from the Ash'ari Perspective.” The study examines the quarter-life crisis experienced by many individuals in early adulthood, particularly anxiety about the future, uncertainty in making life decisions, fear of failure, and uncertainty surrounding education and employment.

Using a qualitative approach and library research methodology, Fatin examines three attributes of Allah: qudrah (power), iradah (will), and ‘ilm (knowledge), as explained in Tijan ad-Darari, a work by Sheikh Nawawi al-Bantani.

The research is also supported by additional data collected through a questionnaire involving 35 Islamic boarding school students aged 18–29. The findings indicate that these three attributes of Allah are relevant as spiritual foundations for navigating life's uncertainties. The attribute of qudrah helps individuals understand Allah's power amid human limitations; iradah relates to accepting Allah's decree while maintaining personal effort (ikhtiar) and reliance on God (tawakal); while ‘ilm reinforces the belief that Allah knows every aspect of human circumstances.

Meanwhile, Ayu Marfuah's research is entitled “Representations of the Value of Tawakal in Surah At-Talaq Verses 2–3 in Ustadz Hanan Attaki's Digital Preaching.” The study explores how the growing engagement of modern society with social media shapes the way people understand and interpret religious values, including tawakal, through digital religious preaching.

Using a qualitative approach and Stuart Hall's theory of representation, Ayu analyzes 12 video sermons by Ustadz Hanan Attaki, along with their relevant transcripts. The study identifies five categories of representation related to tawakal: reliance on God, piety, belief in divine destiny, optimism, and a balance between worldly and spiritual aspirations.

The findings show that the value of tawakal is constructed through analogies drawn from everyday experiences. Piety is represented through the relationship between personal effort, prayer, and adherence to Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, belief in divine destiny is conveyed through interpretations of loss and Allah's decree, while optimism is communicated through encouragement not to lose hope.

Together, the two studies demonstrate how Islamic scholarship can be developed to examine and respond to contemporary social challenges. Fatin's research connects classical theological thought with the psychosocial challenges faced by young people, while Ayu's study explores how Islamic values are communicated and interpreted through digital media.

Aminah, Lc., M.Ag., a lecturer in the UNU Jogja SII Study Program and the academic supervisor of both students, said that the issues addressed in the two studies reflect concerns closely related to the lives of people in modern society. She noted that the students' efforts to examine these issues through Islamic scholarly perspectives contribute to broader understanding of contemporary social phenomena.

“I see that both students have chosen issues that are closely connected to people's everyday lives. They do not simply examine Islamic texts; they also seek to understand how these values remain relevant to the challenges people face today,” she said on Tuesday, November 3.

She emphasized that the two studies highlight the importance of connecting Islamic intellectual traditions with the dynamics of contemporary society, both in addressing personal challenges and in understanding changes in religious communication in the digital era.

“The success of these two SII students demonstrates the role of higher education institutions in fostering a research culture that responds to societal challenges. Through studies rooted in Islamic intellectual traditions and developed using scholarly approaches, students seek to present religious perspectives that remain relevant to contemporary humanitarian and civilizational challenges,” she concluded. []

Reporter: Latifah