International Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilisation

On behalf of the ISTAC-IIUM management and community, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar on your well-deserved reappointment as Rector of IIUM, effective 23 September 2026.

It has been our privilege to be part of your inspiring leadership and to witness your unwavering dedication, wisdom, and humility.

We pray that Allah (SWT) grants you continued strength, good health, and barakah as you lead IIUM to even greater heights.

📍 ISTAC-IIUM Strategic Planning 2026–2030

ISTAC-IIUM successfully held its first Strategic Planning 2026–2030 Session on 9 July 2026, bringing together academic and administrative staff to align the Institute's strategic priorities with the IIUM Strategic Plan 2026–2030.

The session fostered meaningful discussions and collaborative planning, reflecting ISTAC-IIUM's shared commitment to excellence in education, research, governance, and community engagement in line with IIUM's vision and mission.

May Allah SWT bless these efforts and grant success in achieving ISTAC-IIUM's strategic aspirations for 2026–2030.

Alhamdulillah, ISTAC-IIUM was honoured to welcome the AbuSulayman Foundation for the LOI signing, marking the beginning of a meaningful partnership in the pursuit of knowledge and service to humanity.

Our heartfelt appreciation to Mrs Muna AbuSulayman, CEO of the AbuSulayman Foundation, for her inspiring presence.

We were also humbled by the shared excitement during the visit to the rare manuscripts at ISTAC's SMNA Library 🤝✨

Some truths are not explained—they are heard.

Rumi's stories endure because they speak to what is timeless within us: the search for meaning, the struggle of the self, and the possibility of inner transformation.

Join Prof. Dr. Süleyman Derin as he explores their psychological wisdom.

📲 Register: https://forms.gle/7H3fampMt5DRzFiX6
🛜 Join live: https://youtube.com/live/oZHKXSIo-p4?feature=share

Knowledge enlightens the mind, but wisdom transforms the soul.

Join us explore how Islamic philosophy envisions the making of the whole human being—one whose knowledge is embodied in virtue, purpose, and meaningful action.

📲 Register here: https://forms.gle/hH9XnZDggwN2pRUz5
🛜 Join Zoom: https://iium.zoom.us/j/92021743342?pwd=2UxWSmZgjTRftNRIEobqdhIGWEN1DA.1

7 July 2026 — We are honoured to meet with Mr. Ar. Ayub Hamzah to reflect on the enduring architectural legacy of ISTAC.

As the architect behind both ISTAC campuses, Mr. Ayub offers a unique perspective on the architectural language that has shaped the institution.

By revisiting the history and philosophical foundations laid down in ISTAC Illuminated, we deepen our appreciation of the distinctive architectural motifs that continue to define ISTAC-IIUM.

Through this dialogue, we hope to do justice to the original vision of Almarhum Royal Laureate Professor Tan Sri Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, whose philosophical imagination gave enduring form to timeless ideas through architecture.

In preserving and interpreting these motifs, we remain committed to ensuring that future expressions are faithful to their intellectual foundations.

Discover ISTAC Illuminated at our SMNA Library and explore Prof. Al-Attas' architectural imagination, where every architectural element and piece of furniture reflects a carefully considered philosophical vision.