Departure of a ‘Muezzin’ of the Nation

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The body of the scholar Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra arrived at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (20/9/2022). The body was brought to the UIN Syarif Hidayatullah campus to be prayed before being buried in the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.

After Prof Dr Ahmad Syafii Maarif passed away on May 27 in Yogyakarta, scholar Prof Dr Azyumardi Azra CBE left us forever on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Within four months, this nation has lost two national teachers. Teachers of the nation who loved this country very much. Both national teachers had a strong character. Strength of character was inherent in the figure of Prof. Azyumardi, a scholar who was born in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra on March 4, 1955.

Both figures were muezzin (reminders) of this nation, who always called for kindness. The call was not for their personal interests or for the interests of their own groups, but for the whole nation. Buya Syafii and Prof Azyumardi followed KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Nurcholish Madjid (Cak Nur) who had passed away before them. They were figures who enlightened this nation.

Also read:

> Azyumardi Azra: An Independent Intellectual

> Goodbye, One of the Intelligentsia of the Nation

Azyumardi Azra, a professor of history who obtained a Master of Philosophy degree from Columbia University, was an accomplished intellectual. Early this year, the press community appointed Azyumardi as chairman of the Press Council for the 2022-2025 period. He was expected to be a bulwark on the threat against freedom of the press and press independence in the midst of increasingly strong political interests toward 2024 and the domination of global technology groups.

Azyumardi's strength of character and independent attitude was his life choice. The Kompas 2015 Dedicated Scholar awardee chose a quiet life. He chose two quiet paths: serving the world of science and providing enlightenment in the Muslim community. “The campus world is a lonely, solitary world, not a boisterous world. If I was in a party structure or otherwise, I might not be objective and there would be a conflict of interest,” said Azyumardi (Kompas, June 25, 2015).

TANGKAPAN LAYAR HARIAN KOMPAS

Screenshot of an article about Azyumardi Azra in Kompas Daily in 2015.

As a journalist for Panji Masyarakat (Community Banner) magazine, Azyumardi was very productive in writing columns, scientific works or academic books as references. In fact, in urgent conditions, he did not hesitate to go down the mountain (in the real sense) to "fight" political trends that could threaten press freedom, democracy or the elite's efforts to weaken the eradication of corruption.

Goodbye Prof Azyumardi, rest in eternal peace.

Together with a number of professors, Azyumardi opposed the weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the use of the National Insight Test (TWK) instrument to get rid of KPK employees. Together with a coalition of civil society and the Press Council he tried to "fight" the symptoms of authoritarianism that appeared in the Draft Criminal Code and various other activities.

Goodbye Prof Azyumardi, rest in eternal peace. Civil society feels that Prof. Azyumardi left too quickly, in the midst of an atmosphere of uncertainty in finding a role model. We remain optimistic and believe that his foster children, Azyumardi's ideological children, can continue their fighting spirit. Bouquets of flowers lined up around his residence, an indication that Prof. Azyumardi was a highly respected national figure.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.