YUSEF WAGHID
On 22 February 2017, I was privileged to have visited the Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (RZS-CASIS), faciliated by my endearing friendship I have developed with some of the conscientious scholars who taught at the Centre. For me, three moments stand out about RZS-CASIS in relation to the advancement of knowledge:
Unequivocally, RZS-CASIS represents an understanding of knowledge that values tradition, historical and ontological rootedness, and dignity in and through its agency; in the mold of its mentor, Professor Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, the leadership of the Centre under the tutelage of Prof Dr Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud, Professor Dr. Muhammad Zainiy Uthman and Associate Professor Dr. Khalif Muammar A. Harris the Centre has rendered intellectual reasons to the community constituted by a quality of thought that surpasses the level of intellectualism that prevails in the Muslim world today; and most significantly, the ambience of the Centre continues to embody a seriousness of mind, an utmost dedication to the advancement of Islam, and an aura of conviction to the teachings of ta’dīb (good education).
In this sense, the current Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation deserves to commemorate its tenth anniversary and I am proud to remain associated with its reputable scholars. I am optimistic that the Centre would continue to cultivate a theory of knowledge that would contribute considerably to our flourishing.
Yours sincerely
Yusef Waghid, DEd, PhD and DPhil
Distinguished Professor
Philosophy of Education
Stellenbosch University
South Africa
7602
