Alwi Shihab
Encyclopedia
Alwi Abdurrahman Shihab is one of the leading authorities and scholars on the interaction of Christian and Muslim communities. Currently he is the Indonesian President's special envoy to Middle-East and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He was the Indonesia
n Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare in 2004-2005 and the foreign minister
of Indonesia
from 1999 to 2001.
in Indonesia on 19 August 1946. He inherits passion in academical achievements from his father, Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Shihab, who was a dean at IAIN Alauddin in Makassar, South Sulawesi. He is a younger sibling of Prof. Quraish Shihab, Ph.D and Prof. Dr. Umar Shihab of MUI (The Indonesian Ulema
Council).
to continue their high school. After completing his high school there, Alwi continued and completed his bachelor degree from Al-Azhar University
with L.C. degree in 1968. He then continued his education in Indonesia and completed his master at IAIN Alaudin, Ujung Pandang in 1986. In 1990 he earned his first doctoral degree from University of Ain Shams
, Cairo with research dissertation in the area of tasawwuf and Islamic philosophy. He went to US to continue his education at Temple University
, USA and completed his M.A. in 1992. Being not enough with a single doctoral degree, he then completed his second Ph.D from the same university in 1995. While at Temple, Alwi become assistant professor for the Department of Religion.
Alwi also did some post-doctorate at Harvard University: The Center For the Study of Word Religious, USA during 1995-1996 period. Later, he joined Hartford Seminary
in Hartford, as professor of religion. In 1998 he served as fellow and visiting professor at Harvard University
's Divinity School - Center for the Study of World Religions.
In 90's he wrote a book about Islam-Christianity interaction: Islam Inklusif He has recently completed two works for publication: a manuscript entitled American Students’ Perceptions of Islam (forthcoming), and a translated (from Arabic to English) version of a previous publication entitled Islamic Mysticism and Its Impact on Indonesian Society (forthcoming).
In 2002 he become adjunct professor for graduate programs at UI
and currently is a member of University of Indonesia
(UI) Board of Trustee.
administration. Alwi was The chairman of PKB
(The National Awakening Party). He served as Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and a minister in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
's cabinet, .
Alwi, unlike his brothers who focus their career in education and islamic studies only, has also strong business entrepreneurship. Since after completing his education from Cairo, Alwi started some businesses. In 1975 to 1979 he was CEO of Glass Priangan Factory, Cianjur, Indonesia. During 1979 -1982 he was President of Direktur for Alfa Contracting Company in Jeddah
. In 1982 to 1986 he was President of Director pf PT. Prima Advera in Jakarta. In 1982 he founded Yayasan Darul Qur'an, also in Jakarta. During 1986 -1990 he became a member of board of directors at Eagle Tripelti in Jakarta and since 1986, he has been a member of the board of Dhafco Manunggal Sejati, Jakarta.
On October 26, 2004 He was honorarily discharged from PKB due to the party's internal political conflict and clash with some other leaders. In 2007 he founded his own party, Partai Kebangkitan Nasional Ulama (PKNU) or "Party of National Scholar Awakening" in which he still serves as the chairman until now.
descent and claims a lineage as a Sayyid
, or a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
(via Zayn al-Abidin, great-grandson of Muhammad).
Alwi Shihab is married to Ashraf Shahab and has two sons: Muhammad Rizvi and Samy, and one daughter: Samira Shihab. His children currently live in The United States.
He has continuously tried to present Islam
as an inclusive, moderate religion, basing this on his reading of the Qur'an
.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare in 2004-2005 and the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
from 1999 to 2001.
Early life
Alwi was born in Rappang, South SulawesiSouth Sulawesi
South Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
in Indonesia on 19 August 1946. He inherits passion in academical achievements from his father, Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Shihab, who was a dean at IAIN Alauddin in Makassar, South Sulawesi. He is a younger sibling of Prof. Quraish Shihab, Ph.D and Prof. Dr. Umar Shihab of MUI (The Indonesian Ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
Council).
Education
Alwi's father sent Alwi and his brother Quraish to CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
to continue their high school. After completing his high school there, Alwi continued and completed his bachelor degree from Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
with L.C. degree in 1968. He then continued his education in Indonesia and completed his master at IAIN Alaudin, Ujung Pandang in 1986. In 1990 he earned his first doctoral degree from University of Ain Shams
Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:...
, Cairo with research dissertation in the area of tasawwuf and Islamic philosophy. He went to US to continue his education at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, USA and completed his M.A. in 1992. Being not enough with a single doctoral degree, he then completed his second Ph.D from the same university in 1995. While at Temple, Alwi become assistant professor for the Department of Religion.
Alwi also did some post-doctorate at Harvard University: The Center For the Study of Word Religious, USA during 1995-1996 period. Later, he joined Hartford Seminary
Hartford Seminary
Hartford Seminary is a theological college in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.-History:Seminaries in the city of Hartford date back to 1833. In 1913, the current Hartford Seminary came into existence through the combination of three Hartford-based schools affiliated with the city's Congregationalist...
in Hartford, as professor of religion. In 1998 he served as fellow and visiting professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Divinity School - Center for the Study of World Religions.
In 90's he wrote a book about Islam-Christianity interaction: Islam Inklusif He has recently completed two works for publication: a manuscript entitled American Students’ Perceptions of Islam (forthcoming), and a translated (from Arabic to English) version of a previous publication entitled Islamic Mysticism and Its Impact on Indonesian Society (forthcoming).
In 2002 he become adjunct professor for graduate programs at UI
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
and currently is a member of University of Indonesia
University of Indonesia
The Universitas Indonesia, is a state, comprehensive world class university located in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest tertiary-level educational institution in Indonesia...
(UI) Board of Trustee.
Career
In politics, His political career started when he was elected as member of Indonesian parliament and then minister of foreign affairs in The WahidAbdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
administration. Alwi was The chairman of PKB
National Awakening Party
-Origins:The story of PKB establishment began in May 11, 1998 when the elders Kyai held a meeting at Pesantren Langitan. They discussed the latest situation that demands changes to save Indonesian nation from destruction. As a result Kyai make an official letter to Pak Harto requested he fell or...
(The National Awakening Party). He served as Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and a minister in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
's cabinet, .
Alwi, unlike his brothers who focus their career in education and islamic studies only, has also strong business entrepreneurship. Since after completing his education from Cairo, Alwi started some businesses. In 1975 to 1979 he was CEO of Glass Priangan Factory, Cianjur, Indonesia. During 1979 -1982 he was President of Direktur for Alfa Contracting Company in Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. In 1982 to 1986 he was President of Director pf PT. Prima Advera in Jakarta. In 1982 he founded Yayasan Darul Qur'an, also in Jakarta. During 1986 -1990 he became a member of board of directors at Eagle Tripelti in Jakarta and since 1986, he has been a member of the board of Dhafco Manunggal Sejati, Jakarta.
On October 26, 2004 He was honorarily discharged from PKB due to the party's internal political conflict and clash with some other leaders. In 2007 he founded his own party, Partai Kebangkitan Nasional Ulama (PKNU) or "Party of National Scholar Awakening" in which he still serves as the chairman until now.
Personal life
Alwi Shihab is of Hadhrami ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
descent and claims a lineage as a Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
, or a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
(via Zayn al-Abidin, great-grandson of Muhammad).
Alwi Shihab is married to Ashraf Shahab and has two sons: Muhammad Rizvi and Samy, and one daughter: Samira Shihab. His children currently live in The United States.
He has continuously tried to present Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as an inclusive, moderate religion, basing this on his reading of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
.
External links
- Profile at TokohIndonesia.com (In Indonesian)
- Biodata (in Indonesia)