MALANG, JurnalPost.com – The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is strengthening the capabilities of marriage registrars (penghulu) to meet the increasingly diverse needs of marriage services. Beyond understanding marriage law, registrars are now required to master foreign languages, digital technology, and the administration of international marriages.
This effort is being carried out through a Short Course on Strengthening the Capacity of Penghulu and Marriage Officials which took place in Malang, East Java, from 5 to 8 October 2026. The training, organized by the Directorate of KUA Guidance and Sakinah Families under the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, involved 50 registrars from the Greater Malang area and surrounding regions.
Director of KUA Guidance and Sakinah Families, Ahmad Zayadi, noted that changing societal patterns are influencing marriage service needs. Increased population mobility, mixed-nationality marriages, and linguistic and cultural differences present new challenges for registrars.
According to Zayadi, a registrar's capability should not rely solely on an understanding of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and the procedures for marriage contracts. They must also be able to communicate with couples from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
“Moving forward, mixed marriages and international services will become more common. Therefore, registrars must be equipped with competencies in marriage jurisprudence, Arabic and English, administration, and digital literacy,” Zayadi said on Wednesday (7/10/2026).
Registrars Required to Master Foreign Languages
Zayadi explained that proficiency in Arabic and English is a skill that needs to be developed for modern marriage services.
This requirement relates to the likelihood of registrars handling marriages involving foreign nationals or couples with different linguistic backgrounds.
Foreign language proficiency is considered essential to help registrars explain marriage procedures, provide administrative information, and build better communication with prospective brides and grooms.
“Today, we are not just citizens of Indonesia, but also citizens of the world. Therefore, language competency for registrars has become a necessity,” he stated.
Nevertheless, strengthening language skills must go hand-in-hand with mastering religious provisions and marriage regulations applicable in Indonesia.
Registrars are expected to ensure that every marriage contract process is carried out in accordance with religious provisions while fulfilling administrative requirements to provide legal certainty for the couple.
Training Covers Fiqh to Digital Literacy
During the training, participants received materials directly related to the operational needs of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA).
The materials covered classical and contemporary marriage jurisprudence, the practice of conducting marriage contracts in Arabic and English, marriage administration management, and the use of digital technology.
This combination of materials is intended to help registrars handle increasingly complex issues, including those involving marriages between different nationalities.
Zayadi emphasized that changing societal characteristics must be met with an improvement in the quality of religious service officials.
“Registrars must be able to adapt to change, not be left behind by it. Marriage services must remain religiously valid, administratively robust, and provide legal certainty for families,” he explained.
According to him, registrars have a broader responsibility than simply recording marriage events.
The presence of a registrar at a marriage ceremony is part of the state's service to ensure the marriage proceeds according to regulations and provides legal protection for the family.
“The registrar is the state's representative in providing services for the sacred event of a marriage contract. The registrar's duty does not stop at administrative recording, but also includes safeguarding the quality of worship, legal certainty, and the foundation of the family,” Zayadi asserted.
Ministry of Religious Affairs Pushes for More Professional KUA Services
Meanwhile, Head of the Sub-directorate for Penghulu Guidance, Zudi Rahmanto, stated that improving registrar competency is not just about technical skills.
Aspects of integrity, precision, responsibility, and the ability to understand public needs are also vital parts of marriage services.
According to Zudi, administrative errors or a lack of precision in service can impact the legal certainty of a marriage. Therefore, registrars must perform their duties carefully and professionally.
“The professionalism of a registrar is measured not only by technical ability but also by how they serve the public with etiquette, responsibility, and caution. Marriage services must provide a sense of security, order, and dignity for the community,” he said.
He explained that the training in Malang is a step toward strengthening the registrars' understanding of regulations, marriage contract practices, service communication, and the use of technology.
The program is also linked to the implementation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Asta Protas, specifically the agenda to improve religious services that provide direct benefits to the community.
Through the capacity building of registrars, the Ministry hopes that the transformation of KUA services will focus not only on simplifying procedures but also on the quality of interaction between officials and the public.
“Registrars must be present as professional and dignified servants of the public. When registrars are strong, KUA services become stronger, and the public receives higher quality and more impactful religious services,” Zudi concluded.
This competency strengthening is part of the Ministry's preparation to meet the evolving needs of marriage services, particularly regarding mixed marriages, cross-cultural communication, and the use of administrative technology.
With more diverse capabilities, registrars are expected to provide services that are easy to understand, administratively orderly, and guarantee legal certainty for the public.
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