By Nurul Nabilah
GOMBAK, 20 February 2022: Islamic academia has to regard itself as the inheritor of the prophetic roles involving the role of religious teaching and comprehensive tarbiah involving intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual development of the students, according to Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Kamal Hassan.
He said that this is a very important point that members of the academia must bear in mind that Allah is not looking at the title we have but He is looking at the extent of taqwa that we have.
In this context, the professor said Islamic academia must play a more active role to bring the civilisation transformation within the Muslim community and the rest of the world.
Prof. Kamal Hassan was speaking at the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS) Ibadah Camp final talk series 2021 on Friday (18 February) on the role of the academia from the surah Al-Mujadalah verse 11.
The verse emphasises the issue of etiquette and decorum of the believer with regard to assemblies or public gatherings, and believers are required to give room as much as possible for people to be accommodated in a crowded meeting.
He told the Ibadah Camp that there are also specific lessons that are discussed where the real means of exaltation of ranks is faith and knowledge as “Allah SWT has made it clear that He has raised the people who have iman and people who have been endowed with knowledge to a very high rank”.
He mentioned that according to Imam Al-Razi, the making room for one another implies the mutual providing of opportunities for a decent life for all and especially to the needy or the handicapped member of the community.
“According to Al-Razi if one widens the means of happiness and well-being of God’s creatures, God will widen for him all the good in this life and the hereafter,” he highlighted.
Prof. Kamal said that Abu Ala Maududi believed the more a person is aware and conscious of Allah’s powers, his knowledge, his wisdom, his omnipotence and his other attributes, the more he will fear his disobedience inspired from Abu Ala Maududi.
The former Rector also spoke on the type of Islamic leadership that was required to lead the ummah to the goal of socio-political transformation.
Muslim society needs a new leader who is capable as a role model in leading with courage, wisdom, and genuine concern for the people’s welfare, moral integrity, humility, compassion, simplicity and transparency, the professor emphasised.
“The current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is a test for the believers because it puts many people in difficult economic, social, and psychological circumstances,” he told the live session.
Prof. Kamal concluded that Malay Muslim political parties should be led by selfless, sincere, competent, tolerant, and humble leaders of high integrity with God-fearing character.
The talk session was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hazizan Md. Noon, the former Dean of the Kulliyyah.
This event has been streamed on KIRKHS’s YouTube channel. (https://youtu.be/S-S0YfxEWD8) ***