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The International Islamic University Malaysia’s

role in promoting interreligious harmony

Prof Dato’ Sri Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin, Rector, and Prof Dr Ainul Jaria Binti Maidin, Director,

Office of Corporate Communication and Marketing, IIUM International Islamic University Malaysia

he International Islamic University Malaysia

(IIUM) is a public university sponsored by the

Malaysian Government and eight other govern-

ments from the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation

(OIC). The university was established in 1983, founded

on Islamic principles with the aim of becoming a leading

international centre of educational excellence.

The philosophy of the university was inspired by the recom-

mendations of the first World Conference on Muslim

Education held in Mecca in 1977. The spirit of this philoso-

phy is based on the verses of Surah Al-Alaq in the Qur’an.

According to this philosophy, knowledge shall be propagated

in the spirit of Tawhid, leading towards the recognition of

Allah as the absolute creator and master of mankind.

The spirit behind the recognition of Allah as the Lord

of the World (Rabbal-Alamin) represents the apex in the

hierarchy of knowledge. Thus, all disciplines of knowl-

edge should lead towards subservience to this truth. This is

because knowledge is a form of trust (amanah) from Allah

to man, and hence man should utilize knowledge accord-

ing to Allah’s will in performing his role as the servant and

vicegerent (khalifah) of Allah on Earth.

In line with the mission of its establishment, the university

is constantly striving to promote understanding of Islam and

harmony within the multiracial and multireligious communi-

ties in Malaysia and in other parts of the world. The university

has developed an integrated curriculum to prepare students

to face the challenges they will encounter upon graduation,

particularly in an increasingly globalized world. IIUM, in line

with the mission, trains students to work together with people

of different beliefs and diverse cultural backgrounds in order

to promote peace and harmony.

IIUM strives to inculcate in its students a deep love of and

commitment to the principles of moderation promoted by

Islam as a way of life. IIUM has taken on the role of dissemi-

nating the message on the importance of moderation for

Muslims. Moderation can be practiced at every level of society

by choosing mutual respect and inclusivity, strengthening

the bonds between different communities and faiths. Islam

enjoins Muslims to be tolerant, respectful of other’s beliefs

and rights, and to promote peace amongst nations to ensure

political stability and sustainable development.

Promoting interreligious harmony in Malaysia

Malaysia is a multiracial, multilingual, multicultural and

multireligious country where the initiatives to unite, integrate

and harmonize the peoples have become the most important

challenges to the Malaysian leadership. Since Malaysia’s inde-

pendence, continuous efforts have been initiated with the

establishment of institutions like the Department of National

Unity and Integration and the Committee for Promoting

Understanding and Harmony among Religious Adherences

by the Government to promote interreligious harmony.

A harmonious nation requires people of diverse back-

grounds in terms of race, language, culture and religion to

learn, understand, compromise, work and live together for

a progressive and prosperous future. Interracial and interre-

ligious harmonies are core requirements of modern societies

and need to be nurtured. The World Interfaith Harmony

Week can play an important role in Malaysia.

In line with the mission of IIUM, the university decided

to collaborate with the Department of National Unity,

Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia to organize annu-

ally the International Seminar on Interreligious Harmony

and Tolerance and Award Ceremony in conjunction with the

United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week. The univer-

sity has organized four seminars since 2012.

The International Islamic University Malaysia: students learn to work together

with people of different beliefs and diverse cultural backgrounds in order to

promote peace and harmony

Image: IIUM

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