This morning I was inspired by our very humble Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation. His own story makes one reflect on all the privileges that we take for granted, and for many of us, we still have not given the best that we can give.
But what left me most inspired was this.
Many academics feel that we should not need to publish, to write, that we should just stick to teaching.
His answer blew me away.
IQRA’
The very first word of the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h).
The opening verses of the surah is as follows:
Read/Recite in the name of your Lord who created –
Created man from a clinging substance
Read/Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous –
Who taught by the pen –
Taught man that which he knew not.
In the context of academia, the directive ‘Read/Recite’ can be taken to mean ‘Research’.
When something is done ‘in the name of your Lord’ it carries with it something done with sincerity and noble purpose.
And when you research, you get to know your Lord and Creator.
And when you teach, it follows what your Lord has done for all mankind – taught us.
And taught by the pen, finally, can be taken to mean that we do the same, through spreading knowledge to the world, by researching, and publishing, and ultimately, teaching.
Ours is a noble call indeed.
Thank you for the knowledge Prof Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Ismail.
