Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was established when the then Vice Chancellor Dato’ Seri Prof. Dr. Ir. Zaini Ujang invited Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud to found and direct a centre to promote advanced scholarship and learning for the advancement of knowledge in the fields of study relating to Islam, science and civilisation.

CASIS specializes in the said fields and the allied sciences under the ambit of the worldview of Islam in full cognizance of developments in other civilisations, especially in the contemporary world along the philosophy and practice espoused by the renowned Tan Sri Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nor, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zainiy Uthman and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khalif Mu‘ammar were the founding members of CASIS and they began its instruction on February 1, 2011, with Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nor as its Founder-Director.

Among the Centre’s main objectives is to train young scholars who are intellectually adept to delve into the intricacies of religious thought while simultaneously at home with intellectual and scientific ideas, technologies and socio-economic thought, and institutions of today. They will have the requisite intellectual tools and competent knowledge to imbibe from the multi-disciplinary programme to prepare for future intellectual and civilisational challenges at home and the world at large.

Your contribution in the form of dedicated zakat, waqf, and ṣadaqah will consolidate CASIS to become an advanced centre of scholarship and learning with the highest quality of intellectual and academic faculty, and an excellent library. A sound financial backing and outstanding facilities will enable the first-rate training of future minds from all over the Muslim World to become bearers of the light of illumination of true knowledge following the footpaths of learned scholars of the past.

In today’s academic practice, foundations, chairs and fellowships are set up to accommodate the professors while scholarships are made available to facilitate the students. These facilities ensure the search for knowledge excels without financial hindrance. The contribution will be used, among others:

• to support SMN al-Attas Chair of Islamic Thought;
• to promote research and publication;
• to develop CASIS library;
• to fund scholarship for CASIS students;
• to conduct seminars and other academic endeavors.

A good number of students who embark on this path of learning at CASIS are of straitened means from less fortunate backgrounds. Many are wayfarers (ibn sabīl) who leave their homes, locally or abroad, to take residence here for an extended period of time away from the comfort of home. They may fall and be categorized in one or more of the beneficiaries of zakat and therefore qualify for reliable support for their sustenance in the form of cash money, foodstuffs, clothing and shelter, etc. Most importantly, the struggle for the highest educational excellence for the sake of comprehensive Muslims advancement should be adequately supported by zakat, waqf and ṣadaqah funds.