Integrating faith and knowledge: Kamal Hassan’s legacy at IIUM

Ali, Mohd Mumtaz and Abdul Razak, Mohd Abbas (2025) Integrating faith and knowledge: Kamal Hassan’s legacy at IIUM. Potret: Media Perempuan Aceh.

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Abstract

As one of the leading Muslim scholars of his time, in the early 80s, Mohd Kamal Hassan was appointed by the government of Malaysia to develop a concept for a contemporary Muslim institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, wanted such an academia to be international, which would make it appealing to the global community. Kamal Hassan, who was well-known for his balanced and comprehensive understanding of Islam, managed to make Mahathir’s dream a reality. Deeply rooted in spirituality and philosophy, Kamal Hassan was able to establish a modern Islamic centre for learning which had a strong foundation in Islamic Tawhidic epistemology, which places much emphasis on the God-centeredness of life, man as the Khalifah of Allah, Islamic moral values, man’s good relationship with nature, and fellow human beings. His idea of Islam as a holistic philosophy of life shaped the university's vision, mission, and its efforts in promoting peace and harmony within the Muslim Ummah and the world at large. Kamal Hassan remained deeply involved in the university's development throughout his life, until his last breath on 23rd February 2023. As a visionary Muslim scholar, he recognized that a sound spiritual and moral foundation is an essential element needed for personal development alongside academic growth. His collaboration with AbdulHamid AbuSulayman, IIUM's second rector, further solidified the university's unique position in higher education. Kamal Hassan's views on the role of spirituality in education, his holistic approach to student development, and all his other efforts made the International Islamic University Malaysia one of the outstanding Islamic universities in the world.

Item Type:	Article (Bulletin)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Integrating Faith, Knowledge, Kamal Hassan, Legacy, International Islamic University Malaysia
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP190.5 Islamization of Knowledge BPL Islamic education L Education > L Education (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Usul al-Din and Comparative Religion Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014)
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
Date Deposited:	30 Jul 2025 09:14
Last Modified:	30 Jul 2025 09:14
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/122369

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