RATIONALE

Southeast Asia is a region where Islam has grown rapidly and dynamically. Islam has grown in terms of religion, social, cultural, economic, and political. Southeast Asia is far from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, as the central center of the early growth of Islam since several centuries ago. However, Southeast Asia is an area that now has become the basis for the development of Islam since its birth and its establishment to this day, especially in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These countries’ power is important in the vortex of development in Southeast Asia. It is not only calculated from the number of Muslim populations, but also the development of thinking about Islam, educational institutions, and cultural expressions. In addition, Islam in this region has developed integrally with the local culture and gives its color to Islam. The color is distinctly different from Islam in the Middle East region. From the economic aspect, these countries, which are labeled as “developing countries”, work hard to stabilize their economy, infrastructure, communications, and foreign relations. From the political aspect, the dynamics of development in the region also vary in dealing with different domestic situations. All that dynamic diversity implies opportunities to be captured and challenges to be overcome. As countries that are diverse in terms of religion, social, culture, and politics, it is necessary to create harmony between elements of the nation, so the ideals of becoming a developed country can be realized.

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are three countries in which the Muslim population significantly inhabits. Besides being bound by the commonality of Islam as the dominant religion, as allied countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are also bound by many other similarities, among others, language and culture. The sharing of diversity means both opportunities and challenges cannot be overcome only by countries at the national level. It must be overcome by several countries regionally, such as the opportunities and challenges of the global economy facing developing countries in Southeast Asia. However, regardless of the challenges faced, these countries have a large capital, in religion, social, cultural, economic, and political. The only problem is how these countries together with the spirit of solidarity in understanding and exploring potential strengths in facing several challenges nationally, regionally, and globally.

From the beginning of 2020 until today, one of the challenges faced is the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) which causes huge impacts faced by countries in the world, not forget to mention Southeast Asia countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. This epidemic has devastated many sectors of life, such as the economy and education. Ironically, until now, there has been no bright spot that could be a sign of the end of this global pandemic. Various responses to this epidemic have been expressed by various groups and from different points of view. Some are not always mutually supportive and compatible, but contradictory. Among the clergies, the religious leaders, for example, various responses have emerged, both to the existence of this virus and how to respond to it. Responses including the statement that Covid-19 does not actually exist, or vice versa, in fact, it already exists. Some say that Covid-19 is mentioned in the Qur’an, and the statement that Covid-19 does not exist. Others say it is the army of God to attack the infidels. Some clergies are anti-science and place religious explanations as the only explanation. However, in addition, some other religious people look for solutions from Islamic literature sources rather than scientific solutions. Islamic universities have a strategic position in describing, analyzing, and even predicting the dynamic of different responses to this pandemic, and providing alternative solutions to this problem. Antasari State Islamic University (Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia), and the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies Princess of Naradhiwas University (Narathiwat, Thailand) are three Islamic universities from three allied countries in Southeast Asia that share concerns over these various pandemics situations. With this in mind, the3rd International Conference on Islam, Development, and Social Harmony in Southeast Asia is a result of the existing collaboration which is dedicated to responding to this very crucial issue.

OBJECTIVE

1. Providing an overview of the various phenomena of this pandemic and its consequences in various aspects of social life, religious thought, and other situations in a scientific description summarized from the results of academic writings;
2. Explaining these phenomena from various perspectives, both the perspective of Islamic normative teachings and Islamic perspectives in an interdisciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary manner;
3. Forecasting future developments regarding this pandemic situation;
4. Formulating a comprehensive solution in addressing this situation.

THEME

The central theme of this conference is ISLAM AND THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMMUNITIES’ WELFARE IN THE COVID-19 ERA 

This central theme will be reviewed from various aspects: 

1. A normative review from the perspective of Islamic teachings (both sourced from the Qur’an and hadīts, as well as other sources, such as theology, Islamic law, and Islamic mysticism.
2. A review of interdisciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary Islamic studies from a scientific perspective on the impacts, predictions, and solutions proposed: (a) economics, (b) education, (c) socio-cultural, and (d) politics.

SUB-THEMES

1. Perspectives of the Qur’an and hadith on disaster and pandemic management. 
2. Covid-19 from a theological perspective. 
3. Covid-19 from the perspective of fiqh/Islamic law. 
4. Mental resilience amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the contribution of tashawuf/Islamic mysticism views. 
5. Islamic education during the Covid-19 pandemic: problems and alternative solutions 
6. Economic conditions due to the pandemic and the future of the Southeast Asian regional economy.
7. The response of the Muslim community to the Covid-19 pandemic. 
8. The role of Islamic institutions in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. 
9. The contemporary political situation in the Southeast Asia region during the Covid-19 pandemic.