EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, UNITED KINGDOM – The Muhammadiyah Special Branch Board in the United Kingdom and Ireland (PCIM UK and Ireland) strengthened academic culture among the Indonesian academic culture among the Indonesian diaspora by holding the Muhammadiyah International Forum.
For its inaugural 2026 edition, PCIM UK and Ireland invited acclaimed Indonesian author and academic Dr. Phil. Habiburrahman el Shirazy, popularly known as Kang Abik, as the keynote speaker to discuss his doctoral dissertation completed at Leipzig University in Germany.
Ince Dian Aprilyani Azir, chairperson of PCIM UK and Ireland, said the forum reflects Muhammadiyah’s commitment to fostering a stronger academic tradition among Indonesians living overseas.
“The scholarly works of Indonesian academics abroad deserve a platform so that their contributions can benefit the wider public,” she said.
She expressed hope that the Muhammadiyah International Forum would become a sustainable platform where Indonesian researchers, students, and academics could exchange ideas, expand collaboration, and strengthen Indonesia’s contribution to the advancement of scholarship and Islamic thought at the global level.
The event brought together students, academics, members of the Indonesian diaspora, and the general public from across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Beyond serving as an academic gathering, the forum also strengthened connections among Indonesian communities while reinforcing Muhammadiyah’s role in international intellectual diplomacy.
Exploring Sufism as a Foundation for Peacebuilding
During his presentation, Kang Abik explained that his research examines how Sufism can provide a theological foundation for peacebuilding and the promotion of humanitarian values within diverse societies.
He argued that the Islamic spiritual tradition not only cultivates compassion and moral character but also offers practical resources for strengthening religious moderation and resolving conflicts peacefully.
In his 404 pages dissertation, titled Sufism and the Theological Resources of Peacebuilding in the Works of Shaykh Abdul Halim Mahmud, Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, and Buya Hamka, Kang Abik presents a fresh perspective on understanding peace and advancing peacebuilding efforts.
Organized by the Council for Education, Research, and Culture of PCIM UK and Ireland, the event also received support from KIBAR UK, Mata Garuda UK and Ireland, Keluarga Islam Greater Coventry, and the Warwick Coventry Indonesian Students Association (PPI Warwick Coventry).
The discussion was moderated by Lu’luatul Awaliyah, vice secretary of PCI Fatayat UK, while Dr. Ahmad Rizky M. Umar, chairperson of the MPPK of PCIM UK and Ireland, served as the respondent.
