At International Seminar, Jusuf Kalla Urges Muslims to Master Technology

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for the periods 2004–2009 and 2014–2019, H. M. Jusuf Kalla, stated that the strength of the Muslim community in the future will never reach its full potential if it relies solely on religious aspects.

Jusuf Kalla made this statement while delivering a keynote address at the International Seminar and the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Asian Islamic Universities Association (AIUA), held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Speaking at the event attended by hundreds of international delegates, he called for a paradigm shift in Islamic education, urging institutions to take the advancement of technology and economic self-reliance more seriously.

“Our strength will not be maximized if we depend only on religious aspects without technological and economic progress. A strong economy is the foundation for sustaining both da’wah and social development. We must learn from educational models that successfully integrate religious values with scientific advancement,” Jusuf Kalla conveyed as quoted by mui.or.id.

He further underscored that without a solid mastery of technology and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, it would be difficult for any nation or civilization to achieve tangible progress and remain globally competitive. During the forum of Islamic academic institutions across Asia, Jusuf Kalla also offered an insightful theological reflection.

He encouraged leaders of Islamic universities to revisit the philosophy behind the popular Islamic prayer: “Rabbana atina fid dunya hasanah wa fil akhirati hasanah” (“Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter”).

According to him, this prayer should be interpreted as a real motivation for Muslims to pursue and attain worldly goodness and prosperity first through innovation, science, and economic advancement. Such worldly success, he argued, would become the primary capital for achieving happiness in the Hereafter.

Furthermore, amid an increasingly complex global landscape, the national figure reminded Islamic universities in Asia that they must be able to advocate for world peace.

However, he stressed that educational diplomacy and peace advocacy will only be heard and respected if they are built upon a strong foundation of intellectual excellence and economic independence.

Jusuf Kalla’s views received a positive response from the Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and President of AIUA, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar. He affirmed that modern Islamic educational institutions must be bold enough to undertake major transformations by eliminating the dichotomy between religious studies and science.