Faculty of Islamic Studies at UNU Jogja Launches Inaugural JoDI Journal Featuring Contemporary Islamic and Sharia Economic Studies

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – The Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) has officially published the inaugural edition of the Journal of Dirasah Islamiyah (JoDI), Volume 1, in July 2026. The launch marks a strategic milestone in strengthening the faculty's research culture while expanding the academic contributions of lecturers, students, and researchers to the development of contextual Islamic studies.

The first edition of JoDI features a wide range of scholarly articles addressing contemporary issues, including religious identity, the halal industry, Islamic education, Islamic economics, and Sharia-based financial institutions.

Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dirasah Islamiyah (JoDI), Mohammad Rofiqi, stated that the publication of the journal's inaugural edition represents the Faculty of Islamic Studies' first step toward establishing a high-quality and sustainable academic publishing ecosystem.

"We established JoDI as an academic platform that brings together diverse perspectives in Islamic studies. We aim to encourage the production of scholarly works that are not only methodologically rigorous but also capable of addressing contemporary issues facing society. This inaugural edition lays the foundation for improving publication quality, expanding our network of contributors, and pursuing journal accreditation in the future," said Rofiqi.

Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Hamdi Putra Ahmad, emphasized that the launch of JoDI reflects the faculty's commitment to strengthening academic culture, research, and scholarly publication within higher education.

"Scholarly publication is one of the key indicators of a university's academic quality. Through JoDI, we seek to provide a collaborative platform for lecturers, students, and researchers from various institutions to contribute ideas and research findings relevant to the development of Islamic studies. We hope this journal will become an important academic reference while enhancing the Faculty of Islamic Studies' contribution to the advancement of knowledge at both the national and international levels," he said.

One of the featured articles was written by Dr. Nur Hidayah, a lecturer in the Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies Program at UNU Jogja, entitled Al-Wala' wal Ukhuwwah lil Muslimat al-Indunisiyyat. The study examines the dynamics of Indonesian Muslim women's loyalty to Islamic values amid the social polarization that emerged following recent political contestations. The findings reveal that commitment to Islamic teachings is not necessarily expressed through social exclusivity. Likewise, the use of Islamic symbols does not automatically indicate particular political affiliations or radical tendencies but instead reflects diverse and contextual expressions of religious identity.

Islamic economics is also highlighted through an article by Dini Astriani, a graduate student at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, entitled The Three Lives of Halal Commodities: Industrial Sociology, Fiqh-Mindedness, and the Regulation of the Modern Secular Market. The study explores the global phenomenon of halalization as a voluntary regulatory system developing within modern industries. Through an analysis of the Islamic finance and global halal logistics sectors, the research demonstrates that Sharia-based economic practices represent not only religious expression but also an integral part of the transformation of global capitalism.

In the field of education, Hamdan, a teacher at SD Idea Baru, presents a study entitled Teacher Professionalism in Arabic Language Learning. Conducted at TPA Al-Ikhlash Samirono in Sleman, the research found that teachers' professional competencies are strengthened through rigorous recruitment, continuous training, and independent professional development. The study also concludes that the implementation of diverse teaching methods and assessment strategies contributes to improving both teacher professionalism and the effectiveness of Arabic language instruction.

Meanwhile, Nurul Ahsan, an Islamic boarding school leader and academic at BMA Al-Hikmah Blora, discusses the implementation of the Qardhul Hasan contract in the article Practices, Impacts, and Public Perceptions of Qardhul Hasan: A Case Study at BMA Al-Hikmah Blora. The research highlights the significant contribution of interest-free benevolent loans in supporting micro-enterprises and addressing community economic needs. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of strengthening commitment to the principles of maqashid al-shariah to ensure that Islamic financial institutions continue to fulfill their social mission effectively.

Another contribution to the field of Islamic economics comes from Sumarti, an academic from the Academy of Social Welfare (AKK), through the article The Impact of Sukuk Issuance on the Performance of Islamic Banks: A Case Study of Bank Muamalat Indonesia. Based on an analysis of Bank Muamalat Indonesia's financial statements from 2013 to 2016, the study found that sukuk issuance contributed positively to strengthening the bank's capital adequacy and improving operational efficiency. However, it did not have a statistically significant effect on financing, profitability, or liquidity.

Through the publication of JoDI, the Faculty of Islamic Studies at UNU Jogja provides an academic platform that brings together diverse perspectives in Islamic studies, covering socio-religious issues, education, and Islamic economics. The diversity of topics presented in the inaugural edition is expected to enrich scholarly discourse while encouraging research that addresses the evolving challenges of contemporary society. [Latifah]