DURING a discussion with the writer, a diplomat friend raised some very interesting issues pertaining to the so-called “third wave of human civilisation.” The third wave is also referred to as the Biotechnology Age. Whether we realise it or not, we are currently in the Age of Information. Doubtless, some parts of the world are…
MANY years ago, a student friend mentioned to this writer that the best way to know whether a friend is a true friend is when one is in need. At that time, one will find the answer, oft-times a painful one. Perhaps the age-old adage “a friend in need is a friend indeed” rings true…
MAN must understand properly and fully his own nature, his mission and ultimately his responsibility in this world, in order to continue to progress. This is the basic understanding man must have for the betterment of his life and for the good of the entire society. In the Quran, Allah says: “He began the creation…
THE month of Ramadan is here again. With the beginning of the first of Ramadan, Muslims all around the world begin fasting. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, and hence it is a must for all Muslims to observe this act of worship. Most of the time, Muslims look at fasting only…
THE Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia’s (IKIM’s) first branch was officially opened by the Sultan of Pahang on Nov 14. It marked another milestone for the institute. The branch in Kuantan will serve the east coast of the peninsula, and it looks set to begin an important chapter for Ikim. Ikim was founded in 1992…
“DO what you say and say what you do” is usually the advice given by quality consultants to companies wishing to obtain the ISO certification. The advice immediately reminded the writer of Verse 2 of Surah Saff in the Holy Quran that states to the effect that: “O ye who believe! Why say ye that…
THE sky, or rather outer space, has always been the subject of fascination for mankind. The moon, being the nearest satellite to our planet, is always an interesting object to study. Likewise, the twinkling stars and the mysteries that surround space have given rise to many tales and lore, most of them fictitious in nature.…
ON THURSDAY, the country will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of its independence. Being independent from the clutches of foreign powers is, perhaps, one of the most inestimable achievements of any country. While we may be into our 5th decade of independence, we now come face to face with challenges that threaten our free will. Though…
THE 16th century philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon, coined a now-famous phrase: “For also knowledge itself is power.” However, about 1,000 years before Bacon, Islam had already acknowledged this fact. From the very first verse of the Quran, Islam has impressed upon its believers the importance of knowledge. The first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (Verses…
MUCH has been written and said about the glorious Muslim civilisation of centuries gone by. That the great Muslim empires thrive on knowledge. That the success of these empires lie on scientific research and development (R & D). Today, many Muslims would like to see how the R & D culture that made the Muslim…
