| Azlan Othman |
THE Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, yesterday called on local scholars to put more hard work into reviving Islamic knowledge based on the Al-Quran and Hadiths, during the 2016 Inter-University Seminar on Post-Graduate Studies (SAPLI) at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).
“Initiatives such as this seminar are conducive towards research,” he said. “Not just for researchers, but also as a means of providing early exposure for post-graduates before they venture into the real world.
“There can be no doubt that knowledge enhances the quality of life, both spiritually and physically. The early history of Islam witnessed the rise of renowned scholars whose contributions put the Islamic civilisation ahead of others.
“Their expertise was duly noted and acknowledged by Western scholars, inspiring them in turn to apply those principles in their respective communities and countries. Islamic knowledge in those times was based on the Al-Quran and Hadiths.
“This seminar is relevant with current demands, which require authentic knowledge based on genuine sources without isolating universally accepted knowledge.”
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti then concluded his speech with the hope that the seminar would be extended to other areas of research for the benefit of UNISSA and other Islamic institutions.
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs prior to launching the seminar. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
Dr Hajah Rasinah binti Haji Ahim, the Director of the Post-Graduate Studies Centre of UNISSA and Co-Chairperson of the Working Committee speaks at the seminar.
A section of guests at the seminar.
Meanwhile, Dr Hajah Rasinah binti Haji Ahim, the Director of the Post-Graduate Studies Centre of UNISSA and Co-Chairperson of the Working Committee at the seminar, said universities play a role in producing well-informed, educated and competitive human capital for nation building.
“In this age of globalisation, universities have undergone many transformations,” she said. “Previously, they focused primarily on aspects of teaching, but they are now extending their wings into research activities.
“In other words, research has become interchangeable with universities and higher institutions of high quality, and therefore should be conducted in a systematic and holistic fashion.
“The method to conducting research was already explored by Islamic scholars in the past. Our knowledge of those scholars is a testament to the civilisation of Islam and its legacy which has had a tremendous influence on mankind in general.”
The seminar is being co-hosted by UNISSA and the Graduate Studies Centre of International Islamic University College, Selangor (KUIS). It was first held in 2014 at UNISSA, and last year’s seminar was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Two keynote speakers, Professor Dato Dr Ab Halim Tamuri, the Rector of the International Islamic University College in Selangor (KUIS); and Associate Professor Dr Naamane Djeghim, the Deputy Director of Post-Graduate Studies at UNISSA, presented respective papers on ‘The Role of Higher Institutions for Sustainable Islamic Traditional Knowledge’ and ‘Bridging the Gap between Traditional and Modern Research Technology’. A total of 12 regional and local educational institutions are participating in SAPLI this year, with 52 working papers being presented in Malay, English and Arabic.
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