YOGYAKARTA-Arabic language influence continues to decline day by day and is replaced by other foreign languages, such as English and Chinese. In Indonesia, for example, the Arabic is only used in prayers, not as daily language, as if Arabic language was no longer in the progress of human civilization. Arabic language should be developed more for the future.
"To come to the forefront as a symbol of civilization, the Arabic language should be developed," Director of Islamic Higher Education, Prof. Dr. H. Machasin, M.A, said at the opening of the 4th Congress of the National Association of Arabic Teachers throughout Indonesia or Ittihadu Mudarrisi al-Lughatil al-'Arabiyyah (IMLA), at Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) UGM on Thursday (14/7) evening. The 4th National Congress of IMLA followed by the international seminar took place from 14 to 17 July 2011.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the IMLA, Prof. Dr. Syamsul Hadi, S.U, M.A, hoped that this conference can make real contribution to society and other professional organizations. In addition, the achievement of IMLA’s members individually and institutionally in the future can continue to increase. "Hopefully, through this forum the latest thoughts of the Arabic language teachers would emerge so that improve knowledge and understanding of sciences," Syamsul who is also lecturer in Department of West Asian Literature UGM said.
Syamsul mentioned that the 4th National Congress of IMLA was followed by 100 Arabic language teachers from Indonesia and 85 teachers from abroad who come from 24 countries, namely Iran, India, Sri Lanka, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Australia, Macedonia, and some countries in the Middle East.
Vice Rector for Alumni and Business Development, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., on the occasion also welcomed the implementation of conference and the International Seminar on Role of Arabic in the Development of Civilization. Looking ahead, the competence of teachers of Arabic continues to increase along with time. Atyanto added that the Arabic language in its development has also been widely adopted into other languages or vice versa. "With the adoption of Arabic into other languages and vice versa, the cultural ties between nations will also be closer and will develop," Atyanto said.
Acting Regional Secretary of Yogyakarta, Drs. H. Ichsanuri, representing the Governor Sri Sultan HB X in his speech said that the role of the Arabic language should be retained as a source of civilization and development of standard sciences to become standard language. On that occasion, he gave an example of ancient manuscripts in the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta with Islamic nuance in Arabic. "Currently, many Arabic vocabularies are adopted as means of culture, science, mathematics, and so forth," Ichsanuri said.
At the opening ceremony enlivened with Kyai Kanjeng musical performance, awards were also presented to people that have been continuously devoting their mind to the development and teaching of Arabic in Indonesia. They are Prof. H. Zaini Dahlan, M.A. (Former Rector of UII) and KH Dr. Syukri Zarkasyi, M.A. (Caretaker of Pondok Pesantren Darussalam Gontor, Ponorogo).