39th IIUM Convocation: ‘As khalifah, we must make the world a better place,’ says two-time Best Student, Khalif

By Nur Najia Nazri

GOMBAK, 30 November 2023: In his speech, Khalif bin Noor Azman noted that as khalifah, we were placed upon earth to make it a better place, better known as the principle of Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin. 

Khalif received his scroll for completing his degree at the Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), in the seventh session of the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony. The event took place at IIUM Gombak, on Tuesday afternoon (28 November). He also won the Best Student (Academic) Award at the Kulliyyah level and the Rector’s List Award at the university level. 

He recapped that six years ago, he faced a huge dilemma as he was offered to pursue an engineering degree in Spain. However, his passion was in architecture yet he was struggling with his low self-esteem as he was not the cream of the crop. Thus, he took interior design under applied art and design department instead which he believed turned out to be the best decision he had made.

Proof that he was also fond of musicals, he sang some lyrics from the musical Hadestown, “Some flowers bloom when the green grass grows, our praise is not for them but the one who blooms in the bitter snow…”

He then further expressed that he had the privilege of always having enough. He was privileged to have extremely supportive family and friends, to be physically and mentally healthy, and not to have to worry about anything other than his grades, projects, and assignments. 

“I could fall at any moment and my support system is ready to catch me,” he asserted as he applauded other graduands for having to go through a mountain of hurdles yet still managed to graduate together with him. 

Khalif emphasized that being khalifah means recognising our privileges and leveraging on them as sources of mercy and compassion. We have the power and voice to ensure a just and functional society thus we are obligated to be the voice of those marginalised and oppressed. 

He also called upon other graduands that while celebrating their achievements, they must not forget the Palestinians who are currently struggling for their freedom under a cruel occupation and genocide committed by Zionists of which its remembrance is the very essence of Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin.

Lastly, he concluded his speech by thanking his family members, friends, seniors, lecturers, classmates and every person he had known and expressed gratitude on behalf of every graduand.***