Azhari Andi, a PhD student in Islamic Studies, Universitas Islam International Indonesia (UIII), presented his research at the Annual Conference of the British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS). The event took place on Monday and Tuesday, May 20-21, 2024, at the University of Leeds, UK. The conference commenced with an opening keynote by Professor Tahera Qutbuddin, Professor of Arabic at the University of Oxford, who delivered an insightful talk on "Nahj Al-Balāghah: The Wisdom and Eloquence of Alī."

Throughout the two-day event, participants delved into a diverse array of topics including religion, law, and politics in the Muslim-majority world, Islamic theology, digital Islam, gender identity and society, Islamic art, Qur'anic exegesis, and political Islam. These discussions underscored the dynamic and multifaceted nature of contemporary Islamic studies, fostering rich academic exchanges and collaborations.

Azhari Andi's presented his paper which deals with Revisiting Exegetical Tradition of the Qur'an. It was presented alongside distinguished scholars; Marina Pyrovolaki from Aristotle University, Greece, and Ali Aghaei from Humboldt University of Berlin. This presentation formed part of a wider panel discussion that delved into the rich traditions of Qur'anic exegesis and its classical interpretations.

This year's BRAIS conference attracted a global assembly of scholars from prestigious institutions such as McGill University, University of Illinois, University of Warwick, Cardiff University, University College London, University Autonoma de Barcelona, University of Oxford, University of Birmingham, Nottingham Trent University, University of Edinburgh, University of Liverpool, Hammed Bin Khalifa University, SOAS, Queen Mary University, University of Cambridge, Vrije University Amsterdam, Harvard University, University of Exeter, George Washington University, Leiden University, and of course, UIII.

The conference concluded with a keynote by Professor Stefan Weber, Director of the Museum for Islamic Art in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin. His address, "Pulling the Past into the Present: Islamic Art and the Museum Today," explored the role of museums in preserving and presenting Islamic art to contemporary audiences, bridging historical narratives with modern appreciation.

Azhari Andi's participation in this prestigious conference not only highlights his academic dedication and expertise but also reflects UIII's commitment to contributing to global scholarly dialogues and advancing the field of Islamic studies. The university community extends heartfelt congratulations to Azhari for his outstanding achievement and looks forward to his future contributions to the academic world.