Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud (Prof. Dr.)
Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud is the founding director of the Center for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS), Malaysia Technology University (UTM). After obtaining his doctorate from the University of Chicago under the late Fazlur Rahman in 1988, he was invited by Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas to assist him at the newly established International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in all the formal and non-formal academic development of the institute, including library, publication and student affairs. From 1998-2002 he served as the Deputy Director of ISTAC. From 2008 to February 2011 he served as Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA), National University of Malaysia (UKM).
Professor Wan Mohd Nor has written more than 13 books and monographs as well as more than 30 academic articles in local and international journals, of which the major ones are: The Concept of Knowledge in Islam: Its Implication for Education in a Developing Country (1989); A Commentary on the Culture of Knowledge (in Malay) (1990); The Educational Philosophy and Practice of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas: An Exposition of the Original Concept of Islamization (1998); Development in Malaysia: Towards a Holistic Understanding (in Malay) (2000); 2 books of philosophical-mystical Malay poetry (2003 and 2004); Hadhari Muslim Society: An Epistemological and Educational Approach Towards National Unity (in Malay) (2006); a book co-authored with Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, The ICLIF Leadership Competency Model: An Islamic Alternative (2007); a book co-edited with Muhammad ZainiyUthman, Knowledge, Language, Thought and The Civilization of Islam: Essays in Honor of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas (UTM, 2010). Several of his books, articles and monographs have been translated into Malay, Indonesian, Turkish, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Bosnian and Macedonian.
Muhammad Zainiy Uthman (Prof. Dr.)
Muhammad Zainiy Uthman, a professor at the Center for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS), Malaysia Technology University (UTM), obtained his B.Sc. (1986) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). After having completed his M.A. (1990) from the University of Chicago, he joined the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in 1991 as Junior Research Fellow at the invitation of Professor al-Attas. Upon the completion of his Ph.D. at ISTAC in 1997, he served as Research Fellow, then Senior Research Fellow.
He was Associate Professor and Curator of ISTAC Library from 2002-2003 and was later awarded the British Chevening Fellowship (2003-2004) where he spent an academic year at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. In 2005-2006 he returned to Oxford as Visiting Fellow at the same centre. He translated al-Attas’ The Meaning and Experience of Happiness in Islam into Malay (ISTAC, 2002). With Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud he co-edited a book entitled Knowledge, Language, Thought and The Civilization of Islam: Essays in Honor of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas (UTM, 2010).
Mohd Zaidi Ismail (Dr.)
Mohd Zaidi Ismail obtained B. Economics (Hons.) from IIUM in 1992; and M.A. and Ph.D. in Islamic Thought (specializing in Epistemology and Ontology) from ISTAC in 1995 and 2006, respectively. He is now Principal Fellow at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) and has been Director of the institute’s Centre for Science and Environmental Studies since January 2007.
Mohd Sani Badron (Dr.)
Mohd Sani Badron was awarded a Bachelor Degree of Laws (LLB) from IIUM in 1993; M.A. and Ph.D in Islamic Thought, ISTAC, respectively in 1998 and 2006. His M.A. thesis subject was “Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Conception of Religion” while his Ph.D dissertation was entitled “Ibn al-‘Arabi on Divine Unity.” His career began at ISTAC as Research Assistant (1993-1998) followed by Research Fellow (1998-2002).
After IIUM took over the control of the Institute, he then held the position as Lecturer at the same Institute (2002-2003), and then at the Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, IIUM (2003-2006). Starting April 2006, he has worked as Senior Fellow, Center for Economic and Social Studies at the Institute for Islamic Understanding (IKIM), and became the Center’s Director since January 2007. He assisted Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas in the publication of the Professor’s Risalah untuk Kaum Muslimin (in Malay, 2001), Tinjauan Ringkas Peri Ilmu dan Pandangan Alam (in Malay, 2007), and the typing for manuscript of Islam and the Malay World.
Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran (Dr.)
Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran was a Lecturer at the Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, IIUM. He obtained his first degree in the revealed knowledge studies and Islamic heritage in fiqh and usul-fiqh from that University and obtained degrees in Masters and Doctorate in Islamic Thought from ISTAC. His M.A. thesis was about knowledge of mantiq (logic) while his Ph.D dissertation was about the thoughts of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi. His career began as Research Assistant, ISTAC (1995-1998), Research Fellow, ISTAC (1999-2003), and then as Lecturer at IIUM (2003-2011).
In addition to writing papers for academic journals, magazines and newspapers, he also presented working papers in various seminars locally and internationally and delivered series of talk and courses about religion, creed (aqidah) and ethics at National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), Institute for Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) and several training institutes throughout Malaysia. He is also permanent speaker in the weekly program ‘Cabaran Pemikiran Masa Kini’ at IKIM.fm; one of the assessment panelist for Federal Territories Aqidah and Shari’ah Issues and assessment panel member for Negri Sembilan Islamic Education Curriculum. Amongst the writings he has produced are Isu-isu dalam Pendidikan Pemikiran Islam (2008) and Manhaj Pendidikan Gerakan Islam (2009).
Adi Setia Muhammad Dom (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Adi Setia Muhammad Dom is current an associate professor at CASIS, teaching and researching Islamic Science and the Islamic Gift Economy. He earned his BA in Arabic Language & Literature from IIUM (1996), and then MA (1999) and PhD (2004) from ISTAC, both in the history and philosophy of science. While his MA explored the genesis of classical Greek science and philosophy, his PhD studied the kalam physical theory of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi. He has held academic posts as a lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science at the Faculty of Science and the Department of General Studies, IIUM) from 2004—2010; and he was also an associate researcher at the Institute for Mathematical Research Malaysia (INSPEM). Prior to that he was a Junior Research Fellow and later Research Fellow for several years at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC, 1999-2003) during the directorship of its founder, Profesor Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. Before joining the academia he received several years of traditional Islamic education at Madrasah Misbahul Falah (Pondok Lanai), Kedah, Malaysia (under the tutelage of Almarhum Tuan Guru Haji Umar Zuhdi), and at (Madrasah Diniyyah Bakriyyah (Pondok Pasir Tumboh), Kelantan, Malaysia (under the tutelage of Tuan Guru Haji Hashim bin Abu Bakar).
His field of research is currently focused on Kalam, Islamic Science and the Islamic Gift Economy (IGE) according to al-Attas’ neo-Ghazalian conceptual framework for the Islamization of knowledge. He has published many academic articles and book translations, conducted seminars, and acted in various advisory capacities in areas related to his research interests. He is also a passionate permaculturist, having earned in 2012 his Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) under the guidance of Mustafa Bakir of the Permaculture Research Institute of Turkey, and is actively involved in several local community-rooted experimental permaculture projects in Janda Baik, Tok Jiring, Kenyir and Sik.
Wan Suhaimi Wan Abdullah (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Wan Suhaimi Wan Abdullah is currently Associate Professor at Center for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilization (CASIS), UTM. He obtained Bachelor Degree from the Faculty of Usuluddin, University of al-Azhar with specialization in aqidah and philosophy (1992), Masters Degree in Islamic Philosophy from the Faculty of Dar al-‘Ulum, University of Cairo (1998) with research titled: al-Ilahiyyat min al-Mu’tabar li Abi al-Barakat al-Baghdadi: Tahqiq wa Dirasah; and doctorate degree in the field of Islamic Thought from ISTAC (2007), with research titled: Abu al-Barakat al-Baghdadi’s Psychology and Its Place in Islamic Philosophy: A Critical Edition of Kitab al-Nafs from al-Mu’tabar fi al-Hikmah, with An Analysis and Annotated Translation of Selected Texts.
He is active in various intellectual-based activities including presenting working papers in seminars local and international including in Indonesia, Iran, Greece, Jerman, Holland and Kosovo, and was a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Leiden (Feb-Jul 2008 and June-Oct 2009) and at Centre d’Histoire des Sciences et des Philosophies Arabes et Islamiques, University of Paris, Paris (Oct-Nov 2009). He has published academic papers in journals locally and internationally.He is the Co-Editor for the Malay festschrift of Professor al-Attas entitled: Adab Dan Peradaban: Karya Pengiktirafan Untuk Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (Kuala Lumpur: MPH Publishing, 2012)
Khalif Muammar A. Harris (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Khalif Muammar A. Harris, an Associate Professor at Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS), UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia, obtained his B.A. (Shari’ah and Islamic Studies) from Mu’tah University, Jordan (1998); M.A. (Islamic Civilisation) from International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), IIUM in 2003; and Ph.D (Islamic Civilisation) also from ISTAC in 2008.
Prior to his appointment at CASIS, he served as a Research Fellow at the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia) 2007-February 2011. Dr. Khalif has written, edited, translated several books such as Atas Nama Kebenaran: Tanggapan Kritis Terhadap Wacana Islam Liberal (Kajang: Akademi Kajian Ketamadunan, 2006 and Second edition by Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu, UKM, 2009); a Malay-Indonesian translation of Islam and Secularism (written by Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas) Bandung, 2010.
He also wrote several articles including an article co-authored with Professor Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud, “Kerangka Kromprehensif Pemikiran Melayu Abad ke-17 Masihi: Kajian Terhadap Durr al-Fara’id oleh Nuruddin al-Raniri” (A Comprehensive Framework of Malay Thought in 17th Century: A Study of Durr al-Fara’id by Nuruddin al-Raniri) SARI (2009); “Ilmu Ketatanegaraan Melayu Abad ke-19: Kajian Terhadap Karya Raja Ali Haji” (The Malay Science of Governance in 19th Century: A Study of the Work of Raja Ali Haji), SARI (2011).
En Asham Ahmad
Asham Ahmad is Fellow at the Center for Shari’ah Laws and Politics Research at the Institute for Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). He obtained B.A. degree from IIUM and then continued pursuing studies at M.A. level in the field of Islamic thought at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC). His thesis is related to Imam al-Ghazali’s Concept of Human Behaviour. He has written a monograph titled Antara Nama dan Hakikat which debates on the issue of the usage of the name Allah by non-Muslims. The monograph “Antara Nama dan Hakikat: Kemelut Nama Allah” is the winner of Rencana Umum Terbaik, Anugerah Media Islam Negara (Amin), organized for the third time by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim).
Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad (Dr.)
Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad was a law graduate (LLB) from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM, 1992). He obtained his Masters degree (M.A.) in 1996 from the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), IIUM, with research into the concept of public interest (maslahah) in the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence, followed by a PhD ten years later (2006), also from ISTAC, with the dissertation titled, “The Place of Reason vis-a-vis Revelation: The Symbiosis between Jurisprudence and Theology in Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni”. He once served as Assistant Research Fellow at the same Institute (1996-2002); Lecturer at Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), IIUM between 2002-2006.
Starting April 2006, he was Senior Fellow, Center for Shari’ah, Laws and Politics Research (PKS), IKIM, and was appointed as the Director of PKS since January 2007 till now. His field of study is comparative law and constitutional law. He has produced a book, Public Interests (al-masalih al-mursalah) in Islamic Jurisprudence: An Analysis of the Concept in the Shafi’i School (2003). He has also presented several working papers inside and outside Malaysia and has written various articles in magazines and newspapers, particularly The Star.