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Remembering Azyumardi Azra, a man for all seasons
Azyumardi was the whole package. He carried out a beautiful balance between intellectuality and bureaucracy.
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Noted Islamic scholar Azyumardi Azra. (JP/Nezar Patria)
At midday Sept. 18, I received a WhatsApp message from a friend of mine saying that Azyumardi Azra, a famous historian and great Muslim scholar, passed away at 12:30 local time in Kuala Lumpur. His death is a big loss to our country, moderate Muslims and intellectual society.
I called him Pak Edi. I contributed an article to his 66th anniversary entitled Menulislah Hingga ke Liang Lahat, literally “writing to the grave”; figuratively, “writing till death”. He passed away prior to his scheduled presentation in a seminar on cosmopolitan Islam in Kuala Lumpur.
I have no qualms about saying that Azyumardi was a man for all seasons -- a man who was successful and talented in many areas. He was the whole package. He carried out a beautiful balance between intellectuality and bureaucracy.
In terms of his intellectual tradition, Azyumardi had the ability to write fast and deep. His capability to quickly write various weekly and monthly articles, columns or essays, which were very informative and rich in perspective, was rooted in his extensive historical comprehension. In addition, it was supported by his aptitude for finding a red thread leading to shrewd analysis.
His arguments dazzled everyone, even when being interviewed. Amid noise and uncertain timing, as journalists could have contacted him anytime, his insights and associative abilities were stunning. Anyone who read Islam Substantif (Substantive Islam) was amazed by his wide-ranging perspectives, despite the fact that this is merely a collection of his interviews on diverse issues.
Unsurprisingly, Azyumardi was elected the chairman of the Press Council in May, making him another community figure to have won the trust to lead the Indonesian press-governing body.
