Knowledge and knowledge-centered activities have always occupied a lofty and noble position in Islam. As a matter of fact, seeking knowledge in order that one becomes really learned and enlightened in religion, and is therefore qualified to educate the society, is always considered a serious endeavour in the religion of Islam, so serious that those…
While diversity of faiths and religions test Malaysians’ capacity for unity, it also accentuates the need of a framework which is practicable and acceptable to all. Two global scholars, Fazlur Rahman and Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, have suggested in their works, that the positive value of different religious communities is that they may excel with…
Risk is an inherent element that exists in every aspect of man’s endevours in this world. It is a fact that man’s life and his activities cannot be spared of risks. So prevalent are risks to man and his organisation that taking them has become an inevitable part of life. As such, the term “Risk…
It has been a prevalent understanding in the intellectual tradition of Islam that man in his very constitution reflects what is there in the outer world. In other words, man is the microcosmic representation of the macrocosm, the universe at large. Some scholars of that tradition went even further to assert that what is…
Honorary title conferment is still massively practiced in Malaysia. Titles like Tun, Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datuk, etc, have been regularly awarded by succession of Kings, the Malay Rulers and Head of States, normally in recognition of notable achievements, services or contributions made to the nation or society. The recipients of these titles now might…
When a Muslim talks about faith what he means is “iman”. Unlike faith, iman presupposses knowledge. So a man of faith (in the sense of iman) must have knowledge in what he believes in. Hence, to seek knowledge is the first obligation of every believer. A certain Muslim theologian even goes to the extent of…
Malaysians, of various races, are on the right track as long as they approach issues and problems in a manner that is non-extreme and non-violent. Rejecting racial fanaticism, attempting to bridge misunderstanding of racial issues, and articulating a voice of moderation, this is the way forward for Malaysia as well as global community in formulating…
When we observe many great inventions or innovations of the modern world, we find that they are either very basic or simple, and used in daily life. Looking further, each invention or innovation demonstrates the good intentions of the inventors or the innovators in their endeavour to improve the quality of life of a normal…
Clarity in thought is certainly a sine-qua-non for one’s act of understanding and knowing. That this is so has been attested to by the very terms one has been using to refer to acts or process leading to it. “Clarify,” “explain,” “enlighten,” “illustrate,” “highlight,” “shed light,” and “illuminate” quickly come to our mind in this…
No community or nation is free from challenges, problems, dilemmas, or crises. Muslims, regardless of times and locations, have been facing a varied magnitude of challenges since the very inception of Islam. This will never cease to happen. In Islam and Secularism (1978), Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, a contemporary Muslim thinker and the 2011 recipient…
