Indonesian Scholar and Imam Visits HIU

On Saturday, Feb. 17, Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, the rector of PTIQ University, a higher education institution specializing in Quranic sciences, visited the students from PTIQ who are currently studying at HIU. PTIQ University and HIU have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) strengthening the educational partnership between the two institutions.

Dr. Nasaruddin Umar is also the Grand Imam at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. This mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia and ranks as the ninth largest globally in terms of worshiper capacity. 

Founder of the Indonesian interfaith group known as Masyarakat Dialog antar Umat Beragama, Dr. Umar has served as vice minister in the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs from 2011 to 2014. 

The Indonesian students on campus organized an interfaith talk titled “Indonesia is a Locomotive in Multireligious Moderation.” Academic Dean Dr. Deena Grant, Director of the Center for Transformative Spirituality Dr. Lisa Dahill, and Director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Dr. David Grafton participated in the weekend's events to celebrate the ongoing relationship between the institutions and to build the foundation for expanding our collaboration.