International Islamic University Malaysia

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad{{cite web|title=History of International Islamic University Malaysia|url=http://www.etawau.com/edu/UniversitiesPublic/IIUM/History_HUM.htm|access-date=3 August 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Ibrahim|first1=Ismail|title=UIAM lambang kecemerlangan Malaysia|url=http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2001&dt=0412&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_03.htm|access-date=3 August 2014|agency=Utusan Malaysia|date=12 April 2001}} conceived the idea for an international institution of Islamic education in 1982 during a meeting between OIC leaders about the Islamization of knowledge. The idea was shared with the then-minister of education, Sulaiman Daud; the then-director-general of education, Murad Mohamed Nor; and two others. Mohd Kamal Hassan, then of the National University of Malaysia, along with a senior academic official who attended the meeting, produced the first working paper on the concept of the university.

File:International Islamic University Malaysia temporary logo 1983.svg

Ismail al-Faruqi, a prominent scholar, played a significant role in this movement. He advised political leaders in the Muslim world, including Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in Pakistan and Mahathir Mohamad. During Zia-ul-Haq’s administration, al-Faruqi contributed to the establishment of the International Islamic University in Islamabad in 1980, which aimed to integrate Islamic values with contemporary academic disciplines. In Malaysia, al-Faruqi's advisory role was instrumental in the foundation of the university in 1983. These institutions were part of broader efforts to develop educational systems that combined religious and secular knowledge, fostering intellectual and cultural development in the Muslim world.{{cite encyclopedia | last=Yusuf | first=Imtiyaz | title=Ismail Al Faruqi | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam | editor1-last=Fleet | editor1-first=Kate | editor2-last=Krämer | editor2-first=Gudrun | editor3-last=Matringe | editor3-first=Denis | editor4-last=Nawas | editor4-first=John | editor5-last=Rowson | editor5-first=Everett | volume=3 | publisher=Koninklijke Brill NV | year=2022}}

The university would be the first Islamic university in the world to conceptualize the "integration of knowledge with morals," a concept adopted at the International Convention of Islamic Education in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1976.{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19830102-1.2.15.5|title=Islamic university is first to practise new concept|publisher=The Straits Times|date=2 January 1983|accessdate=5 March 2019|page=6}}

IIUM was once a private university. As the university's language of instruction was not to be Malay but instead English and Arabic, which was initially prohibited by Malaysian law, IIUM was initially incorporated under the currently repealed Companies Act 1965. However, IIUM was officially made a public university on 23 May 1983, by Section 5A (2) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, when the university received its establishment order from the then King, Ahmad Shah of Pahang, after an exchange of diplomatic notes of co-sponsorship between the government of Malaysia, seven other governments and OIC.

A batch of 153 students from Malaysia and abroad were enrolled for the first academic session, which started on 8 July 1983. Courses were conducted under the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Laws, the Centre for Fundamental Knowledge, and the Centre for Languages. The members of this first batch received their degrees and diplomas during the first convocation held on 10 October 1987. 68 graduates were conferred the degree of Bachelor of Economics, 56 other graduates received the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and 29 Qadhis were conferred Diploma in Law and Administration of Islamic Judiciary.

Ahmad Shah of Pahang was the founding constitutional head since 1 July 1983. Before his death, he was replaced by his daughter-in-law, the current Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. She was made the constitutional head on 12 April 2019 for a five-year term, ending her father-in-law's chancellery in IIUM for 36 years, but the instrument of appointment was only presented to her by the federal government on 17 June 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2019/06/575157/raja-permaisuri-agong-ketua-perlembagaan-uiam-baharu|title=Raja Permaisuri Agong Ketua Perlembagaan UIAM baharu|date=17 June 2019|work=Berita Harian|access-date=17 June 2019|language=ms-my}}

Mohd. Daud Bakar, an Islamic finance expert in Malaysia, sits as the eighth and current president since 1 July 2019.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bhplus.com.my/berita/pendidikan/2019/07/583594/dr-mohd-daud-presiden-baharu-uiam|title=Dr Mohd Daud Presiden Baharu UIAM|last=Md Khairudin|first=Mohd Khairul Anam|date=11 July 2019|work=Berita Harian|access-date=11 July 2019|language=ms-my|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711034527/http://www.bhplus.com.my/berita/pendidikan/2019/07/583594/dr-mohd-daud-presiden-baharu-uiam|url-status=dead}}

File:Iium bridge.JPG

IIUM is headquartered at a 700-acre (2.8 km²) campus at Gombak, Selangor and has six other campuses. Three of the campuses are in Kuantan, Pahang, with the Centre for Foundation Studies situated at Gambang, a medical-centric campus situated at Bandar Indera Mahkota, and a clinical campus situated near Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital. Two city campuses are located at Persiaran Duta and Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, both for the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC).{{Cite web |title=VENUE BOOKING |url=https://institute.iium.edu.my/istac/venue-booking/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |language=en-US}} Another campus is located at Bandar Universiti Pagoh, Johor for the Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Language (KSTCL).

IIUM has 14 following faculties. Each of them is, in Arabic, called "Kulliyyah" ("Kulliyyat" in plural):

File:IIUM Mosque exterior.jpg|Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque, Gombak Campus (outside view)

File:IIUM Mosque interior.jpg|Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque, Gombak Campus (inside view)

File:IIUM - panoramio (2).jpg|Cultural Centre (at left side) and Azman Hashim Complex (at right side)

File:Iiumlibr.jpg|Library at Gombak Campus

File:IIUM Mahallah Al Faruq. - panoramio.jpg|Mahallah al-Faruq, one of 17 residential colleges existed in Gombak Campus

File:IIUM Stadium - panoramio.jpg|Sayyidina Hamzah Stadium

File:IIUM Playgraound - panoramio (1).jpg|Football field

IIUM is the only public university in Malaysia that requires all of its foundation and undergraduate students to attend Usrah, i.e. Islamic study circle held weekly for the purpose of social, spiritual and intellectual enhancement. Since the establishment of IIUM, Usrah has been a requirement for students to graduate from IIUM. Since 2014, a separate Usrah has been held at residential colleges in addition to centralised Usrah, which is also compulsory to intermediate undergraduate students living in campus.{{Cite journal|last=Awang Marusin|first=Awang Abdul Muizz|date=2018|title=The Practice of Usrah in Teaching and Learning: Case Study at the International Islamic University Malaysia|url=http://www.ipgktb.edu.my/iconfed/Compilation%20of%20Paper%20IConFEd2018/FULL%20PAPER/BI/THEMES%20A/A01_Awang%20Abdul%20Muizz%20Awang%20Marusin.pdf|journal=Proceedings of International Conference on the Future of Education 2018|publisher=Institute of Teacher Education, Tuanku Bainun Campus|publication-place=Bukit Mertajam|pages=1–14|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730202652/http://www.ipgktb.edu.my/iconfed/Compilation%20of%20Paper%20IConFEd2018/FULL%20PAPER/BI/THEMES%20A/A01_Awang%20Abdul%20Muizz%20Awang%20Marusin.pdf|url-status=dead}}

IIUM is also the only public university in Malaysia that requires all of its students to undergo a community engagement usrah programme known as Usrah in Action, where students undergo two consecutive semesters of organising sustainability projects to help local communities around the university. The projects are long-term in nature, and would be continued by the following batches of students to perpetually benefit the communities in need.{{Cite web |title=Empowering Communities Through Education: Usrah in Action |url=https://sokong.org/articles/empowering-communities-through-education-usrah-in-action |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=sokong.org |language=en}}

In 2014, IIUM was ranked tenth out of 440 teams participated in the 35th World Universities Debating Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/01/04/IIUM-ranked-10th-in-debate-Olympics/|title=IIUM debate team ranked 10th in World championship - Nation - The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my}} In 2016, IIUM won the United Asian Debating Championship, the Australasian Intervarsity Debate Championship, and the Asian British Parliamentary Championship. In 2017, IIUM was made the runner-up of World Universities Arabic Debating Championship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bharian.com.my/node/271060|title=UIAM Naib Juara Debat Bahasa Arab|last=Yop|first=Ridzuan|date=13 April 2017|work=Berita Harian|access-date=31 July 2018}}

In the field of research, IIUM have received recognition at regional and international level by winning gold, silver and bronze medals at exhibitions and expos, including PENCIPTA, INPEX, ITEX Geneva and KIPA.{{cite web |url=http://web6.bernama.com/client/iwk/news.php?id=241440 |title=Indah Water Konsortium ~ IWK |publisher=Web6.bernama.com |access-date=3 August 2012 |archive-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226103614/http://web6.bernama.com/client/iwk/news.php?id=241440 |url-status=dead }} IIUM entered the inaugural Proton Green Mobility Challenge 2012 (PGMC) when the University's entry, an electric powered Proton Saga BLM named "Smart Mobility" became the overall champion and also took "Farthest Distance" and "Fastest Two Laps Challenge" award.{{cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2012/10/10/proton-green-mobility-challenge-iium-is-overall-champion-ump-and-utem-are-runners-up/|title=Proton Green Mobility Challenge: IIUM is overall champion, UMP and UTeM are runners-up|date=10 October 2012}}

IIUM was involved in the creation of the Malaysian Shariah Index with collaboration from JAKIM and YADIM which Malaysia will be the first country in the world to adopt it.{{cite web |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/shariah-index-proves-umno-empowers-islam-says-najib-bernama |title=Shariah index proves Umno empowers Islam, says Najib – Bernama - the Malaysian Insider |access-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210123340/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/shariah-index-proves-umno-empowers-islam-says-najib-bernama |archive-date=10 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }} The index will measure the compliance of eight fields – judiciary, politics, economics, health, education, culture, infrastructure and environment, and social – with "maqasid syariah", or the intentions of Shariah. The Malaysian Shariah Index was officially launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 10 February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/shariah-index-good-for-non-muslims-too-pm-says|title=Shariah Index good for non-Muslims too, PM says|date=10 February 2015}}

IIUM won multiple sustainability recognitions and awards, most notably the prestigious International Green Gown Awards, for which it claims the title for having the most awards won with six awards in total.{{Cite web |title=2024 International Green Gown Awards Winners {{!}} Higher Education and research for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iau-hesd.net/news/2024-international-green-gown-awards-winners |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=www.iau-hesd.net}} It is also the only institution to win the Sustainability Institution of the Year award twice (2020 & 2024), and the only one to sweep more than two awards within the same year back in 2024.

{{Main article|List of International Islamic University Malaysia alumni}}

IIUM has been known to be the most influential Islamic tertiary education institute in the country as well as one of the leading Islamic universities in the Muslim world.

File:Pritam Singh Singapore 4.jpg|Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition for Singapore

File:Mohamed Jameel Ahmed portrait.jpg|Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Vice President of the Maldives

File:Zambry Abdul Kadir May 2023.jpg|Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia

File:23rd IIFA Conference in Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, November 2018-6.jpg|Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Guinea

File:Tashim_Hassan_-_53857764591.jpg|Pengiran Mohammad Tashim, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs of Brunei

File:Syed Saddiq (cropped).jpg|Syed Saddiq, President of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance

File:Azalina Othman 2023.jpg|Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Law and Institutional Reforms of Malaysia

File:Asyraf Wajdi in 2019.jpg|Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Chairman of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat

File:IGP TS Khalid Abu Bakar.jpg|Khalid Abu Bakar, Inspector-General of the Royal Malaysian Police

File:SS PROF MADYA DATO' ARIF PERKASA DR MOHD ASRI BIN ZAINUL ABIDIN.jpg|Asri Zainul Abidin, Mufti of Perlis

File:Hassan Saeed special advisor (cropped).jpg|Hassan Saeed, Attorney General of the Republic of Maldives

• Abdul Rashid Moten, professor of KIRKHS, political scientist
• Abdullah al-Ahsan, professor of KIRKHS, contemporary Muslim historian
• Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, lecturer of AIKOL, former minister in charge of legal affairs
• Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz, associate professor of AIKOL, constitutional expert
• Syed Arabi Syed Abdullah Idid, senior professor of KIRKHS, media and communication expert and Rector of IIUM (2006–2011)
• Zaleha Kamarudin, professor of AIKOL, family law expert and Rector of IIUM (2011–2018)

• Abdul Aziz Bari, lecturer and professor of AIKOL (1989–2011), MLA for Tebing Tinggi, Perak and member of Perak State Executive Council, Malaysia (since 2018)
• Abdul Hamid Ahmad Abu Sulayman, Rector of IIUM (1988–1998)
• Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim, founding Dean of AIKOL, Attorney-General of Singapore (1959–1967)
• Ahmet Davutoğlu, lecturer of political science at KIRKHS (1993–1996), Prime Minister of Turkey (2014–2016)
• Maszlee Malik, lecturer of KIRKHS (2002–2018), MP for Simpang Renggam, President of IIUM and Minister of Education, Malaysia (since 2018)
• Mohammad Hashim Kamali, professor of Islamic law at AIKOL and ISTAC (1985–2007), CEO of International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (since 2007)
• Mohd. Kamal Hassan, Rector of IIUM (1999–2006)
• Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, founder of ISTAC, then visiting professor at UTM

• List of Islamic educational institutions

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• {{Official website|http://www.iium.edu.my/}}

{{Public universities in Malaysia}}

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Category:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation affiliated agencies

Category:1983 establishments in Malaysia

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1983

Category:Islamic universities and colleges in Malaysia

Category:Universities and colleges in Selangor