FIDS Seminar (SAP 2024) and its New Milestones

By, Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak and Kabuye Uthman Sulaiman

On the 5th of September, 2024, the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (FIDS) organized a seminar under the theme: Issues and Perspectives in Basic Philosophy, Worldview, Knowledge and Civilization. This seminar was one of the department’s Scholarship Advancement Programme (SAP) activities for the year 2024. The Dean of AbdulHami AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS), Prof. Dr. Shukran Abd. Rahman and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ainul Azmin Md Zamin, Head of Responsible Research and Innovation, were present during the opening session. As of previous years, the Dean spoke on the ongoing academic development and the future planning of the Kulliyyah. Additionally, he highlighted the duties and responsibilities of FIDS academic staff members. Due to its centrality, FIDS department is expected to guide students towards the correct ‘Aqidah, worldview or vision of life, right practices and essential moral values that build character. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ainul reiterated the duties and responsibilities of academic staff, namely teaching, responsible research, publication, consultancy and community engagement. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kabuye Uthman Sulaiman, Head of the Department of FIDS, highlighted the numerous success stories within the department, particularly the completion of manuscripts for the three UNGS textbooks, namely Basic Philosophy and the Islamic Worldview, An Islamic Perspective of Knowledge and Civilization, and Ethics and Fiqh of Contemporary Issues. He also briefed the Dean and the Head of Responsible Research about other SAP activities planned by the department.

This one-day seminar was attended by academics from FIDS stationed at the Gombak, Pagoh, and Kuantan campuses. A total of 31 research topics were presented.

The Department of FIDS

The Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies is one of the departments of AHAS KIRKHS. The late Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Kamal Hassan played a key role in establishing the department dedicated to teaching the university’s core courses, such as Islamic Worldview, Knowledge and Civilization in Islam, and Ethics and Fiqh of Contemporary Issues. Although the content of these courses, taught by academics in FIDS, has been updated over the years, the main topics have remained the same. Many are unaware that FIDS carries the important responsibility of teaching students from all faculties. The UNGS classes bring together young minds from various disciplines, making the teaching process more challenging. It takes a lot of effort from devoted academics of FIDS to teach and ensure that all students can comprehend well the subject matter communicated to the students.

 The Function of the Three Courses

Over the years, academics have been asked by their students why there is a need for them to take the UNGS courses. In the students’ way of reasoning, in the future, they are going to be engineers, lawyers, dentists, architects, etc. In enlightening the students, the academics of FIDS normally explain that each of the three courses has its function in their lives. The courses have been designed to instil certain Islamic values.

Basic Philosophy and the Islamic World

This course explains to students why they should think philosophically and the benefits of doing so. As a subject, philosophy encourages students to use their power of reason. Since philosophy demands students to think, doing philosophy trains them to think critically and creatively. Additionally, philosophy teaches students contemplative, analytical, analogical, deductive, inductive and other thinking patterns. At the very core of the study of philosophy lies the love of wisdom. Ideally, those who love wisdom are individuals who strive to be wise. Such individuals value law and order, ecstatic beauty, fairness, justice, and more.

Learning the Islamic worldview, on the other hand, provides students with the right perspective on life. It serves as a lens through which they view themselves and the world around them. The Islamic worldview explains the true purpose of life and defines the ideal relationship one should have with God, the universe, flora and fauna, oneself, and humanity at large. A proper understanding of this worldview can give students the motivation to face the challenges of their everyday lives while simultaneously preparing them for the hereafter, which is an inevitable reality for all human beings.

Knowledge and Civilization in Islam

This course educates and enlightens students on what is the Islamic concept of knowledge; its sources and its purpose in human lives. In addition, it explains that education is not only for the mind alone but also for the heart and soul. The Islamic concept of education awakens in the students for a higher aspiration in life. It calls for man to show his servitude towards God and to be of service to humanity. The kind of knowledge Islam emphasizes is not mere bookish knowledge that only requires memorization but one that produces action. Knowledge and education in Islam are the means through which man gets closer to his Creator. They also broaden man’s horizon of thinking. A man whose heart has been enlightened through education, should not contribute to the cause of destruction of this planet. Knowledge and education should transform an individual to be universal in his/her outlook in life, giving the qualities of loving, caring and sharing when dealing with fellow human beings.   

The civilization part of this course helps to define the meaning of a civilized society and what makes the Islamic civilization different from other civilizations. Students taking this subject are also well-informed about the great contribution made by Muslim thinkers, philosophers, scholars, scientists and technocrats in the bygone history of the Muslims. Learning about Islamic civilization also makes the students realise in what ways the Islamic civilization contributed to the Renaissance movement in the West. Besides that, this part of the course will explain to the students the profile of the Ummah; particularly on the factors that caused the rise and fall of the Islamic civilization. Realizing the backwardness of modern Muslim society can renew the spirit in the younger generation of Muslims to do something great to revive Islamic civilization and bring back the lost glory of the past.

Ethics and Fiqh of Contemporary Issues

This last of the UNGS courses explains the difference between the terms ethics, morality, akhlāq, adab, etc. It explains that in modern contexts, all these terms are used interchangeably. The commonality found in all the terms is that they refer to human actions, behavior, and mental attitudes. A deeper understanding of the various terms used to describe human behavior reveals that ethics, morality, and all other terms, except akhlāq, are systems developed by humans for human use. Akhlāq, on the other hand, is a unique system based on the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Those who follow the akhlāq system are not only assured happiness in this world but also merits in the hereafter. In comparison to akhlāq, all other systems that guide human behavior only guarantee happiness in this world.

The other component of the course on Fiqh of Contemporary Issues deals with current biomedical issues, such as euthanasia, plastic surgery, surrogacy, organ donation, contraception, sterilization, abortion, artificial insemination, etc. Since the modern lifestyle has brought about these new problems, and modern technology is available, contemporary Muslim scholars must pass verdicts on new methods of solving many human problems that did not exist in ancient times.

Through the FIDS (SAP Seminar 2024), we come to realize the vital role played by the Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies in shaping the minds and characters of students who come from the different faculties of IIUM. In this age and time, where there are divergent philosophies of life, the courses offered by FIDS, such as Basic Philosophy and the Islamic Worldview, Knowledge and Civilization in Islam, and Ethics and Fiqh of Contemporary Issues, continue to provide students with essential Islamic values and perspectives that are relevant to both their personal lives and future professions. These courses equip students to think critically, promote a deeper understanding of Islamic teachings, and provide a better perspective to face contemporary challenges with a meaningful and balanced worldview. Through the collective efforts of dedicated academics, the Department of FIDS aims to guide students not only in acquiring knowledge but also, in becoming morally responsible individuals who will better serve themselves, their families, nations, and humanity at large. 

(Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak and Assoc Prof Dr Kabuye are both academics in the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies, AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences).