Indonesia Joins Global Qur’an Verification Forum in Iraq

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has reaffirmed its role in global religious diplomacy with the participation of Muchlis M. Hanafi, Director of Islamic Religious Information at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in the International Forum for Qur’an Manuscript Verification held in Karbala, Iraq, from February 2–5, 2026. 

This presence, at the invitation of Iraq’s Diwan Al-Waqf al-Syi’i, underscores Indonesia’s active engagement in international religious cooperation. Muchlis joined the International Committee for the Verification of the Qur’an Manuscript in Iraq, which is set to be published by Al-Atabah al-Husainiyah. 

The committee brings together Qur’anic scholars from across the Muslim world, including Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and several other countries. The forum explored technical and scholarly aspects of Qur’an manuscripts, covering rasm (orthography), qirā’āt (recitations), ḍabṭ (diacritical marks), waqf (pause signs), and academic standards for producing authentic and accountable manuscripts.

“This participation reflects Indonesia’s ongoing contribution to strengthening international religious cooperation,” Muchlis said in Karbala on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as quoted on the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs official website.

A seasoned scholar, Muchlis previously served as Head of the Qur’an Manuscript Verification Institute (LPMQ) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs from 2015 to 2022. A doctorate holder from Al-Azhar University in Egypt, he remains actively involved in global forums dedicated to safeguarding the authority of Qur’an manuscripts.

Beyond Iraq, Muchlis is also a member of the verification team for the Mushaf al-Ummah project in Turkey, an international initiative involving Qur’an scholars from 15 countries under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmad Isa al-Ma’sharawi. 

At the global level, he sits on the Majlis ‘Ilmi of the Sanad lil Ijāzah al-Qur’āniyyah Platform, an international initiative launched in Qatar in 2024 to reinforce the authority of Qur’anic transmission and scholarly lineage.

The active participation of Indonesian scholars in such forums aligns with the policies of the Minister of Religious Affairs and directives from the President of Indonesia, both of which emphasize strengthening the country’s role on the world stage, particularly in religious diplomacy, moderation, and cooperation across the Islamic world.

“Through this involvement, Indonesia is not merely a participant but a strategic partner and scholarly reference in contemporary Qur’anic and Islamic discourse,” Muchlis emphasized.

“Indonesia’s religious diplomacy continues to promote the values of wasathiyah (balanced), inter-sectarian dialogs, and the collective commitment of the global Muslim community to safeguard the authenticity and authority of the Qur’an manuscript,” he concluded. ***