Muflih Safitra, M.Sc.

Ustadz Muflih Safitra, this preacher may be familiar among Muslims in Balikpapan. His work as a da'i has started since he was still sitting on the tsanawiyah bench. When he was 13 years old, he often gave lectures around the month of Ramadan.

His father, M. Saad Ali is also a civil servant who often gives sermons and lectures. When he was giving lectures in various places, Muflih often accompanied him and listened to his father's lectures. “Since childhood I have often participated in Islamic activities, such as MTQ and lectures. When Ramadan arrives, my father often invites me to give lectures," said Muflih.

After graduating from school, he continued his studies at a university in Yogyakarta. He completed his studies in 3 years 5 months with a GPA of 3.89 (cumlaude).

After that, to make his parents happy, Muflih followed his parents' career path, serving as a civil servant at the Balikpapan City Government. But his strong desire to spread religion did not stop. He still makes time to preach after work.

"Usually fills da'wah at Maghrib, Isha or at Fajr." In the eyes of the man who was born in Balikpapan on July 19, 1984, being a preacher is a gift from God as well as a field of reward for saving the hereafter.

In 2010, Muflih won 1st place in the Al-Qur'an memorization competition for Balikpapan City Civil Servants and received an Umrah prize from the government. After returning from Umrah, he received a master's scholarship at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

He also set foot in the land of the Prophet 5 months later. “It is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be able to study Masters and at the same time study with the community and international scholars. We can gain more religious knowledge,” he said.

Thanks to God's grace, Muflih completed his master's degree with the fastest study period and the highest GPA among his contemporaries.

Early 2014 after graduating he returned to Balikpapan. However, when he returned to being a civil servant, Muflih felt that he had not maximized the knowledge he had acquired while studying in Saudi Arabia. Especially before Ramadan, Muflih was asked by many mosque administrators and scientific councils to fill out studies during the fasting month.

“My time to preach and teach religious knowledge is very limited. While at work I can not preach. Meanwhile, the demand for filling out Ramadan studies is increasing," he said. Muflih, who at that time was already group III B, finally decided to stop being a civil servant and focus on sharing knowledge in da'wah.

“My parents and wife are very supportive of this step. Even my father assured me, don't be afraid to lose your fortune because it has been arranged by Allah SWT. If later asked to return the salary, the father said he would help find the funds, "he said. A week before Ramadan last year, he resigned as a civil servant.

As a consequence, Muflih was required to pay Rp. 87 million as a form of return of the salary he received while studying in Saudi Arabia, because he was considered not to serve in the government. "At that time I didn't have any money. So I applied for the abolition of the return, even though it might be rejected.

I realized that even if it was rejected, it would be okay because that is the right of the government as well as my responsibility. If you have to pay, it's like buying a Ramadan reward of IDR 87 million," he said. Unexpectedly God's help came. A friend who is also a member of the congregation is willing to help Muflih to return his salary to the state.

"Although the status of the assistance is a debt that I will repay to a friend, at least the dependents feel lighter and I am even more convinced that this da'wah is my way of life," he said.

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