Key research themes
1. How has the Islamization of knowledge been conceptualized and institutionalized within modern Islamic higher education?
This theme investigates the theoretical foundations, practical implementation, successes, and challenges of integrating Islamic epistemology with modern academic disciplines, particularly within institutional settings such as the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). It explores the ongoing project of Islamizing knowledge that seeks to harmonize revealed (naqli) and acquired ('aqli) knowledge, addressing both curricular and pedagogical approaches, faculty preparedness, and the socio-academic impacts. Understanding this integration is crucial for advancing Islamic education models that respond to contemporary epistemic challenges and Muslim societal needs.
2. How have Islamic epistemologies historically shaped the development and transmission of knowledge across disciplines in Muslim intellectual history?
This theme addresses the historical evolution of Muslim intellectual traditions, focusing on the integrated development of core Islamic sciences such as Qur’anic studies, hadith, fiqh, theology, philosophy, and mysticism. It critically examines how these disciplines were not isolated but dynamically interconnected, contributing to a rich, trans-civilizational Islamic knowledge culture over fourteen centuries. Understanding this intertwined intellectual heritage is essential to appreciate Islamic knowledge culture’s depth, its resilience amidst modernity, and its implications for contemporary Islamic studies.
3. In what ways do Islamic cultural and ethical values influence contemporary knowledge-sharing practices and educational attitudes within Muslim communities?
This research theme explores the impacts of Islamic ethical frameworks, including Islamic work ethics and spiritual values, on knowledge transmission, sharing, and educational attitudes. It extends to institutional cultures in private higher education, educational reforms relating classical and contemporary Islamic education, and the lived experiences of Muslim students in reconciling traditional religious knowledge with modern academic expectations. The theme is foundational for understanding how Islamic cultural ethics shape intellectual interactions, pedagogy, and community learning practices today.