Studying law is not merely about learning regulations and statutes. An aspiring law enforcer must build a well-rounded way of thinking, one that brings together scientific knowledge, Islamic values, and sensitivity to matters of justice within society.

That message came through in the Studium Generale (Public Lecture) of the Faculty of Sharia and Law at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, featuring constitutional law expert and former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (2003–2008), Prof. Jimly Asshiddiqie. Held at the Multipurpose Building of UIN Sunan Kalijaga on Thursday (9/3/2026), the event carried the theme “Becoming a Generation of Justice Enforcers: The Role of Faculty of Sharia and Law Students in Building a Constitutional Indonesia.” The public lecture was attended by 780 new students of the 2026/2027 academic year, known as Justicia Muda (Young Justicia).

The event was also attended by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, the vice rectors, bureau heads, Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law Prof. Ali Sodiqin, vice deans, as well as lecturers and administrative staff.

In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law, Prof. Ali Sodiqin, said that Prof. Jimly's presence was a valuable opportunity for new students to learn from a figure with extensive experience in Indonesia's legal development and law enforcement.

He noted that Prof. Jimly's contributions and experience in the field of law are widely recognized. His experience as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court reflects a combination of academic competence, leadership, and integrity essential to upholding the constitution.

“From the outset, students must have a clear vision and mission as they pursue their education at this faculty. Prof. Jimly's presence is a valuable opportunity for you, the Justicia Muda, to draw inspiration and deepen your understanding of law. With this foundation, you will one day be able to make a real contribution to upholding justice in Indonesia,” he said.

Prof. Jimly's presence before the Justicia Muda was no coincidence. UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, described him as one of Indonesia's foremost champions of law. His long experience as both an academic and a practitioner has helped shape the dynamics and development of national law.

The Rector also praised the theme of the public lecture, which placed constitution and justice at its center. He noted that the theme is highly relevant to the nation's current situation, which continues to face various challenges in the administration of law.

He said that legal violations and corrupt practices involving state officials point to a persistent anomaly in efforts to uphold the rule of law. For this reason, Indonesia needs a generation of law enforcers with both strong knowledge and the moral courage to stand on the side of justice.

“What matters most today is learning to become a law enforcer who truly upholds the law, with full integrity and honesty, for the sake of a just and prosperous Indonesia. This is a duty for all of you,” he said.

The Rector expressed hope that the Justicia Muda will one day stand at the forefront of upholding the law with fairness.

“Here, you will not only study law in its pure form, but also legal knowledge as it has developed within the treasury of Islamic scholarship. Integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, and other core values are things we cultivate as a foundation for you as you move toward the future and become Indonesia's future leaders,” he affirmed.

The message on the importance of bringing together different bodies of knowledge was then explored further by Prof. Jimly in his public lecture. He encouraged students to broaden their horizons by reading the Qur'an, hadith, tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), and the works of Muslim scholars, while also studying the thought of scientists and philosophers from various civilizations.

He explained that knowledge, at its core, is the result of human efforts to read and discover the signs of the universe (ayat kauniyah) and the laws of nature (sunatullah) at work in the world and in life. From this perspective, knowledge should not be rigidly separated based on its civilizational origin or the identity of its discoverer.

Students, Jimly said, need to become familiar with the thinking of figures such as Plato and Aristotle in the same way they study the verses of the Qur'an. Both the “verses of the universe” (ayat kauniyah) and the “verses of scripture” (ayat quraniyah) need to be present as a unified whole in the “inner reading” of the academic community.

“We have our faculties as a formal identity. But what matters far more is the substance. The scholarly substance of UIN lies in the effort to integrate and interconnect religion with universal knowledge. The two must be combined and made into a paradigmatic foundation for both students and lecturers,” said Prof. Jimly.

This way of thinking, he said, is expected to produce future law enforcers capable of driving change, improving the quality of civic life, and safeguarding the integrity of democracy and the rule of law.

For the 780 Justicia Muda, the public lecture marked the beginning of their academic journey. They were encouraged to build a way of thinking that integrates the treasury of Islamic scholarship with modern science, as a foundation for upholding the constitution, safeguarding the integrity of democracy, and bringing justice to society. (humassk)