By Jasmin Jafrizul
GOMBAK, 29 November 2023: “The thing that differentiates between ordinary students and extraordinary students is barakah. The source of barakah can come from many sources; it can come from our parents and friends, and I believe student societies are one of the sources because if we contribute our knowledge or our skills to societies, then Allah will reward us insyaAllah,” he said.
Muhammad Asyraf Hakimi bin Zaid, graduated from AIKOL with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB) and is currently pursuing a second degree in Syariah. He received his scroll in the fifth session of the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Monday afternoon (27 November 2023) in the Main Hall of the IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC), IIUM Gombak.
The IIUM has made a wise choice in believing that the Islamization of knowledge and student activism is the best strategy in transforming students into khalifah,” said Muhammad Asyraf Hakimi bin Zaid in his valedictorian speech.
He reminded graduates, “hidup bukanlah bercerita tentang pilihan untuk menyerah kalah, merintih atas setiap susah, menangis atas semua tragis tetapi hidup adalah sebuah kisah untuk kita bangkit daripada kalah, belajar daripada setiap payah dan menjadi tabah selepas sejuta mehnah, demikianlah jiwa seorang khalifah.”
In order to attain barakah, he filled his time as a student by being an active member of different student societies at the IIUM. He was involved in Student Union (SU), Mooting, Debating, Pidato, Law Majalla, and other societies and competitions.
During his speech, he mentioned that the IIUM is a place where students attain knowledge and conduct activism, and as a university that has a student union, there is hope that the IIUM will continue to give it a mandate to operate and not just delegate the task to the Student Representative Council (SRC). SU has the autonomy and capacity to do things, and we need to believe in student activism.
“Orang yang berjaya ialah orang yang waktu orang lain tidur dia belajar, waktu orang bermain dia belajar, dan waktu orang berehat dia tetap belajar,” advised Asyraf on the importance of studying.
There are sacrifices to be made, and due to this belief, he limited his sleeping time to four hours every day in order to complete all his tasks and responsibilities.
“When we step into the IIUM, we become the student of the IIUM and we need to believe and understand that it is not just the title ‘student,’ but the IIUM is a factory and a machine that gives birth to khalifahs on earth and that is what makes us different from other students of other universities,” said Asyraf
The influence of Muslim graduates is based on the purpose of the mortar board on graduands’ heads. In the book, “Islam in Europe” by Jack Goody, a British Anthropologist. During the Islamic civilisation in the 9th century, a school of scholars would place the Quran on his mortar to symbolise the significance of Wahyu over intellect.
With a reminder to all graduates that the main source of barakah is our parents as reflected by the Holy Quran (Surah Luqman, Chapter 31: Verse 14) أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ that translates to, “So be grateful to Me and to your parents.”
Asyraf concluded the speech by speaking in his native language, Banjarese language as he said, “ayuhak baimbai” which means “Let’s lead the way.”***
they will fly away,
however,
if you spend your time building a beautiful garden
the butterflies will come to you
and if they don't,
at least you have a garden to be happy with.
- Katherine Young
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