Appreciating International Grand Imams Conference, UIN Bukittinggi Affirms Commitment to Strengthening Global Religious Diplomacy

Minggu, September 27, 2026

BUKITTINGGI – From mosque pulpits to academic discussion halls, a resounding call for global peace is echoing louder from Indonesia. The historic International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC) 2026, held in Jakarta from Sept 25 to 27, marks a significant shift in global diplomacy—moving beyond rigid, formal negotiation tables toward the sharp conscience of religious faith.

  Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar opens the International Grand Imam Conference (IGIC) 2026 in Jakarta on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.

Bringing together 70 delegates—including grand imams, grand muftis, and religious figures from 45 countries—the event offers a breath of fresh air amid global tensions and conflicts. The summit, attended by around 350 domestic and international participants, named Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Prof Dr KH Nasaruddin Umar, as Leader of the International Grand Imam Forum on Sunday (Sept 27).

The appointment of Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister to the helm of global faith leaders was warmly welcomed by the academic community at Sjech M. Djamil Djambek State Islamic University (UIN) Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.

On behalf of the institution, UIN Bukittinggi Rector Prof Dr Silfia Hanani expressed her deepest appreciation and pride in the Ministry’s historic achievement and the international mandate entrusted to Prof Dr Nasaruddin.

"The academic community of UIN Bukittinggi extends its warmest congratulations and highest appreciation for the successful hosting of IGIC 2026 and the election of Minister Nasaruddin Umar as Leader of the International Grand Imam Forum. His leadership on the global stage reinforces Indonesia's strategic position as a benchmark for spirituality-based harmony and peace diplomacy," Prof Silfia said at the UIN Bukittinggi campus in West Sumatra.

Prof Dr Silfia Hanani, Rector of UIN Bukittinggi

Advancing Diplomacy of Conscience

According to Prof Silfia, Prof Dr KH Nasaruddin's vision to expand the role of imams from ritual leaders to peace ambassadors and bridges of humanity rests on strong academic and cultural foundations.

"Imams and religious leaders are figures closest to the grassroots level, interacting with the faithful at least five times a day. Mobilising human conscience through gentle, inclusive religious discourse is far more effective in defusing tension than formal-legalistic approaches that frequently reach dead ends," she said.

Opening IGIC 2026 in Jakarta earlier, Prof Nasaruddin stressed the importance of spiritual diplomacy. Amid protracted conflicts and complex global challenges—ranging from environmental crises to the rise of artificial intelligence—a faith-based approach addresses the most fundamental common ground of humanity.

"We firmly believe that by using the language of religion, a conscience-driven diplomacy can be cultivated. Existing conflicts can be defused through the core language of humanity, because humanity is one,"  Nasaruddin said.

Three Pillars and the Jakarta Understanding

Chairman of the IGIC 2026 Steering Committee, Muhammad Sabilul Alif, explained that spiritual diplomacy rests on three key pillars: restoring the civilisational function of mosques as community harmony hubs, leveraging the religious soft power of imams for humanitarian diplomacy, and fostering world peace through the formation of the International Grand Imam Forum alongside the concrete Jakarta Understanding agreement.

These pillars were reflected in a series of events in Jakarta, including a visit to the Istiqlal-Cathedral Tunnel of Friendship, diplomatic engagements with foreign ambassadors, and panel discussions on the strategic role of religion in addressing global ecological and humanitarian crises.

Sustaining Global Harmony

UIN Bukittinggi's commitment to nurturing religious harmony aligns with its track record rooted in the Minangkabau region. The emergence of the Jakarta Understanding from IGIC 2026 is expected to bolster harmony-focused academic initiatives at the university.

From June 2 to 4, UIN Bukittinggi hosted the annual meeting of Netherlands-Indonesia Consortium for Muslim-Christian Relations (NICMCR) conference, themed "Life in a Changing World: Religion, Ecology, and Responsibility". The forum highlighted the strategic role of religion in tackling environmental crises, pluralism, and complex global changes.

NICMCR delegates during the annual meeting at UIN Bukittinggi,2-4 June 2026.

"The spirit of the Jakarta Understanding from IGIC 2026 aligns closely with UIN Bukittinggi’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue and cultivating Religious Moderation," Prof Silfia noted.

Through synergy between global spiritual diplomacy initiatives like IGIC 2026 and inclusive higher education practices at state Islamic universities, UIN Bukittinggi remains optimistic that Indonesia will continue to serve as a global role model in nurturing harmony, preserving nature, and upholding lasting peace. [IRWANDI]

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