History of the Faculty of Islamic Studies 

The Faculty of Islamic Studies is one of the oldest faculties in the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). When the UMM had established in 1964 as a branch of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ), the first department that had been offered to the public was Islamic Education, the Faculty of Education. Accordingly, it was the first department recognising hat the University of Muhammadiyah Malang was existed. 

Prof. H.A. Malik Fadjar, between two of his juniors: Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy and Dr. Fauzan, M.Pd.

The establishment of the Faculty of Islamic Studies has worked for the best ideals of Muhammadiyah, the largest modernist Muslim organisation in Indonesia, which has struggled for humanisation and against dehumanisation (amar ma’ruf nahi munkar) in the field of education. According to the ideals, the faculty has encouraged to the emergence of “intellectual preachers and preaching intellectuals.”

The first dean of the faculty was Drs. Syamsul Kislam, while the Rector was Drs. Sofyan Aman. Since 1968, the faculty had become a part of UMM independently separating from UMJ. At that time, the Rector had been Dr. M. Ridwan Hasyim and the dean, Drs. Masjfuk Zuhdi.

In 1970, the Department of Islamic Education, Faculty of Education had transformed to become the Faculty of Tarbiyah. The former dean, Drs. Masjfuk Zuhdi had been elected as a rector and his previous position taken by Drs. Imam Hasan and his secretary was Drs. Tadjab Abdullah.

Due to the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ policy, the faculty had become a leading institution focusing in managing the administrative stuff of private colleges of Islamic studies in the region, such as:

a.    Faculty of Religious Studies and Dakwah, Surabaya.

b.    Faculty of Islamic Education (Tarbiyah), Institute of Islamic Studies of Muhammadiyah, Kediri.

c.     Faculty of Islamic Education (Tarbiyah), Institute of Islamic Studies of Muhammadiyah, Ponorogo.

d.    Faculty of Islamic Education (Tarbiyah), Institute of Islamic Studies of Muhammadiyah, Blitar and Surabaya.

In the period of 1991-1998, the dean had been Drs. H. Slamet AS Yusuf, Drs. Tadjab Abdullah, Drs. Muhaimin, Drs. Sudiono and Drs. Ishomuddin respectively. In 1984 the Faculty of Shariah was established. The dean of this new faculty was Drs. Abdul Madjid, SH. In 1993, both faculties had been merged to become the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIAI and then, FAI). In the period of 1998 to 2005, the dean had been Drs. Moh. Nurhakim, M.Ag and currently the position has been driven by Prof. Dr. Tobroni, M.Si.

Left to right: Prof. Dr. Tobroni, Prof. H.A. Malik Fadjar and Dr. Fauzan, M.Pd

In order to deal with the mission of the development of the real university, over the years, the faculty has evolved and sophisticated its study process, and institutional bureaucracy and management. Since 1990, the faculty has developed the special Arabic studies (special course) starting from the first semester of study program. This course has purposed to build and enrich the Arabic ability among the students. It has been beneficial at facilitating students primarily to access Arabic manuscripts and literatures. Since 1998, the faculty has facilitated twinning program – as a result of cooperation between the Department of Islamic Law and the Faculty of Law – in order to produce scholars who have pursued in achieving expertise of both law and Islamic law and its double degree in an effective duration (5 years). The Department of Islamic Education (Tarbiyah), has developed special program of dakwah communication. It is essential to urge its students to advance their communicative skills.

Those programs have been facilitated by teaching classes, sophisticated technology of learning facilities, Arabic laboratory, Tarbiyah laboratory, Shariah laboratory, Shariah Economics laboratory, Integrated computer laboratory, Centre for the Study of Islam and Philosophy, and the Markaz Da’wah wa Khidmad al-Mujtama’ (a centre for institutional cooperation with Middle Eastern institutions).

Periods of the Development of the Faculty of Islamic Studies

The periods consist of some phases: 

Period of the Establishment (1964-1975)

It had been claimed that this period was the most difficult one, mainly, in terms of leadership of the Faculty of Islamic Edcation. It was due to some limitations such as 1) lecturers, 2) infrastructure, facility and funding, 3) social trust, and 4) a solid social basis.

Period of Development (1975-1983)

It had been the period in which the faculty had had relatively good infrastructural and supra-structural supports. While the former means institutional infrastructure, the latter is about the governmental policy and good demand of society. The dean had been Drs. Masjfuk Zuhdi.

Period of Progress (1983-1998)

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. H. A. Malik Fadjar, M.Sc as the rector of UMM, the faculty had been advancing itself progressively. It had ensured the quantity and quality of its lectures, students, facilities and others. The dean of the faculty had been Drs. Tadjab Abdullah, Drs. Muhaimin, Drs. Sudiono and Drs. Ishommuddin, M.Si. The progress had achieved is because the implementation of three policies:

First, good consolidation. The leader of the faculty had driven this consolidation based on the synchronisation of the ideals, vision and missions of university and faculty, as well as solving problems that the faculty has and mitigating its possible risks.

Second, structural consolidation. It had aimed to manage institutional parts of the faculty efficiently and effectively. They had projected to be functional and flexible depending on the dynamics of the institution.

Third, operational consolidation. It had consisted of programs of coordination among policy makers (at all levels) in the institution. 

Period of Academic Progress (1998-2005)

In this period, the faculty had struggled to deal with the ideals of UMM – to become the real university. All the potencies that it had, had focused on the academic advancement: teachings, research, publishing (books, journals and modules), student activism, undergraduate honour thesis, laboratory activities, internship and others.

Period of Strengthening the Academic Quality (2005-onwards)

In this period, the strengthening program has been a priority of the faculty. It has concerned about the quality of academic aspects. In dealing with this program, the faculty has encouraged the development of academic expertise and specialisation of its lectures. It has supported the publication of the Study Programs’ journals (Progressiva, Ulumuddin, Falah and Izdihar), in addition. It also has supported the program of curriculum review among the programs of study (Islamic Education, Islamic Family Law, Shariah Economics and Arabic Education). Other essential parts that have been developed by the faculty are academic laboratories, modules of educational and legal practices, field work, internship and etc.