{"id":187856,"date":"2026-06-30T01:51:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=187856"},"modified":"2026-06-30T01:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:51:29","slug":"scholar-beyond-academia-the-hidden-legacy-of-dr-zeenath-kausar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=187856","title":{"rendered":"Scholar beyond Academia: The Hidden Legacy of Dr. Zeenath Kausar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By, Daniya Afroz<\/strong><\/em>

<\/strong>How do we define a scholar? A person who is knowledgeable in a specific field or broadly cognizant of various branches of knowledge be it Physics, Biology, Islamic thought, Hadith, Quran, Politics etc. What often captivates us is the tangible form of knowledge that we witness in the form of books, articles, lectures, research papers, and classroom notes. We look to their intellectual contributions to make the most out of it but rarely come across their daily habits and discipline that sustained such productivity throughout their lives. Yet behind every productivity lies values, moral foundations, taqwa<\/em>, healthy routine, discipline and a philosophy of living and a deliberate effort to preserve and nurture the body, mind and soul entrusted by Allah to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late Dr Zeenath Kausar was a distinguished scholar at International Islamic University Malaysia who taught in the department of Political Science. Her contributions to the field of knowledge have been immense. While she was an exceptional intellectual scholar, concurrently a side of her that has not been known yet to many is that she was a woman deeply concerned about health, discipline and the preservation of human body. She saw every aspect of life through an Islamic lens. Among her personal notes that she maintained throughout her life, I found a treasure of insights not only about academia but also about healthy lifestyle and physical well-being. Her notes reveal that she viewed physical well-being as a responsibility connected to faith that would lead to productivity and ultimately towards service to humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wrote many reflections and maintained them in separate folders, external drives dedicated entirely to health-related matters. She did not only follow the health advice but also researched extensively by gathering data from different websites, YouTube videos, health encyclopaedias, journal articles, medical discussions, and various educational resources. She meticulously organised, categorized and documented them. She also accumulated data on the functions of organs of body, foods suitable for each organ, healthy recipes, herbal remedies and fitness practices. Her approach mirrored the same intellectual fervour she bought to the field of academia while also giving us a powerful lesson that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an amanah<\/em> from Allah. Moreover, this reveals a true characteristic of a scholar: curiosity does not end with one\u2019s academic specialization nor is it driven merely by the desire to accumulate a plethora of writings in one\u2019s career repertoire. Rather, it is nurtured through a sound body, sound mind, and a sense of accountability in utilizing  \u2018aql<\/em>\u2019 (intellect) <\/em>entrusted to us by Allah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, her scholarly contributions rooted in Islamic thought and intellectual curiosity further expanded into health, nutrition, wellness, and everyday living. She approached these subjects with the same seriousness and methodical organization that characterized her academic work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring for the Body as an Amanah<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Muslims often stress on spiritual obligations that indeed are indispensable part of our lives, the preservation of physical health is also deeply rooted in Islamic teachings.  Our body is an Amanah entrusted by Allah. Islam teaches us to take care of it, protect it by avoiding eating harmful and indulge ourselves in physical activities that benefits it. Prophet Muhammad \ufdfa also encouraged moderation in eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The human body is not merely a driving force for worldly existence, it is an entity through which acts of worship, service to humanity and intellectual activities are performed.

Dr Zeenath Kausar appeared to grasp the significance of this insight deeply. Her collection of health-related notes prove that she did not separate faith from daily habits. She remembered her duties, sought to understand how proper nutrition, exercise and healthy living could allow humans to perform their duties towards family, society and Allah. This holistic understanding reflects a broader Islamic worldview rooted in intellectual, spiritual and physical well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking as a Daily Discipline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Zeenath Kausar emphasized on walking in most of her notes. She stressed on making walking an invaluable part of life. Her notes included health recommendations, scientific research, practical schedules, benefits of walking before & after meals and guidance on integrating walking into one\u2019s mundane life. However, the importance of walking in her notes extended beyond physical exertion. Walking, according to her, symbolized discipline, consistency, and taking responsibility for one\u2019s health through basic achievable actions. Unlike expensive fitness activities or complicated programs which require special equipment\u2019s, memberships or extensive plannings, walking remained an accessible practice for everyone.  Perhaps the fact that it is accessible almost to everyone, is precisely what appealed to her and made her do extensive research on something beyond her academic field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite many illnesses that she encountered in her life, she had a willpower to sustain a healthy lifestyle. She understood that a healthy body supports a productive mind. This understanding challenges a typical misconception among academicians and students who often neglect their health in the pursuit of higher academic achievement. The long hours of study, insufficient sleep, physical inactivity, poor eating habits are frequently treated as signs of hard work and commitment. Yet, Dr Zeenath\u2019s approach suggests the opposite: taking care of our body is not just a responsibility entrusted to us by Allah but also a means of contributing intellectually and spiritually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One can conclude from her notes that meaningful changes often start with small but persistent actions. A 30 minute walk may appear valueless, yet over years it becomes an investment in a healthy, long and productive life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organization as a Way of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through Dr Zeenath\u2019s notes, one can conclude that willing to live a healthy life, writing and worship are not separate activities but interconnected facets of a meaningful life. Her notes demonstrate that learning is not confined to formal education. It is a lifelong pursuit that encompasses every aspect of human existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concurrently, great achievements are often not built through a life of ease, comfort and indiscipline. Discipline, consistency, hard work, organization in each aspect of learning leads to a successful life. Organization in life reduces confusions, brings clarity, saves times, enhances the productivity and allows knowledge to be preserved and utilized effectively by future generations. Dr Zeenath approached learning in the same manner. She organized everything she learned and wrote in a perfect manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students and young researchers, this lesson may be as valuable as any health advice. Victory is seldom accidental. It is often the result of disciplined habits, careful planning, systematic and consistent efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking, Writing, and Worship: Three Dimensions of a Meaningful Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, what emerged from Dr Zeenath\u2019s notes was her consistent emphasis on taking care of body, mind and soul together.  Physical health, intellectual engagement through learning and writing, and worship rooted in tawheed<\/em>, taqwa, <\/em>and tawakkul<\/em> function as complementary aspects of a meaningful life. Since she placed more emphasis on walking due to its accessibility to almost everyone, her notes reveal that walking represented care for the body. Writing represented care for the intellect, while worship represented care for the soul. These three dimensions don\u2019t exist in isolation; rather, they form a holistic vision of human development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sound physical health fosters intellectual productivity, while an intellectually productive mind enriches spirituality by encouraging reflection upon the signs of Allah in creation, motivated both by love for Allah and intellectual curiosity. Such reflections on nature inspire discoveries and inventions rooted in tawhid that benefit the ummah<\/em>. In this sense, the pursuit of knowledge and beneficial innovation may be understood as part of one\u2019s obligation to serve humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This multi-dimensional approach mirrors Islamic emphasis on wasatiyah <\/em>(moderation\/balance)\u2014a balance that is often neglected in this contemporary society, where individuals may prioritize one aspect of life while neglecting others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


In conclusion, Dr. Zeenath’s notes remind us that true success requires nurturing all aspects of human existence. She was a woman who approached learning, health, and faith with discipline and seriousness. She understood that serving Allah and contributing to humanity are not only achieved through knowledge but also through the preservation of one\u2019s body and mind, which serve as catalysts for meaningful service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this age of hustle and bustle, characterized by imbalance, distraction, and haste, Dr Zeenath\u2019s example reminds us that fruitful lives are often built upon simple yet consistent daily practices. A walk taken, or any form of physical activity practised, knowledge gained with sincerity, and worship performed with devotion may collectively lead to a purposeful life.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis reflection is based on the author\u2019s personal observations and selected unpublished personal notes of the late Zeenath Kausar. Daniya Afroz\u2014graduate student of IIUM has been closely engaged with the scholarly contributions and archival materials of Dr. Zeenath Kausar\u201d<\/em>***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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