Seminar to discuss Islam's arrival in RI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The question of how Islam was introduced to
\nIndonesia will be the focus of an international seminar to be
\nheld here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Uka Tjandrasasmita, a historian who will speak at the seminar,
\nThe Arrival and Spread of Islam in Southeast Asia, said
\nhistorians were split into three camps on the origins of the
\nreligion in Indonesia, which now has the world's largest Muslim
\npopulation.<\/p>\n
"Each of the versions has authentic historical evidence," Uka
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The most widely accepted view states that Islam was introduced
\nto the country by merchants from Gujarat, India, who traveled to
\nthe archipelago in the 14th century.<\/p>\n
The late Snouck Horgronye, a Dutch anthropologist who
\ntraveled in Aceh before the Dutch conquered the region in 1904,
\nsaid Islam arrived in Indonesia from India. He also said there
\nwas no proof the Arab world, where Islam originated, was aware of
\nthe existence of Indonesia at the time the Gujarat merchants
\narrived in the country.<\/p>\n
However, recent research indicated Islam was introduced in
\nIndonesia by Chinese traders. The first Chinese visited the
\narchipelago in the 10th century.<\/p>\n
Uka disputes these theories, which maintain Islam was not
\nintroduced to Indonesia by Arabs.<\/p>\n
"There is historical evidence that Islam entered the country
\nin the year 746 when a group of Tashis attacked the Holing empire
\nin Java. The Tashis were Arabs," he said.<\/p>\n
Another historian and Islamic expert, Taufik Abdullah, backs
\nUka's theory.<\/p>\n
"The fact that ... Islamic teaching in Indonesia is identical
\nto that which developed in Arab nations proves the religion came
\nfirsthand from the Arab nations," Taufik, who works at the
\nNational Institute of Sciences, said.<\/p>\n
The one-day seminar will present Islamic experts from India,
\nThailand and Brunei. Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan,
\nMinister of Tourism Hidayat Jaelani and Yogyakarta Governor
\nHamengkubuwono X also will speak at the event.<\/p>\n
Seminar organizer the International Islamic Development
\nFoundation also plans to produce a television series on the
\narrival and spread of Islam in Southeast Asia. The series will be
\nshot in 17 locations across Asia and the Middle East with a
\nbudget of US$20 million.<\/p>\n
The series will be aired in Indonesian, English, French and
\nArabic.<\/p>\n
The series is scheduled to premier in December 2000 in all 55
\nmember countries of the Islamic Conference Organization, which is
\nsponsoring the series. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seminar-to-discuss-islams-arrival-in-ri-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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