Jakarta, July 14 -- While opening the 2025 Madrasah Student Introduction Period (MATSAMA) at MAN 4 Jakarta on Monday, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar expressed the hope that madrasas will produce future national leaders.

He emphasized that madrasas have a strategic role in efforts to produce a generation that is intellectually intelligent and morally upright, and has deep spiritual understanding.

"Madrasas produce pious and intelligent students, for life in this world and the hereafter. Madrasas will grow our nation's future leaders," the minister told new madrasa students ranging from elementary to high school.

He then related the story of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jailani, a great scholar who was taught from childhood to conduct ...