The Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Lateef Oladimeji has reaffirmed the commitment of the University to upholding Islamic values in its academic programmes. Prof. Oladimeji gave the assurance at a one-day workshop on the Integration of Knowledge and Islamic Research Methodology for academic staff, recently organised by the International Institute of Islamic Thought, IIIT, Nigeria, in collaboration with Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
Prof. Aisha Garba Habeeb, the visiting Vice Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, while speaking about the nature of knowledge from an Islamic perspective, described knowledge as the possession of true information pertaining to revelation and rationality. She explained that knowledge has never existed in a vacuum, but it is always shaped by a particular worldview. Prof. Habeeb, while laying emphasis on how much Islam prioritizes the acquisition of knowledge, urged participants to integrate Islamic knowledge with modern science as it will be instrumental to the welfare of Muslim societies and also essential for reforming Muslim thought.
The National Coordinator of IIIT Nigeria, Prof. Saidu Ahmad Dukawa of Bayero University, Kano, expressing his view on Islamic History and Civilisation, mentioned that Muslims were able to contribute to World Civilisation in the early period as a result of Quranic revelations being critically thought out and diligently practiced. He cited the Qur’anic revelations Q.96:1-5, which emphasized on reading, inspired early Muslims to pursue knowledge acquisition with great vigour. Prof. Dukawa, further stated that the first compulsory act of worship in Islam, prayer, must be preceded by dahara (body cleanliness) and wudu (ablution), after which one looks for a clean place to pray made the Muslims to pay extra attention to physical and environmental cleanliness. He also said that the second compulsory act of worship, which is fasting during the month of Ramadan made Muslims to learn about and exploit the medical benefits in it. Dukawa noted that the Medieval Muslims, in their quest for searching knowledge, discovered Greek philosophy and integrated it with the Islamic revealed knowledge, and in the process, laid the foundation of virtually all the modern fields of knowledge.
Prof. Aisha Abdul Ismail of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, while speaking on Islam and Modernity described modernity as the meeting and parting points of two contending worldviews. Prof. Ismail said that Islam does not reject modernity outright but engages with it critically, filtering its elements through divine guidance. She explained the significance of modernity for the Islamic worldview and clarified that while modernity is often associated with progress, civilisation, and development, it should not be mistaken for westernization. Westernization, according to her, involves the adoption of western cultural, political and economic values by non-western societies. She also stressed the fact that westernization can be part of modernization, not all modernization is westernization.
Prof. Ahmad Bello Dogarawa from the Department of Accountancy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, spoke on Research Methodology from Islamic perspective. He advised Muslim Academics to ‘’publish or perish’’ and ensure to always do their research in an organised and honest way. He cited the Qur’anic verses Q.96:1-5 and outlined ‘’Read, Reflect, Document, and Discover’’ as a path for research and stressed that Islam encourages purposeful investigation. He pointed out key principles such as; the Tawhidi worldview (unity of knowledge), Taqwa (Integrity), Khilafah (vicegerency) ‘adl (justice), Amanah (accountability), and Rahmah (compassion) as a guide to research in Islam.
Dogarawa described research ethics as, a means of applying moral principles, guidelines, and professional codes to collect, analyse, and report information about research subjects in a responsible and respectful way. He further explained that the Islamic research ethics combines these rules with Islamic teachings and values to keep research honest and to build trust.
The training aimed to orientate participants on how to combine Islamic knowledge with modern science and research methods.
