{"id":183341,"date":"2025-03-27T04:12:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T04:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=183341"},"modified":"2025-03-27T04:12:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T04:12:55","slug":"covenants-fulfilled-why-al-attas-says-islam-is-beyond-mere-religion-a-timely-message-for-contemporary-muslims-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=183341","title":{"rendered":"Covenants Fulfilled: Why Al-Attas says Islam is Beyond Mere \u2018Religion\u2019\u2014A Timely Message for Contemporary Muslims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By, Mohamed Aslam Akbar<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent special event\u00a0organized by\u00a0Universiti\u00a0TeknologiMalaysia (UTM),\u00a0Tan Sri<\/em>\u00a0Royal Laureate Professor\u00a0Syed Muhammad\u00a0Naquib\u00a0al-Attas\u2014renowned Muslim thinker and philosopher\u2014delivered an extempore speech titled, \u201cIslam: The Covenants Fulfilled.\u201d The gathering\u00a0at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on 26 January,\u00a02025\u00a0drew notable figures, including the Prime Minister\u00a0Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim\u00a0and other dignitaries eager to glean insights from one of the most respected voices in contemporary Islamic thought. What followed was a sweeping discourse on the uniqueness of Islam as a divinely conferred name, the concept of all prophets being \u201cMuslim,\u201d and the need for believers today to rekindle the genuine substance of their faith. Below is a summary of the key themes that emerged from Al-Attas\u2019s address, supported by notes\u00a0I took\u00a0from the event and additional references from\u00a0the\u00a0broader scholarly work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Al-Attas\u2019s central arguments was that the word \u201cIslam\u201d was not a human invention or mere linguistic label, but a name chosen by Allah for His religion. Citing\u00a0Qur\u2019\u0101nic contexts (e.g.,\u00a0S\u016brah\u00a0al-M\u0101\u2019idah\u00a03:3), Al-Attas affirmed that this naming is\u00a0ta\u02bfy\u012bn<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>il\u0101h\u012b<\/em>\u00a0(a divine designation) that underscores Islam\u2019s universality and finality as the culmination of all prior revelations.\u00a0According to Al-Attas\u2019s perspective, the term \u201cIslam\u201d is beyond the scope of standard lexicographical derivations. He points out there is \u201cno plural of\u00a0millah<\/em>,\u201d meaning that the singular \u201cIslam\u201d cannot be substituted or fractured into multiple variations. This highlights Islam\u2019s unity and inimitability: it is not simply an extension or subcategory of a larger set of \u201creligions,\u201d but rather a distinct\u00a0d\u012bn<\/em>\u00a0(way of life) that stands\u00a0complete in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the notable questions posed in Al-Attas\u2019s talk was: \u201cWere all earlier prophets essentially \u2018Muslim\u2019?\u201d<\/em> Al-Attas replies that Ibr\u0101h\u012bm (Abraham), N\u016b\u1e25 (Noah), and other prophets upheld the same monotheistic truth, even if the formal term \u201cMuslim\u201d gained explicit usage later. Hence, each prophet testified to the \u201cMillah<\/em> Ibr\u0101h\u012bm\u201d\u2014the primordial faith\u2014flowing into the final dispensation of Islam. Al-Attas underlines that the final revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not a break from past prophetic missions, but the fulfillment of earlier covenants. In this sense, the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad marked the completion of the chain of prophecy, a unifying message that all earlier prophets pointed toward. As he succinctly put it, \u201cAll earlier revelations imply<\/em> Islam; Prophet Muhammad\u2019s message declares<\/em> Islam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Attas\u2019s notes stressed that \u201cthere is no plural milal<\/em>,\u201d underscoring the exclusivity and indivisible essence of this \u201cAbrahamic way.\u201d While contemporary society tends to homogenize faith systems under broad categories (like \u201cthe world\u2019s great religions\u201d), Al-Attas insists that Islam\u2019s conceptual vocabulary\u2014its very name\u2014positions it as unique among worldviews. In his speech, Al-Attas was equally emphatic that Muslims must not compromise or dilute Islamic principles under the banner of interfaith equivalence. This does not equate to denying coexistence or dialogue; rather, it affirms that one should engage with other traditions while remaining firmly anchored in the essential worldview of Taw\u1e25\u012bd<\/em> (oneness of God) that Islam teaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event\u2019s central thrust, especially relevant to modern Muslims, is the urgent need to rediscover the depth of their Islamic identity. Al-Attas argued that many in the Ummah risk losing the cognizance of Islam\u2019s divine naming and universal mission\u2014if they reduce it to a cultural tradition, political ideology, or regional label. In light of global challenges\u2014ranging from secular materialism to social fragmentation\u2014Al-Attas\u2019s message urges believers to internalize Islam\u2019s original epistemological and spiritual underpinnings. By reaffirming the kalimah<\/em> <\/em>shah\u0101dah<\/em> (the testimony of faith) as a covenant<\/em> rather than a mere statement, Muslims ground themselves in a worldview that shapes their ethics, governance, and pursuits of knowledge. Al-Attas also critiques both extremes: Rigid literalism that overlooks Islam\u2019s profound intellectual heritage and philosophical tradition. Cultural nominalism that treats being \u201cMuslim\u201d as a mere birth identity, stripped of deeper spiritual practice and moral obligation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presence of the Prime Minister and other high-profile attendees at this event signals the national importance of Al-Attas\u2019s wisdom. Translating these insights into educational curricula, public policy, and communal dialogue can revitalize the T<\/em>aw\u1e25\u012bd\u012b<\/em> (God-centric) perspective across various institutions. Al-Attas\u2019s articulation of Islam\u2019s uniqueness does not imply hostility toward other religions; rather, it upholds that the truth of Islam is fully embodied<\/em> in the final revelation. Muslims who understand their faith deeply, he argues, will engage civilizational dialogues more confidently and more charitably\u2014knowing that their convictions rest on a robust, divinely sanctioned foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extempore speech \u201cIslam: The Covenants Fulfilled\u201d by Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas stands out as a clarion call for Muslims to reassess and reaffirm what it means to be part of the millah<\/em> of Ibr\u0101h\u012bm, culminating in the complete and perfected faith conveyed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). From the notes and insights shared, Al-Attas\u2019s thesis revolves around a few key convictions: Islam\u2019s name is unique, conferred by Allah, and not reducible to human constructs. All Prophets taught the essence of Islam, confirming it as the universal religion leading to the final dispensation. Contemporary Muslims must recognize that \u201cIslam\u201d is not just a nominal identity but a covenant<\/em>\u2014one that shapes moral, intellectual, and spiritual life. In an era where secular relativism and spiritual confusion often prevail, Al-Attas\u2019s reminder that we stand on a legacy of divine naming and covenant fulfillment resonates more strongly than ever. Whether in our individual practice, communal leadership, or national policy, internalizing these core insights can revitalize the true vision of Islam for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(These are the views of Assoc. Prof. Dr.\u00a0Mohamed Aslam Akbar, affiliated with the Kulliyyah \u00a0of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia<\/em> which do not represent IIUM Today’s.)<\/em>***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By, Mohamed Aslam Akbar In a recent special event\u00a0organized by\u00a0Universiti\u00a0TeknologiMalaysia (UTM),\u00a0Tan Sri\u00a0Royal Laureate Professor\u00a0Syed Muhammad\u00a0Naquib\u00a0al-Attas\u2014renowned Muslim thinker and philosopher\u2014delivered an extempore speech titled, \u201cIslam: The… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":183343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,4,6],"tags":[],"nelio_content":{"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"followers":[257,239],"suggestedReferences":[],"efiUrl":"","efiAlt":"","highlights":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-20-at-9.04.16\u202fAM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183341"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=183341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":183449,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183341\/revisions\/183449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/183343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=183341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=183341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=183341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}