The Master’s Program in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies, through the Association of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Students (IMABTA UGM), organized a “Book Discussion” event on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in a hybrid format. This event featured BIPA Practitioner and Doctoral Candidate from Al-Azhar University Cairo, Indra Gunawan, Lc. M.A. Mr. Indra completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the Tarikh wal Hadarah (History and Civilization) program and specializes in Islamic history for his dissertation research. The book discussed was “Risālatun Fī at-Ṭarīqi Ilā Ṡaqāfatinā” by Abu Fihr Mahmud Muhammad Shakir. This book was published in 1987 by the Egyptian General Book Organization.
The book “Risālatun Fī at-Ṭarīqi Ilā Ṡaqāfatinā,” translated as “Notes on the Way to Our Culture,” discusses the formation of culture and scholarly traditions in the Middle East. According to Mr. Indra, the formation of culture and scholarly traditions in the Middle East is continuous with the development of Islam because the Middle East flourished during the Islamic empires, particularly the Ottoman Empire. During that time, Middle Eastern culture was very famous and became a global trend. The scholarly tradition of that era became a reference point for the development of knowledge in Europe. Additionally, this book is based on literature from both Arab and European sources, so readers of this book are advised to have a good command of either Arabic or English.
