LONDON, ENGLAND- Four clerics from West Java underwent a series of preaching activities in a number of cities in England, 16-23 November 2023.

Through the West Java Provincial Government's English For Ulama program, four clerics will expand the scope of da'wah and interfaith dialogue to the international community and introduce Islamic teachings that are rahmatan lil'alamin.

The four clerics include Muhammad Luthfi from the Salaful Huda Islamic Boarding School, Sukabumi. Luthfi is known to be active in the Nahdlatul Ulama organization and the Indonesian Ulema Council in Caringin, Sukabumi. He is also an active figure in serving the poor and orphans.

Muhamad Fachrurrazi from the Darul Uluum Lido Modern Islamic Boarding School, Bogor. He was part of an Islamic meeting of Islamic boarding school leaders between Indonesia and Australia in Jakarta in 2018.

Neneng Yanti Khozanatu Lahpan from Universal Student Islamic Boarding School Bandung. Neneng is also active in the Fatayat Nahdlatul Ulama organization, especially in the areas of women and youth.

The fourth cleric is Oki Setiana Dewi from the Maskanul Huffadz Islamic Boarding School. The woman who is familiarly called Ustadzah Oki is also an actress, writer and entrepreneur.

The activity on the first day was visiting the British Council in the City of London. The ulama and delegates from the West Java Provincial Government also met on this occasion with British Council officials who have been collaborating for the English for Ulama program.

The ulama representative, Oki Setiana Dewi, said that this program was very useful in introducing to the world that Indonesia is an important part of the Islamic world. Also conveyed that Muslims in Indonesia live side by side peacefully with followers of other religions.

"Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. We, too, Muslims in Indonesia live side by side peacefully with followers of other religions," said Oki Setiana Dewi.

He hopes that with the English for Ulama program, more and more ulama from West Java will be able to preach on the international stage. Carrying out various dialogues between religious communities, being a representative of Muslims who uphold peace, Islam that is rahmatan lil alamin.

With the increasing number of ulama who can speak English well through this program, Oki said that there will be more ulama from West Java who can contribute to da'wah internationally.

Director of English Programs at the British Council Michael Connolly, who welcomed the delegation of ulama and the West Java Provincial Government, said that his party was trying to teach English to ulama, so that it could be used to carry out dialogue to achieve peace and prosperity in the world.

"What we are doing in collaboration with the ulama and the West Java Provincial Government is a perfect example of achieving this goal," he said.

He said that with this program, ulama can use their English language skills to communicate and dialogue, including between religious communities. Establishing relations between Indonesia and England.

Michael said he had collaborated a lot with the Indonesian government in terms of teaching English language and culture. He also hopes that this collaboration can be continued and developed.

Explore the Creative Economy and MSMEs
Head of the West Java Provincial Government and Regional Autonomy Bureau, Yulia Dewita, the West Java-England collaboration through the English for Ulama program facilitated by the British Council continues to develop.

In the future, the party will collaborate with the British Council regarding the potential of the creative economy and MSMEs. Also improving English language skills in various sectors, including scholarships for West Java Provincial Government ASN.

According to Yulia, English for Ulama has been running since 2018 or has been running for five years. "For the ulama, we hope that this collaboration will be able to encourage them in preaching and interfaith dialogue with various communities," he said.

"So that the ulama from West Java are able to dialogue in English so they can provide information to the world about what Islam is like in Indonesia," he concluded.