Jakarta: Zakiyatul Fikriyah was drawn to Arabic even more once she realised how much Arabic had influenced her mother tongue.

The 18-year-old, a student at Universitas Padjajaran in Bandung, one of Indonesia's top universities, has just joined the Arabic literature programme there to explore the rich linguistic connections between her country and the Middle East.

Learning about that process of influence and how it might be connected by the spread of Islam in Indonesia is what I find interesting, she told Arab News.

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"I believe that the point of contact between Indonesia and the Arab world is language, specifically the way that Indonesian has incorporated Arabic words into its vocabulary."

At her university, Fikriyah is a part of HIMASA, the Arabic Literature Student Council, which hosts discussions on all topics pertaining to the Middle East.

Mohammed Hafiz, 21, who oversees the council's external affairs, stated, "We are all here in this community because we have an interest in Arab culture.

The group's internal affairs are handled by his colleague Camila Syabina, 19, who told Arab News she was proud of her academic achievements. She is on a mission to build a bridge between Indonesia and the region of her studies, just like the other HIMASA members.

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We try as much as we can to demonstrate that Arab edge whenever we meet people who are not familiar with the Arab world, she said.

The group's 88 members meet frequently to talk about anything concerning Arab countries, assist one another with their Arabic classes, and plan community events aimed at introducing the Middle East to Bandung's larger population.

The closest of these occasions, an Arab cultural festival, is scheduled for October, and the majority of the group's members are currently focused on organising it. However, some people plan their engagement with the Arab world years in advance, like Mohammed Thohari, a 20-year-old.

"With my goal of becoming the foreign minister of Indonesia...

I have been trying to understand the Arab world better," he said.

Not only are we studying the Qur'an and hadiths, but we are also studying Arab cultures, literature, and thinkers.

Albighani Alana, a 21-year-old who has been following Middle East developments and relations between Arab nations, was also interested in foreign affairs.

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"The Arab world's diplomatic scene has drawn a lot of attention, particularly when it comes to disputes between Arab countries...

and that has sparked my curiosity about what is actually going on in the Arab world, he told Arab News.

"I believe that by taking part in this Arabic literature programme, I will be able to satisfy my curiosity."