FRONTPAGE
EDUCATION
HISTORY OF WORK
OTHER EXPERIENCES & AWARDS
ORGANIZATION
CONTACT ADDRESS

Basic biographical information

  • Name : Dra. Hajjah Maria Ulfah, MA
  • I was born in 21 December 1955, in Lamongan, East Java Province, Indonesia
  • Sex : Female
  • Religion : Islam
  • Nationality : Indonesia
  • Ethnicity : Javanese
  • Father : Haji Mudhoffar, he was a trader, passed away in 1974
  • Mother : Hajjah Ruminah, she was a house wife, passed away in 1976
  • Siblings : I have 12 brother and sister. I am no 9. Eight brothers and four sisters.
  • I married in 20 March 1981 :
    Husband : Mukhtar Ikhsan M.D. (Pulmonologist / Respiratory physician) Lecturer & Medical Practitioner in Medical School , University of Indonesia / Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta
    Children :
    1. Ahmad Nabries, 21 y.o, Medical Student, YARSI University,Jakarta
    2. Mohammad Labib, 19 y.o, Medical Student, YARSI University, Jakarta
    3. Rifky Mubarak, 15 y.o, Senior High School student, Jakarta
This fields is my interest, so my research and publication mostly is this field. Some titles of my paper are :
  • The role MTQ in Da’wah Islamiyah in Indonesia
  • The law of female voice in Quranic recitation
  • The law of Qur’anic recitation in chorus
  • The role of Moslem woman in Indonesian community
  • How to recite Al-Qur’an with tajwid
  • The art of Qur’anic recitation, etc
The issue of the gender.

There some opinion of the Ulama ( especially in the Middle East) that the voice of the woman is aurat. But in Indonesia ( also in some other South East Asean countries), the Ulama has a different opinion. It is permitted for Woman Moslem to recite Al-Qur’an even in the front of public, because the responsibility for da’wah ( to sent a message of Islam ) also to work righteous deeds is equal and compulsory for man and woman Moslem.

To recite Al-Quran with good voice and melodies is one method of Da’wah. It’s make people interest to learn more about Al-Qur’an (include it’s meaning). After that, must be implemented in the daily activities because Al-Qur’an is a guidance for human life.




Education :

  • 1966 : Graduated Elementary School , in Lamongan, East Java Province
  • 1969 : Graduated Senior High School, in Lamongan, East Java Province
  • 1972 : Graduated Islamic Teacher School,Lamongan,East Java Province
  • 1977 : Graduated State Institute for Islamic Studies, Surabaya, East java
  • 1981 : Graduated Institute for Quranic Studies ( IIQ / Institut Ilmu Al- Quran ), Jakarta
    This institute is a special for woman student. After graduated I work here until present.
    The Vision is : As a center of Qur’anic and Hadits studies that’s responsive to the running ages.
    The Mission is : Establishing Islamic scholar who has Qur’anic memorization & comprehensive overwiew, wide perspective, and virtuous female
    Target : Producing (especially female) scholar on Qur’an and Hadits studies who has capability of oral and written of critical, systematic and logical thought on scientific theorem.
  • 1996 : Graduated Course in Arabic Language in American University & International Language Institute, Cairo, Egypt

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History of Work :

  • 1982 - present : Lecturer at the Istitute for Quranic Studies, Jakarta
  • 1966 - present : Lecturer at the Islamic State University, Jakarta
  • 1984 – 1988 : Vice Dean of Ushuluddin Faculty of Institute for Quranic Studies
  • 2001 – 2002 : As a Rector of Institute for Qur’anic Studies
  • 1988 - present : Assistant Rector of Administration and Finance for Insitute for Quranic Studies ( IIQ / Institut Ilmu Al- Qur’an ) in Jakarta

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Professional Organization :

  • 1988 – present :
    Manager of Central Institute for Development for Qur’anic Recitation, Education and Training Department
  • 1988 – present :
    Manager of the Central Institute for Qur’anic Recitation, Territory of the Capital City, Jakarta, Department of Judging and Evaluation ( at competition)
  • 1988 – present :
    Manager at the Association for the Fellowship of Qari and Qariah, Hafidz and Hafidzah with the position of the Head of Department IV, Woman’s Issues and Cooperation
  • 1999 – present :
    Manager of the Institute of Development for Qur’anic Recitation, South Jakarta, with the position Expert Director
  • 1996 – present :
    Member of the Committee of the Fatwa, Central Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Jakarta
  • 1997 – present :
    Head of the Cultural Foundation for the Religious Boarding School (Pesantren) “Al-Mudhoffar”, Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia
  • 2000 – present :
    Founder and Head of the Cultural Foundation for the Al- Qur’an Boarding School ( Pesantren) “Baitul Qurra“, Ciputat,Tangerang, Banten province.
  • Work as a judge. Judge or as jury during Qur’an Competition Reading from provincial level until national level.
  • As a member of the Majelis Ulama.

    In Indonesia we have the Majelis Ulama ( Council of Ulama = Muslim Scholar ). Majelis Ulama consist of many Comission. Since year of 1996 I became a member of Fatwa Comission of the Central Majelis Ulama Indonesia. The function of Fatwa Comission are : To determine the law ( Islamic Law ) of some food and beverages product, whether haram or halal To determine the Islamic Law of a problem or case, questioned by the government or the people To give opinion in some social and financial problem. The participation in the Majelis Ulama in Indonesia is a reflection of the role of Woman Muslim in Indonesia. The Woman Muslim in Indonesia has an equal position with Muslim. For example as a teacher, physician, parliament member, or president. In Islamic field as a muballighat ( to serve the message of Islam ), as a Judge ( in Islamic Court for the problem of marital, diforce and heritage ), and others.

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Other Experiences and Awards :

  • 1967 : First Place Champion in the Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ), or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation, Lamongan, East Java
  • 1973 : First Place Champion in the Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ), or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation, in Surabaya, East Java Province.
  • 1977 - present : Performed Quranic Recitation in radio and television
  • 1980 : First Place Champion in the National Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ), or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation
  • 1980 : First Place Champion in the International Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ), or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 1980 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Jeddah Radio, Arab Saudi
  • 1981 : Honored Guest Reciter at the International Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an, or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation, Kuwait
  • 1981 : Honored Guest Reciter in the Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an, or Competition in Qur’anic Recitation, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 1981 – present : Performed recording of Qur’anic recitation in cassette, consist of some verses of the Qur’an, the entire Al-Qur’an, some surah with Indonesian translation, the method to recite Qur’an shalawat nabi, etc. Those cassette sold commercially in Indonesia and abroad
  • 1983 – present : Member of the Board of Judges, Competition for Qura’nic Recitation, National level
  • 1983 – present : Trainer of Professional Reciters of the Qur’an, Nationwide, Indonesia
  • 1983 – present : Presenter of some articles for the trainers of male and female reciters in Indonesia
  • 1992 : Honored Guest Reciter in Brunei Darussalam
  • 1996 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Meeting of Indonesian Student in Cairo. Egypt
  • 1996 : Honored Guest Reciter in Islamic Program, Europe Television
  • 1996 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Meeting of the Association of Moslem Union of Europe, Den Haag, Netherlands
  • 1996 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Meeting of the Indonesia Moslem Society in Paris (France), Brussel (Belgium) and Geneva (Switzerland)
  • 1997 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Meeting of Indonesian Moslem Student in Armidale, Australia
  • 1999 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) of North America Congress in Washington DC, USA
  • 1999 : Honored Guest Lecturer and Reciter of Qur’an in Haverford College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Boston College and Brown University, USA
  • 1999 : Honored Guest Reciter at the Meeting of Indonesian Moslem Student, Syracuse, USA
  • 1999 : Officials and trainer of Indonesian team for International Qur’anic Recitation Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2002 : Guest Honored Reciter at the Meeting of Canadian Islamic Congress in Ottawa, Canada
  • 2002 : Honored Guest Lecturer and Reciter of Qur’an in Waterloo University, Concordia University, McMaster University, and some Islamic Center in Canada
  • 2003 : Honored Guest Reciter of Qur’an at the Meeting of Indonesian Moslem Society in Viena (Austria), Stockholm (Sweden), Copenhagen (Denmark), Hamburg (Germany), Berlin (Germany), Frankfurt Germany), and Den Haag ( Netherland)
  • 2003 : Maria Ulfah’s voice was Recorded in the Phonogrammarchiv, Austrian Academy of Sciences.
  • 2003 : Honored Guest Lecturer and Reciter of Qur’an in Lund University (Malmo, Sweden), Institute of Christian – Islam (Copenhagen,Denmark), Hamburg University (Hamburg), Humboldt University (Berlin) and Goethe University (Frankfurt).
    Awards
    The award that I have received are :
  • In 1980; when I am as a winner of MTq in national level, the government give me a reward to perform Haji (pilgrim) to Makkah.
  • In 1984 : received Gold Plate Record Award for my recording, from Musica’s Studio, due to recording in Quranic recitation

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Tajwid


In Indonesia, every Muslim children learn Al-Qur’an since childhood, they read, memorize, translation into Indonesian language, the meaning of the verses, etc. and sometime with melody ( tajwid / mujawwad ) guided by the teacher. I like to read and learn Al-Qur’an as other children, also with melody (tajwid), but I don’t like to recite in front of public. But my father forced me to recite in front of public. The result is, I become a winner in district level ( Lamongan), then Province (East Java) level. When my study move from Surabaya ( in The State Institute for Islamic Studies ) to Jakarta ( in Institute for Quranic Studies ), my interest in Quranic recitation with tajwid grow and grow, because I find more teacher with national and international reputation and other method of reading ). My ability to recite Al-Qur’an with tajwid increase fastly. In 1980 became the first winner of Qur’an Competition Reading ( MTQ = Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an ) in Jakarta ( Capitol ) Province level and also National level. And also in 1980 become the first winner of International Qur’an Competition Reading in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



The history of Qur’anic Recitation in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, as in other Muslim countries, Qur’anic Recitation develops paralelly with the Da’wah Islamiyah (spreading of Islam). Also the tradition to memorize and to interprete the meaning of the verses. Since the arrival of Islam in Indonesia ( in the 10th century), the method of the teaching Al-Qur’an is still in a very simple way.

In the 17th century when the direct contact between Indonesian and Arabic people from Arab peninsula is happened, also the returning of some Ulama (Muslim Scholar) from Middle East, the developmet of teaching Al-Qur’an is more prominent, in terms of recitation (tilawatil qur’an), memorization (hifzil qur’an) and interpretation (tafsirul qur’an). In South Sulawesi in 1605 when The King of Gowa Kingdom, Sultan Alaudin, become a Muslim, during every Ramadhan performed a Qur’anic reading in his palace. This activity become a tradition in the society of South Sulawesi until now.

In the end of 19th century, there are many Ulama, expert in Quranic recitation. They spread the method of Quranic recitation with tajwid and beauty melodies, also memorization and interpretation, in their boarding school (pesantren), or in the community.

In the 20th century, the tradition to recite Al-Qur’an with melody (tajwid), more develop. In every religious ceremony, the Qur’an recitation with tajwid always be presented.

In 1946, in Asahan, North Sumatra province, the Qur’an Recitation Competition is performed, sponsored by Ustadz Muhammad Ali Umar. This competition is attended by 300 reciter. This event may be The First Qur’anic Reading Competition in Indonesia. In Makassar (South Sulawesi) in 1949, there were also Qur’an Recitation Competition, followed by Qari from Sulawesi and Kalimantan. In Jakarta, since 1952, to celebrate the anniversary of Jakarta every 22 June, the Qur’an Competition Reading also performed.

In the 1950, some organization of the Qari ( Qur’an reciter) and the Huffazh (Qur’an memorizer) has been establish in some of Indonesia province, and then spread nationwide. The development of Qur’anic Recitation in Indonesia also be provoked by the visit of Egypt Reciter in every Ramadhan. After the visit, there were change the orientation of the melodious style, from “Makkawy” (Makkah style) to “Mishry”(Egypt style).

In 1962 Department of Religious Affairs develop the Qur’an Recitation Program in the curriculum in the school and regularly in every year, competition was performed. This is the embryo of Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ) or Competition of Qur’anic Recitation. The first national level of Qur’anic Recitation was performed in 1968 in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Since that, the MTQ was regularly performed in every year from the village level, district level, province level and national level. The winner of MTQ in national level then sent to international level in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, or other countries. Indonesia also become the first host of international level in 2003.

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Contact Address:

Jl. Suli No. 2
Ciputat Baru
Tangerang, Banten 15413
Indonesia
Phone: +62-21-740912
Fax: +62-21-7409280
E-mail: mukhtarikhsan@yahoo.com
Or
peace@mariaulfah.com

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