RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, said the commemoration of Isra’ Mi’raj serves as an important momentum to enhance religious education that balances reason and faith. He affirmed that such balance is essential to fostering social harmony and religious tolerance.

The minister delivered the message during a religious lecture at Darul Qur’an Mosque of PTIQ in Jakarta, Wednesday, 4 February 2026. The event was attended by students, religious scholars, and members of the public.

According to him, Islamic education should integrate intellectual and spiritual intelligence to prevent rigid or extreme interpretations of religion. He said education plays a key role in shaping a moderate and inclusive religious outlook.

He explained that Surah Al-Isra, located at the center of the Qur’an and positioned between Surah An-Nahl and Surah Al-Kahfi, symbolizes this balance. The structure, he said, reflects the harmony between rational thought and spiritual depth in Islamic teachings.

“Surah An-Nahl represents intellectual intelligence through its rational reflections and references to natural phenomena,” Nasaruddin said. “Meanwhile, Surah Al-Kahfi illustrates spiritual intelligence through narratives that go beyond human logic.”

The minister stressed that both dimensions must coexist in religious education to create a holistic understanding of faith. Without balance, he warned, religious followers may fall into extremes, either by over-glorifying logic or by rejecting rational thinking entirely.

Minister Nasaruddin noted that Indonesia’s approach to religious education aims to promote moderation as part of its broader social fabric. This approach aligns with Indonesia’s long-standing commitment to pluralism and peaceful coexistence.

He added that strengthening balanced religious education is increasingly relevant in a global context marked by polarization and identity-based tensions. Indonesia, he said, seeks to present its model of moderate Islam as a contribution to global peace and interfaith understanding.