By Alya Nadiah
GOMBAK, 21 January 2018 – International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has a mission to promote the concept of Islamisation of human knowledge through teaching, research and consultancy work in its dissemination of knowledge towards achieving academic excellence, its Rector, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin said recently.
Launching the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman lecture series and 10 IIUM-IIIT (International Institute of Islamic Thought) textbooks at the Senate Hall on Friday (19 January), Prof. Dr. Zaleha said, “The IIUM constitution enshrines the vision of the Islamisation of human knowledge although some may not believe in it.”
“Sometimes we see books from the Western world without giving any Islamic perspective. Textbooks at various levels of our education system are produced by authors who do not necessarily share our worldview, values or way of life.”
Professor Dr. Zaleha said, “I would like to congratulate the authors of the three kulliyyah, eight authors from IRK, one author from KICT and another one author from KENMS making it 10 books, and I thanked them sincerely for their contribution to knowledge production.”
Organised by the office of Deputy Rector (Research and Innovation), Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS) and the IIIT, the launching ceremony was held to promote the concept of Islamisation in those books which would further enhance teaching and knowledge dissemination among IIUM community.
The ceremony began with singing of national anthem followed by Quranic recitation by Al- Qari Al-Sheikh Muhammad Asfandyar Dilawar Khan.
Also present at the ceremony was the Deputy Rector (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Rahmah Ahmad H. Osman and the Director and Regional Representative for International Institute for Islamic Thought, (IIIT East and South East Asia), Professor Emeritus Dato’ Wira Dr. Jamil Osman.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Rahmah Ahmad H. Osman said, “We are delighted to witness the beautiful results of sleepless nights through dedication and strong determination of many individuals from IIUM and IIIT.”
“I would like to congratulate all authors and editors of these books and IIIT who have demonstrated an admirable level of productivity as evidence by the books that are to be launched today.”
“These textbooks actualise the integration of Islamic and acquired human knowledge accordingly, in addition to enhancing and strengthening the Islamisation and integration mission of IIUM. I am also delighted to announce that IIIT has agreed to sponsor a new writing project for another 40 textbooks for courses taught at our university,” she added.
According to Prof. Dr. Rahmah these books were published with the objective to promote more of the Islamic perspective and values among university students. “Compared to the current textbooks that were written by western authors promoting western philosophies, the new textbooks would encourage students to learn their subjects based on major Islamic values from the textbooks,” she said.
The 10 books were designed for university level courses for all IIUM students.
IIIT has been IIUM’s trusted and strategic partner since the university’s establishment. “I am also grateful for the monetary assistance that has been offered by IIIT in the form of sponsored research grants to assist IIUM staffs in the writing process of these books,” Dr. Rahmah said.
“IIUM community is honoured to launch the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman lectures series today. Professor Emeritus Dr. AbdulHamid AbuSulayman played the fundamental role in shaping the vision and mission of our university. He played an important role in the success of this project by monitoring and supervising each of the office from the very beginning and guided us step by step starting from the first stage of the formation of ideas and concepts until completion.”
A lecture presentation was later held on the topic “Islamisation of Knowledge: From Concept to Textbook” by Prof. Dr. Omar H. Kasule, the Secretary-General of IIIT, who was also Professor of Medical Ethics at King Fahd Medical University, and Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ***
