By, Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
As an annual event, the academics and staff members of AHAS KIRKHS held their yearly Ibadah Camp on the 21st and 22nd of November 2025. This year, all activities were conducted at the SHAS Mosque and Wadi Budi, IIUM. The programme lineup included contemplation (tadabbur) of selected Qur’anic verses, qiyām al-lail (congregational night prayer), tazkirah (motivational talk), a morning walk, and a lecture on the duties and responsibilities of a murabbi (a role model teacher).
Opening Remarks
As the Dean of the Kulliyyah, Prof. Dr. Hafiz Zakariya, shared many of his insightful ideas on the role of academia and academics during the opening ceremony of the Ibadah Camp. Being the biggest Kulliyyah in the university, AHAS KIRKHS faces a tremendous amount of challenges. Though his message was concise and precise, it was impactful for all attendees, as the issues he highlighted are often what they experience in their classroom teaching.
One of the most important takeaways from his message was how to handle students of Gen-Z. Since they were born during the booming age of IT and the Internet and are now being ushered into the world of smartphones and social media, academics need to reposition themselves in line with these latest developments. Recent global trends indicate that due to over-dependence on technology, they are more prone to various mental health issues. Realizing this reality, he encouraged academics to take a friendlier approach when dealing with their students, both inside and outside the classroom.
The last point he emphasized in his speech was the importance of lecturers acting as role models.
Contemplation on the Qur’an
In conducting the Tadabbur al-Qur’an, Dr. Abdulhamid Mohamed Alizaroumselected verses 174–177 of Surah Al-Baqarah. Within the time given to him, Dr. Abdulhamid explained the key messages emphasized in these four verses. Among others, the Qur’an calls on believers not to hide or distort the true message of Allah and not to sell the religion for a miserable price. It also highlights the consequences that await those who reject Allah’s message. Finally, verse 177 explains what righteousness truly means. According to this verse, righteousness is not merely the turning of our faces to the east or the west. True righteousness lies in the belief in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scriptures, and in sharing one’s wealth with relatives, orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, those who ask for help, and in freeing slaves. It also includes performing prayers, giving alms, fulfilling promises, and remaining steadfast during times of trials, adversity, and even in war.
According to Dr. Abdulhamid, there is much that ordinary Muslims and academics can learn from these verses. In particular, academics—who are regarded as providers of knowledge and education—should teach and uphold what is true and righteous in the sight of Allah. During this slot of the Ibadah Camp, Dr. Abdulhamid conducted his session interactively by inviting participants to share their views with others.
Qiyam al-Lail (Night Prayer)
The act of performing the Night Prayer, which we emulate from Prophet Muhammad (SAW), takes place between midnight and before the dawn prayer (Fajr). It holds the highest virtues among all voluntary prayers taught by the Prophet (SAW). Standing for this prayer brings immense spiritual benefits, and it is said that one attains the deepest level of concentration during Tahajjud. The serenity of the night enhances one’s spiritual closeness to the Creator. A person’s devotion to this prayer motivates them to sacrifice the comfort of their bed and interrupt their sleep. Supplications offered during and after the prayer carry great value in the sight of Allah. During the Ibadah Camp 2025, Dr. Hassan Suleiman and Dr. Nashwan Abdo Khaled—both of whom have committed the Qur’an to memory—took turns leading the congregation in Qiyam al-Lail.
Tazkirah and Motivational Talk
After the Fajr prayer, the honour of delivering the Tazkirah and Motivational Talk session was given to Dr. Ismail Mamat. His crystal-clear voice reverberated throughout the SHAS Mosque of IIUM. His talk centred on the themes of sincerity (ikhlas), trust (amanah), and being a role model in the workplace. Although the talk lasted for only thirty minutes, the message it carried was very powerful. Dr. Ismail reminded all academicians and staff members of the Kulliyyah to carry out their duties and responsibilities with complete sincerity to Allah. He further reiterated that as Muslims and members of an Islamic university, we must strive to be the best role models for our students and others in the broader world. According to him, poverty, corruption, mismanagement, and other forms of wrongdoing that are rampant in the Muslim world can be eliminated when Muslims take the concepts of ikhlas and amanah seriously.
The Making of Murabbi Educators
Prof. Akram M. Z. M. Khedher from KICT was invited to deliver a talk on “Empowering the Roles of Murabbi for a Resilient Ummatic Future.” The content of his presentation was both enlightening and invigorating. In his talk, Prof. Akramrevisited the classical era of Islamic civilization and examined the ideas of early Muslim scholars on knowledge and education. He also discussed the role of Murabbi educators serving at the university level.
According to him, a significant responsibility rests on the shoulders of Murabbieducators. They are expected not only to teach academic subjects but also to inculcate values in their students. They are duty-bound to prepare the next echelon of Muslim leaders. The professor further emphasized that modern educators should emulate the noble qualities of scholars such as Imam Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406), Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (1292–1350), among others, particularly regarding the aims and goals of teaching.
Prof. Akram also highlighted that, from an Islamic perspective, knowledge imparted to students should inspire meaningful action—action that benefits both the learners and the environment in which they live. Ultimately, such action should contribute to a transformative change within the broader context of the Muslim Ummah.
He further stressed that students who are taught mere bookish knowledge, devoid of moral and ethical grounding, will not be capable of becoming responsible leaders for the Ummah. ‘Ilm (Knowledge), Tarbiyah (Education), and Akhlaq(Moral and Ethical Development) must go hand in hand to produce the best outcomes in education.
Social Cohesion of the Ibadah Camp
The organization of the annual Ibadah Camp provides an opportunity for academics and staff from the eleven departments of AHAS KIRKHS to come together, interact, collaborate, perform Ibadah, and dine in each other’s company. In addition, the Ibadah Camp traditionally serves as a platform to strengthen unity, reinforce universal brotherhood, and renew the commitment of academics and staff to the Islamic cause.
Closing Session of the Ibadah Camp
Dr. Tunku Mohar, the Deputy Dean of Postgraduate, Research & Innovation, in his closing remarks, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Saheed Abdullahi Busari, Dr. Mohamed Fouz Mohamed Zacky, and all other academics and staff who contributed in one way or another to the successful completion of the Ibadah Camp 2025.
(The views expressed are those of Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak, Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies, AHAS KIRKHS, IIUM, and do not necessarily reflect the views of IIUM-Today.)
Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak is an academic staff member in the Department of Fundamental & Inter-Disciplinary Studies at IIUM.***
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