Imam Nasaruddin Umar of Indonesia to Receive Honorary Degree

Hartford International University will award an Honorary Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, to the esteemed Imam Nasaruddin Umar of Indonesia during Graduation on Thursday, May 15.

A group of alumni and a former Trustee nominated Dr. Umar for the honor. 

Dr. Alwi Shihab, the former Trustee and a high-ranking official in Indonesia for many years, described Dr. Umar as "a distinguished scholar, educator, and public intellectual."

Dr. Umar is simultaneously serving in several leadership roles in Indonesia. He is Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs and the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world. He is also Rector of PTIQ University in Jakarta, which focuses on Islamic studies.

The alumni group that nominated Dr. Umar was represented by Dr. Hafid Abbas, who chairs the Indonesian Association of Community Education and played a leading role in promoting human rights in Indonesia. 

In his recommendation letter, Dr. Abbas described a physical tunnel built to connect the Istiqlal Mosque with the Jakarta Cathedral and Dr. Umar's role in creating it. The tunnel officially opened in December 2024, and HIU President Joel N. Lohr was in attendance for the ceremony, as was the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

"The tunnel reflects both President Prabowo Subianto and Nasaruddin Umar's vision of building bridges - both literal and metaphorical - between religious communities in Indonesia, emphasizing tolerance, mutual respect, and interfaith dialogue."

Dr. Abbas said Dr. Umar is known for his commitment to social justice and human rights, as well as interfaith understanding. "His life's work exemplifies the core values of Hartford International University for Religion and Peace: scholarship, dialogue, and pursuit of a just and peaceful world."