EduAsiaNews, Surabaya – UNAIR NEWS – KH Anwar Zahid Delivered Sermon during Isra’ Mi’raj Commemoration at Masjid Nuruzzaman, Universitas Airlangga
KH Anwar Zahid delivered his sermon during the Isra’ Mi’raj commemoration at Masjid Nuruzzaman, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Dharmawangsa-B Campus on Friday (January 16, 2026). Attended by the general public, KH Anwar Zahid highlighted the history of Islam’s arrival in Indonesia and emphasized the importance of moderate and peaceful da’wah in a pluralistic society.
Spread of Islam
In his presentation, KH Anwar Zahid explained that Islam first developed in Africa and Europe in the 7th century. Meanwhile, Islam entered Indonesia in the 14th century, following the fall of the Majapahit Kingdom.
The spread of Islam was not achieved through conquest but through the da’wah efforts of scholars based in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). “From these pesantren, madrasahs later emerged. The term ‘madrasah’ itself comes from the Arabic language,” he stated.
(Photo: Ngaji Bareng session with KH Anwar Zahid at Masjid Nuruzzaman, UNAIR Dharmawangsa-B Campus, Friday, January 16, 2026; Photo: UNAIR Public Relations)
According to him, the success of the scholars in spreading Islam in Indonesia is evident today, as the majority of the population practices Islam. Before the growth of Islamic da’wah, Indonesia was inhabited by people with diverse religious backgrounds.
He further mentioned that the success of Islam’s spread was due to the wise methods used by the scholars. “The main method they employed was wisdom and good advice. Only when necessary did they resort to debate, but it must be done with akhsan, meaning producing the best outcome,” he explained.
Moderate Islam
On this occasion, he also reminded students to exercise caution in interpreting the concept of jihad. In the modern era, jihad is understood as dedicating one’s life fully in the path of Allah, “not seeking death under the pretext of defending Allah,” he emphasized.
Beyond religious teachings, the prominent preacher from Bojonegoro also demonstrated a humorous style of preaching, emphasizing the importance of adapting one’s speech to the audience and context. “Speaking in a formal forum is certainly different from preaching to the general public,” he said.
Moreover, KH Anwar Zahid addressed the societal preference for mauidhah hasanah (good advice) over merely uswatun hasanah (being a good example). According to him, many people are skilled at delivering speeches, but not all can serve as role models. “Every event, from birth celebrations to funerals, includes mauidhah hasanah, but why doesn’t it always serve as a means for guidance?” he remarked.
Author: Adinda Octavia Setiowati
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
