Isral Naska, Arabic Language Education (PBA) Islamic Studies Faculty, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumbar (UM Sumbar) accomplished 7th ILEM International Summer School. The agenda was conducted by the Scientific Studies Association (ILEM), Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), Istanbul University, International League of Academicians (ILM), Islamic Cooperation of Youth Forum (ICYF) on July 5th-9th, 2021. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants were invited to Istanbul, Turkey. The agenda became a place for the participants and other scholars around the world to discuss their ideas. However, ILEM is held online in the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Isral Naska achieved ILEM through a paper entitled “Arabic in Strengthening Religious Identity: a Lesson from the History of Minangkabau Social Transformation. ” The paper is in line with ILEM topic of this year, namely “Muslim Identity in the Modern World: Facts, Threats, and Prospects.” Two selection processes should be through by ILEM participants, including extended abstract writing and full-paper writing. “I spent approximately 5-6 months for both selection processes,” Isral explained.
Isral admitted that attending ILEM was his individual goal for a long time. “Two years ago, I failed in the full-paper selection process, Alhamdulillah; I succeeded this year,” he admitted. About the theme he chose, Isral said there are so many Islamic histories in Minangkabau which further can be elaborated to know and discuss by the education world. “For this occasion, I analyzed Minangkabau history by using social transformational theory which Sewll Jr. propounds to show Arabic classic essential in identity formation in Islam religious community,” Isral further explained.
Furthermore, he felt very grateful to bring UM Sumbar into the International event once more. He hoped that it could be beneficial for him individually and generally in UM Sumbar, where he worked since 2012.