Jalaluddin Rakhmat

Jalaluddin Rakhmat was an Indonesian academician and politician who was known for his contributions to the field of communication and his involvement in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. He was also a prominent figure in the Shia community in Indonesia and the founder of the Indonesian Ahlul Bait Association (IJABI). Jalaluddin was born in Bandung, West Java, in 1949. His father was a member of the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic organization, while his mother was a well-known activist in the city. He received his religious education from his mother and various madrasas until he graduated from elementary school. He then attended the State High School Bandung 02, where he joined the Islamic Student Association. He continued his studies at the Padjadjaran University, where he earned a degree in mass communication. He then worked as a lecturer at his alma mater and received scholarships to pursue his master's degree in communication and psychology at the Iowa State University and his doctorate in political science at the Australian National University. He graduated from both universities with cum laude honors and became a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Delta Chi honorary societies. Jalaluddin wrote several books and articles on various topics, such as psychology, communication, politics, and Islam. Some of his notable works include Psychology Communications, The Politics of Identity, and The Shia Revival in Indonesia. He also translated and commented on some classical Islamic texts, such as The Revival of the Religious Sciences by al-Ghazali and The Peak of Eloquence by Ali ibn Abi Talib. He was a proponent of the Shia school of thought and advocated for the recognition and protection of the Shia minority in Indonesia. He founded the Indonesian Ahlul Bait Association (IJABI) in 2000, which aimed to spread the teachings of the Ahlul Bait (the family of the Prophet Muhammad) and to foster dialogue and harmony among different Islamic sects. He also organized several conferences and seminars on Shia Islam and interfaith relations. In 2014, Jalaluddin entered politics and became a member of the People's Representative Council from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. He served as a member of the Commission VIII, which oversees religious and social affairs. He was also involved in several legislative initiatives, such as the bill on the protection of religious minorities and the bill on the prevention of radicalism and terrorism. Jalaluddin passed away on February 15, 2021, at the age of 71, due to COVID-19. He was buried in his hometown of Bandung, West Java. He is survived by his wife, Rina Herawati, and his three children, Rahmat Hidayat, Rizki Rahmadian, and Rani Rahmawati. He is remembered as a respected scholar, a dedicated politician, and a devout Muslim who devoted his life to the service of God and humanity.