Aulia Rakhmat, a PhD student at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII), recently presented his research at the international academic conference titled “Philosophy, the Political, and Politics of Translation in the Modern Islamic World”, held in Berlin, Germany, from March 10–12, 2025.

The conference was jointly hosted by the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) and the Katholische Akademie Berlin, and organized by the esteemed academic network Philosophy in the Modern Islamic World. This initiative gathered renowned scholars from leading European institutions to explore the evolution of philosophical thought across the contemporary Islamic world.

Centered on the theme of philosophical translation, the conference addressed the intellectual, linguistic, religious, and sociopolitical dimensions shaping the modern Muslim experience. Participants engaged in discussions ranging from critical analyses of translation practices to the impact of colonial legacies and the role of translation in renewing and resisting dominant narratives.

In his presentation, Aulia Rakhmat examined the translation of contemporary Perso-Iranian philosophical texts into Bahasa Indonesia by the Rausyan Fikr Institute. His research highlights the critical role of intellectual communities in shaping the production, dissemination, and reception of translated works. He further emphasized how translation functions as a strategic tool to challenge hegemonic discourses and give voice to marginalized perspectives.

Rakhmat’s research received positive and constructive feedback, particularly for shedding light on Indonesia’s underrepresented contribution to global philosophical and translation discourse. As the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia plays a significant yet often overlooked role in contemporary Islamic thought.

“I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to present my research among distinguished scholars from across the globe,” said Rakhmat. “It was an invaluable experience to contribute to such an important conversation, and I am grateful to the organizers for their generous support and recognition.”

Rakhmat’s participation was fully funded by the conference organizers, a reflection of the significance of his scholarly work.

This achievement not only represents a significant milestone in Rakhmat’s academic journey but also reflects the quality of students at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, UIII, and their growing contribution to advancing Indonesian scholarship on international academic platforms.