From November 3–6, 2024, Mariati Aprilia Harahap, a master’s student at the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS), Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), gave a virtual presentation at the 3rd Aceh Global Conference (AGC-SCOPOS). The event was organized by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Syiah Kuala and took place at Sabang Town Hall and Mata Ie Resort on Sabang Island, Aceh, Indonesia. This international conference focused on the theme: “Dynamics on Contemporary Issues: Approaches and Knowledge for Global Resilience.”
Aprilia presented her paper, “Interreligious Marriage Between Muslim and Female Ahlul Kitāb: The Perspective of Muslim Indonesians,” which explores issues of family, gender, and religious interpretation in the context of tradition and modernity. Focusing on the fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which prohibits Muslim men from marrying women of the Ahlul Kitāb (People of the Book), she analyzes the socio-religious motivations behind this stance.
Her study argues that while classical fiqh, particularly under the principle of jalb al-maṣlaḥah wa dafʿ al-mafsadah (attracting benefit and preventing harm), does not explicitly forbid such marriages, the MUI fatwa reflects a discursive shift aimed at reinforcing the dominance of the Shāfiʿī madhhab in Indonesia. Mariati suggests that the fatwa functions as a strategic tool to preserve traditional values and societal harmony in response to contemporary moral and social challenges.
“This fatwa is not just a legal stance—it is part of a broader narrative about identity, authority, and social cohesion in Indonesian Muslim society,” Aprilia noted during her presentation.
The conference brought together scholars from across Asia to address contemporary challenges through interdisciplinary lenses, including social dynamics, communication, governance, political science, and resilience studies. Participants shared their insights through oral presentations and engaged in critical discussions that aimed to promote global resilience through localized knowledge.
In recognition of her outstanding presentation, Aprilia was awarded “Best Presenter” at the conference. Furthermore, her paper was accepted for publication in a Scopus-indexed journal focusing on Islamic law, marking a significant achievement in her academic journey.
The Faculty of Islamic Studies extends its congratulations to Mariati Aprilia Harahap for this achievement and her role in representing the university on the international academic stage. Her contribution highlights FIS’s continued dedication to advancing research that connects Islamic thought with contemporary challenges and scholarly excellence.