As-Syafi’iyah Islamic University

Acceptance Speech for Honorary Advisor to International Relations of UIA – Shaykh Ridwan
Rylands

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Honourable Chancellor,
Members of the University Community,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am deeply grateful to Universitas Islam As-Syafi’iyah (UIA) in conferring upon me the opportunity to
be an international advisor to UIA; in doing so, your institution is also honouring the Cape Muslim
community from where I hail. So I accept this honour with heartfelt gratitude both for myself and on
behalf of all those who have contributed to my development and journey through life. Furthermore,
as a Cape Muslim with an Indonesian religious and cultural heritage, I commit myself to this position
and wish to show those who had fundamentally influenced my life that I am quite willing to make
further contributions at this level and to also represent my community that has largely been denied
or gone unnoticed in academic circles.

My speech today is not intended as a lesson in history, but to point out the strong connection
between the development of Islam in South Africa, the Indonesian contribution and the lessons we
can learn from it. It was scholars like Shaykh Yusuf Al-Makassari and Tuan Guru Abdullah bin Qadi
Abdus-Salam Al-Tidori, who provided the oppressed enslaved and dehumanising coloniser alike, with
an alternative way of life - Islam - during the late 17th and 18th centuries. Exiled to the Cape, under
severe conditions, of brutality, imprisonment and isolation, they steadfastly remained the ‘vice-
gerents of Allah on earth’. The life of Shaykh Yusuf and Tuan Guru (who institutionalised Islam at the
Cape by writing the Quran from memory and a compendium of ‘Aqidah and Fiqh; establishing the
first Madrassah system and Masjid for communal prayers), speak volumes of their trans-continental
impact and relevance. Today I share this stage with you, graduates of 2019, a proud product of
Islam, humbled by their contribution.

In a global society where change is the only constant, what are some of the lessons that we can learn
from their lives? I want to point out, as mentioned previously, that they have lived their lives as
‘vice-gerents of Allah on earth’ as best as possible, steadfast in the face of any challenges, adverse
conditions and atrocities perpetrated against them. They had the requisite knowledge, critical
abilities and presence of mind to critically assess their situation and adopt the appropriate action to
facilitate positive change. Acting as such, they have become change-makers. They were active
contributors to change, rather than passive recipients of change; hopefully, with this new
responsibility that you have assigned to me, I – along with your Board - will assist to be a change-
maker insha Allah. Graduates of 2019, as you graduate here today and become ambassadors of
Universitas Islam As-Syafi’iyah and, of course, Islam, know that Indonesia and the world need you to
become agents of change.

Now, what does one need to be an agent of change? In my experience and cumulative knowledge
acquired in formal and informal settings, we need to take the first injunction of the Quran ‘Iqra’ very
seriously. To coin a phrase, we need to become an Iqra-community – a community of reading, deep
reflection/research/study, writing and expounding. Such an Iqra-community, should not confine
itself to a specific field of education, but incorporate all relevant aspects of existence and necessities
for such existence.
Graduates of 2019, here at Universitas Islam As-Syafi’iyah you have already become part of such a
community. As individuals you have sacrificed your time an effort to acquire a beneficial base of
knowledge that prepares you for life. Now it is time, as you graduate and as you embark on a new
phase of your lives, in various careers and different professions, to put your goals into action.

Be open to new ideas and ways of doing things to unlock the latent possibilities deep inside each one
of you. Do not confine yourselves to what is. Look at what can be and be agents of change. It is my
prayer that a pure intention (niyyat), the value underlying the mission of Universitas Islam As-
Syafi’iyah, guides your action in further contributing to the global corpus of knowledge and righteous
action. While I make dua for you, I also implore each of you to make dua for me in this new post and
insha Allah we can all work together to make the necessary changes.

I have said put your goals into action. Yes, even with information and knowledge at hand, one
cannot be an agent of change if he/she does not have clearly defined goals. So set your goals in that
which is good for life and upliftment of humanity in justice, equality and peace. Let your goal be to
‘compete with one another in good works’, to ultimately serve the creation of Allah, the Creator of
all, in order to gain His satisfaction. Allah says in the Holy Quran (51:56): “And I (Allah) did not create
Jinn and mankind except that they may worship/serve Me”. The ultimate object in life is thus to
serve Allah and realise His Will in this life. An important aspect of serving Allah is to be in the service
of the creation of Allah.

In conclusion, in South Africa, Islam was brought to the Cape from Indonesia by exiled religious
scholars, sultans and the enslaved, resilient and resistant under colonial oppression and steadfast in
their worship of Allah and service unto mankind. Their contribution changed the face of the Cape.
Alhamdu lillah, through their contribution, not only did Islam grow, but Muslims became some of
the best tradesmen in building construction, boatbuilding, pipefitting, plumbing, wooden craft,
fishing etc. Let us take a lesson from this and build international relations that can contribute to
better understanding and mutual co-operation and co-existence among communities. And finally,
now that I have been granted this chance to serve UIA and its various stakeholders, I will work hard
to do my best and to take us – insha Allah – to a different level with the goals that we have in mind
and through networks that are at our disposal; personally, I would like to see UIA to be one of the
most competitive Muslim institutions not only nationally and regionally but also globally.

Wa al-Salam