The Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) successfully held SCRIPTS 2025: Summer Course on Islamic Manuscripts and Texts from July 15 to 17, 2025. The three-day event brought together students, scholars, and manuscript enthusiasts from across Indonesia and abroad to explore the rich textual traditions of the Islamic world—ranging from early Middle Eastern codices to the classical Malay-Jawi heritage.
SCRIPTS 2025 offered a rare interdisciplinary program that combined codicology, philology, and the social sciences, led by distinguished facilitators including Zacky Khairul Umam (UIII), A. Ginanjar Sya’ban (UNUSIA Jakarta), Jajang A. Rohmana (UIN Bandung), Stéphane Lacroix (Sciences Po, Paris), Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin (UIII), and visiting scholar Marie Legendre (University of Edinburgh).
A Vibrant Exchange of Knowledge
Throughout the program, participants engaged in intensive lectures and discussions covering topics such as codicological methods, regional manuscript traditions, legal texts, and the sociological interpretation of printed Islamic texts. The sessions were held at UIII’s Faculty A Building and concluded with a visit to the National Library of Indonesia, where participants viewed rare and diverse Islamic manuscript collections in Arabic, Jawi, and other local scripts.
Marie Legendre expressed her enthusiasm about participating in the program:
“I was very happy to be a guest lecturer this week. I gave a session on Arabic manuscripts and mythology, and the students were incredibly engaged. Visiting the National Library was a highlight—the manuscripts are rich in history and written in various languages and alphabets. I hope this visit can be repeated in future courses.”
Rooted in History, Open to the Future
As the program convener, Zacky Khairul Umam emphasized that SCRIPTS is more than a course—it’s an academic initiative to bridge classical manuscript studies with contemporary scholarship:
“We designed SCRIPTS to introduce not just Islamic manuscripts, but the broader textual culture, both classical and printed, across the Muslim world. The goal is to make this a regular event that welcomes participants from Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and beyond.”
Participants Reflect on a Meaningful Experience
Participants, many of whom are scholars and students in Islamic studies, praised the program for its content and execution. Yuyun, one of the participants, noted:
“This program took me back to my thesis days on Malay manuscripts. It was a joy to reunite with peers who share the same passion. The instructors were excellent, and I only hope the time management can be improved slightly in the future.”
Another participant, Zufardien, shared a similar sentiment:
“This was a valuable learning experience. The sessions on codicology and Islamic texts, both local and international, were rich and eye-opening. I hope the program can be held annually—and even longer!”
Looking Ahead
The Faculty of Islamic Studies at UIII aims to continue hosting SCRIPTS in the years to come, making it a cornerstone program for advancing manuscript and textual scholarship in Indonesia and the wider region. With its blend of academic rigor, historical depth, and collaborative spirit, SCRIPTS 2025 has laid a strong foundation for future exploration into the intellectual heritage of the Muslim world.
