Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm, al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā ashrafil-anbiyā’i wal-mursalīn, wa ʿalā ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajmaʿīn, ammā baʿd.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the noblest of prophets and messengers, our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ʿAlaihi Wasallam, and upon his family and all his companions.
Honourable President and Rector of IIUM, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Today we gather in gratitude to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala to honour not only the achievements of our graduates, but the long and extraordinary journey of a university built upon revelation, strengthened by reason, and guided by a mission far greater than its walls. For forty-three years, IIUM has stood as a Garden of Knowledge and Virtue , a sanctuary where knowledge is purified through faith, and where education becomes a sacred trust shaping the destiny of a nation.
This university is not a place of mere degrees; it is a place where minds are refined, hearts are awakened, and souls are prepared for leadership. Those who stand before me today are living testimony to that mission.
On this blessed day, I am also honoured to congratulate the recipients of the university’s highest honours:
1 – Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, whose voice and leadership of the Two Holy Mosques have shaped hearts and guided millions;
2 – Professor Dr. John L. Esposito, a global authority on Islam and interreligious understanding whose work has strengthened bridges between civilisations;
Although our honorary doctorate recipients are unable to be with us today, it is still my honour and privilege to recognize their immmense and profound contributions to the world of knowledge, scholarship , humanity and the global ummah ; their services remain deeply appreciated and proudly acknowledged by this university .
3 – And today we honour Professor Dr. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, a Malaysian scholar whose lifelong devotion to literature, culture and education has inspired and shaped generations. Their lives remind us that knowledge, when carried with sincerity, becomes a mercy to humanity.
To our graduates, congratulations. You are the blossoms of this Garden, nurtured with care, raised with discipline and strengthened with purpose. May the knowledge you carry become a light that restores justice where it is denied and hope where it is fading.
As we celebrate you today, our hearts remain close to the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine and all regions of injustice. Their struggle reminds us that knowledge must not remain silent , it must breathe through action, courage and compassion. Individually we are a drop, but together we are an ocean , and an ocean can reshape the world. Graduates, your degree is not merely an achievement , it is an amanah. Carry it with humility and dignity. Use it to uplift, to defend and to heal.
To my beloved graduates, although I stand here today as your Constitutional Head by duty, in my heart I am also a mother to every student of IIUM. And as a mother, I want to see my children rise higher than they ever imagined , to become the best expressions of themselves, and to walk this world with dignity, honesty, integrity and purpose. The mother is the first teacher, the first nurturer, the first provider of knowledge and values. So listen to your mother: race towards excellence, hold fast to your faith, seek knowledge with sincerity, carry your dignity with honour, and wherever Allah takes you, make your mother proud. So, listen to ur ” momster ” !
IIUM must remain a sanctuary grounded in tawhid, where students learn not only science, law, economics and medicine, but also ethics, integrity and wisdom. Education rooted in tawhid is our strongest defence against corruption, narrow-mindedness, drugs, gangsterism and moral decay. Let this Garden be an example to all Malaysians , a community of dignity, purpose and illumination. This university must guard its soul. ISTAC must be preserved and strengthened, for it is a lighthouse of Islamic civilisation. When a lighthouse dims, the entire shore is lost.
IIUM must chart its own path. We are not here to compete with others; IIUM stands proudly in its own league. We do not need rankings to validate who we are. IIUM’s worth is not measured by numbers, but by the character, integrity and excellence of the people it produces. We welcome sincere advice, but we do not need interference. And we must never allow this institution or our minds , to be colonised by subtle, insidious influences that diminish our purpose.
A Garden of Knowledge must reflect the values it teaches. The recent fire reminds us of the importance of maintenance, safety and accountability. Our students deserve spaces that are safe, clean and inspiring. Let us nurture a love for nature and environmental stewardship so that this campus remains the most beautiful Garden of Knowledge in Malaysia.
Our lecturers , our murabbi hold the responsibility of shaping future generations. We must hire the best, retain the best and nurture the best. There is no room for mediocrity or unethical behaviour. The amanah is too great; the future too precious. As I ve always said , IIUM is a journey of discovery , intellectual, moral and spiritual. Let us restore its honour as the most sought-after, respected and prestigious university in Malaysia, and insyaAllah, among the finest in the world.
To our graduates: step forward with courage. Carry the dignity of Islam, the integrity of this university, and the hopes of your parents and this nation. To the parents whom I deeply respect, my heartfelt congratulations on the success of your children today. Their achievements are a gift from Allah, born from your prayers, sacrifices and endless love. Let us always be grateful to Allah, for all knowledge and every blessing come from Him — “ وَمَا بِكُ م مِّن نِّ عمَ ة فَمِنَ ٱلَلِّ” — “And whatever blessings you have are from Allah.” (An-Nahl 16:53)
May the education we have given them , grounded in tawhid, character and knowledge , continue to bring goodness across generations and become a guiding light for our nation. There is no gift more precious to Malaysia than a future generation whose faith is strong, whose character is noble, and whose knowledge is sound. Through the tawhidic worldview, we can protect society from corruption, injustice, drugs, gangsterism and bullying, and build a Malaysia that is dignified and peaceful.
To the university, carry this amanah responsibly , the nation cannot afford a generation that loses its way. To the graduates and our honoured recipients , Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Professor John L. Esposito and Professor Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf , once again, my warmest congratulations for your contributions to knowledge and humanity.
To our graduates: never forget your humble beginnings. Be grateful for where you started. Give back to society, for education is not a privilege , it is an amanah entrusted to you. And finally, my appreciation goes to all IIUM lecturers, staff and workers , every single one of you. Without your dedication, IIUM would not stand as it does today. This is why we must uphold the highest standards , and why there is no room for anyone who diminishes the dignity of IIUM.
Kepada para graduan yang saya kasihi, walaupun saya berdiri di sini sebagai Ketua Perlembagaan universiti ini, dalam hati saya saya juga seorang ibu kepada setiap pelajar IIUM. Dan sebagai seorang ibu, saya mahu melihat anak-anak sekalian bangkit lebih tinggi daripada apa yang dibayangkan , cemerlang, menjadi insan terbaik yang Allah takdirkan, dan melangkah di dunia ini dengan maruah dan tujuan. Maka dengarlah pesan seorang ibu: kejar kecemerlangan, pegang teguh iman, tuntutlah ilmu dengan ikhlas, junjunglah maruah dengan kehormatan, dan ke mana sahaja Allah membawa anak-anak sekalian ,buatlah ibu bangga.
Kepada para ibu bapa yang saya hormati, tahniah atas kejayaan anak-anak tuan puan pada hari ini. Kejayaan mereka adalah anugerah Allah yang lahir daripada doa, pengorbanan dan kasih sayang yang tidak pernah putus. Marilah kita sentiasa bersyukur kepada Allah, kerana segala ilmu dan segala nikmat datang daripada-Nya, sebagaimana firman Allah:
وَمَا بِكُ م مِّن نِّ عمَ ة فَمِنَ ٱ لَلِّ
Semoga pendidikan yang kita berikan , berteraskan tauhid, akhlak dan ilmu , menjadi bekal yang membawa kebaikan dari satu generasi ke generasi berikutnya, dan menjadi cahaya kepada bangsa dan negara. Sesungguhnya, tiada hadiah lebih berharga kepada Malaysia selain generasi masa depan yang teguh imannya, kukuh akhlaknya dan cemerlang ilmunya. Pendidikan berasaskan epistemologi tauhid inilah yang dapat membendung kebobrokan, rasuah, ketidakadilan, dadah, gangsterisme dan pembulian , serta membina sebuah Malaysia yang aman, bermaruah dan sejahtera.
Kepada universiti pula, pikullah amanah untuk menyediakan pendidikan terbaik, kerana negara tidak mampu menanggung generasi yang hilang arah. Dan kepada para graduan serta para penerima penghormatan seperti Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Professor John L. Esposito dan Professor Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf , sekali lagi saya ucapkan tahniah atas segala jasa dan bakti. Kepada para graduan: jangan lupa permulaan yang sederhana. Berilah kembali kepada masyarakat, kerana pendidikan adalah amanah negara.
Kepada semua tenaga pengajar dan warga IIUM , tidak kira jawatan , saya ucapkan terima kasih atas segala komitmen dan usaha. Tanpa tuan puan, universiti ini tidak akan teguh seperti hari ini. Kita mesti memastikan kualiti terbaik dan tiada ruang untuk mana-mana pihak yang boleh menjejaskan maruah universiti ini.
Before I close, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Rector and the President for their commitment, sincerity and unwavering devotion to elevating IIUM. Their leadership continues to guide this Garden of Knowledge with wisdom and grace.
And to our friends in government , allow me to say this with a warm heart and a gentle laugh: as our beloved university turns forty-three, perhaps it is time for a little facelift, a touch of make-up here and there , and maybe even a hint of “botox” to make this university look young, fresh and radiant again. A beautiful campus nurtures beautiful minds , and investing in IIUM is investing in Malaysia’s future.
Before I end, allow me to speak sincerely from my heart. Although I stand here today as a graduating student, I am also the Constitutional Head of IIUM. With that role comes a deep sense of responsibility, affection and commitment to this university. I want to be more involved , not only to grace convocation ceremonies, but to walk beside you, to listen to you, and to contribute meaningfully to the future of this institution that I love. My door is always open. Let us work together , with sincerity, wisdom and unity , to shape the future of IIUM with excellence, integrity and vision.
By the authority vested in me as the Constitutional Head of the International Islamic University Malaysia, I hereby confer upon the graduands the degrees listed in the 41st Convocation Book.
May Allah bless every step you take and illuminate your path with wisdom, dignity and light.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh***
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