International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon Hosts Preparatory Meeting for CILEM Ahead of Official Launch in July
Cirebon, June 13, 2025 — The International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UINSSC) convened a preparatory meeting for the upcoming official launch of the Center for Islamic Law and Ethics of Mubadalah (CILEM), scheduled for July 2025. While CILEM operates as an independent research institution, the International Office is serving as a strategic partner by providing a neutral platform for dialogue and global collaboration. Established under UINSSC’s academic umbrella, CILEM aims to promote Mubadalah, a principle rooted in mutuality, justice, and humanity within Islamic legal discourse, particularly in family law. By emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches that bridge jurisprudence, ethics, gender studies, and environmental sciences, the center seeks to develop Islamic law that is inclusive, contextually relevant, and transformative. The June meeting focused on finalizing plans for the July launch, ensuring alignment with UINSSC’s vision of integrating traditional scholarship with digital innovation to address contemporary challenges.
The preparatory session brought together key stakeholders, Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., Director of UINSSC’s International Office; Dr. Faqiuddin Abdul Kodir and Ms. Fitri from the Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat (LP2M); Ms. Maimunah Mujahid, S.S, M.Hum; and Ms. Nor Isma from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Discussions centered on CILEM’s role in consolidating existing Mubadalah-based research across Indonesian and global universities while building a network of committed students and experts. Lala Bumela, Ph.D. reiterated the International Office’s commitment to facilitating digital platforms for symposiums, open-access publications, and collaborative projects, ensuring CILEM’s findings reach a global audience.
At the heart of CILEM’s mandate is the integration of ethics into Islamic legal frameworks. Participants stressed that Mubadalah ’s principles; mutuality, justice, and humanity must guide the reinterpretation of Islamic law to ensure it remains textually valid yet socially just. This approach requires interdisciplinary collaboration between fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), ushul fiqh (legal theory), gender studies, anthropology, ecology, and social sciences. For instance, CILEM plans to explore how Mubadalah can address issues like environmental sustainability, gender equity in inheritance, and child custody rights in modern contexts. By anchoring legal rulings in ethical considerations, the center aims to ensure that Islamic law not only adheres to textual authenticity but also safeguards human dignity and ecological balance. Dr. Faqiuddin Abdul Kodir highlighted the urgency of such efforts, noting that traditional legal paradigms often overlook the lived realities of marginalized communities.
A key highlight of the meeting was CILEM’s commitment to global networking. While the International Office facilitated the preparatory session, CILEM will independently partner with institutions like Musawah Global (a movement for equality and justice in Muslim families) and Qatar’s Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE). It will also collaborate with academics from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, and Europe to diversify perspectives and integrate global best practices. These partnerships aim to strengthen CILEM’s research through comparative studies, joint publications, and capacity-building programs. Additionally, the center plans to establish a digital repository of primary sources, case studies, and policy briefs, accessible via UINSSC’s cyber infrastructure. This platform will enable scholars worldwide to contribute to and access cutting-edge research on Mubadalah-centered legal reforms.
Looking ahead, CILEM outlined a roadmap to institutionalize Mubadalah as a transformative legal framework. Annual conferences, virtual symposiums, and fellowships for graduate researchers will foster dialogue between traditional Islamic scholarship and modern ethical imperatives. The center also aims to influence policy debates by producing actionable recommendations for lawmakers and civil society organizations. For example, CILEM’s upcoming projects include field studies on marital disputes in Indonesia and comparative analyses of Islamic family laws in Southeast Asia and North Africa. By prioritizing empirical data and grassroots narratives, CILEM hopes to bridge the gap between theoretical discourse and practical implementation.
The June meeting has been hailed as a pivotal step toward positioning CILEM as a leader in progressive Islamic legal studies. Its focus on scholarly rigor, rather than populist narratives, ensures that Mubadalah ’s principles are grounded in theological and legal analysis. As the July launch approaches, stakeholders anticipate that CILEM’s research will reshape debates on gender equity, contractual justice, and family law reform in diverse Muslim societies. Through strategic collaborations and digital innovation, CILEM is poised to become a beacon of progressive Islamic thought.
In conclusion, the partnership between UINSSC’s International Office and CILEM signifies a bold step toward transforming Islamic legal discourse. By positioning the International Office as a facilitator rather than an overseeing body, the collaboration highlights the importance of neutrality and inclusivity in academic endeavors. With its emphasis on global partnerships, interdisciplinary research, and digital accessibility, CILEM not only advances academic knowledge but also empowers communities to advocate for equitable legal systems. As Indonesia continues to rise as a leader in cyber-Islamic education, CILEM’s work exemplifies the nation’s commitment to fostering dialogue between tradition and modernity on the global stage.
Author: Resa Diah Gayatri