Ustadz Maulidan Asyrofil Anam, S. Si: Consistently Synchronises Learning Science and the Quran
It was no longer the time to live in a hut and only study Islamic classic books and religious knowledge, however, it was the time to learn other sciences as well.
That sentence was a motivation from the chaplain when Ustadz Maulidan Asyrofil Anam became a student at the Manarul Huda Islamic Boarding School. It was triggered his enthusiasm to study Biology to reach his dream to become a researcher. Now, he could share his enthusiasm as a student and researcher to Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) students both as a Biology teacher as well as a supervisor for intra-organisation of Tazkia male students.
Asyrof, his nickname, has really enjoyed Biology since he was in Junior High School (SMP). Studying Biology has made him to look inside himself. The delight of biology had coloured him to senior high school, thus he decided to study in both Islamic boarding and public school.
At first, I wanted to stay in boarding school only, not going to public school. However, my chaplain motivated that by the times, people cannot rely on religious knowledge only. There should be other knowledge. Moreover, he recommended to take general major in college.
The period of college enrollment was quite memorable for the eldest of five siblings. He had to convince his mother to continue his education without charging the family. The journey to get enrolled in college and get a scholarship was also not as smooth as imagined due to inadequate school facilities. Also, he had to manage his time with boarding school activities. Finally, he got a scholarship and continued his study in the Department of Biology Education, State University of Malang (UM).
Becoming a university student does not necessarily make the man from Lumajang leave the boarding school. Good time management is the key to deepen his study in Biological research. He chose to focus on experience of research by participating in scientific writing competitions (LKTI) to being involved in the research of his friends. He did not expect recognition, but how he was able to learn and experience as much as possible.
When we really enjoy in something, we will be delighted to know much about it. The research would broaden our horizons because we could be free to explore our ideas, explained the 24-year-old man.
Being a boarding school student has influenced his view on some phenomena. His research for final task, related with diabetes, had been inspired by Al Quran verse about plants, created with some colours. It had led him to win some competitions of scientific writing, especially for LKTIA category, namely Al Quran integration.
I feel that my insight becomes more open because I hang out with many people who have various perspectives. Besides, I can balance my academic and religious abilities. So I am not too academic to put aside religion, and not too religious to put aside the world, he explained.
When asked about future research plans, he stated that he would like to research about nutrigenomics, how food can affect human genes which influence many things in our bodies. The research is also based on the verse of the Quran, Al-Baqarah verse 168.
It is stated that food should be not only halal, but also good. Even dates which are full of nutrients can be bad for some people.
His persistence to be both a researcher and a student at the same time is a clear example that collaborating between academics and religious study is possible. Asyrof advised Tazkia students to set good intentions when starting to determine a goal. When you start to lose your enthusiasm, then remember people who always support and help you in each process.
When we would like to learn, consider any knowledge as one unit, it is all knowledge of Allah. When we see that, then we learn in a balanced way. Indeed, we do not master all knowledge, but look for the one that you think you can best understand and be useful in the future, he concluded. (lil / nai)