INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE of Advanced Islamic Studies

The principal research focus of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) is to advance the role of Islam Hadhari in government policy formulation in Malaysia and in other Muslim countries that may be interested.

Our enquiry and recommendations seek to be pragmatic yet well-grounded in the basic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the resources of Islamic jurisprudence, political thought, comparative religion, civilisation studies, awareness of modern developments, as well as other areas of learning. The International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies is based in Kuala Lumpur. It seeks to pursue its research agenda by employing resident Research Fellows of recognised standing in their fields of specialisation, as well as by engaging scholars with relevant expertise on a distance consultancy basis. Research projects are identified and developed by reference to the various themes of Islam Hadhari, for example the principles of good governance in Islam and other legal traditions, advancing interfaith dialogue in and outside of Malaysia or aspects of engagement between Islam and other world religions. The Institute also plans to advance a fiqh-based approach to harmonising global halal standards and develop a Shari’ah–based index of good governance, whereby the Islamic orientation of a particular government can be verified on the basis of a set of measurable criteria.

The ten component principles of Islam Hadhari are:

Faith in God and piety
A just and trustworthy government
A free and independent people
A rigorous pursuit and mastery of knowledge
Balanced and comprehensive economic development
A good quality of life
Protection of the rights of women and minorities
Cultural and moral integrity
Safeguarding the natural resources and the environment
Strong defence capabilities

Three additional principles have been added to the initial ten principles. These include a fiqh-based approach to the harmonisation of global halal standards, developing Islamic family law, and advancing the inter-faith/inter-civilisation dialogue.

The Government of Malaysia has adopted Islam Hadhari as its policy program since its inception in 2004. It is now widely known in Malaysia and, in varying degrees, elsewhere in the Muslim world. The International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies plans to present the general public in Malaysia and in the rest of the world with sound research that develops the goals and objectives of Islam Hadhari and its component principles within the context of Islamic teachings and doctrines.

The principles of Islam Hadhari provide scope for project-based research. For example, “a just and trustworthy government” provides opportunity for research into the salient principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah with a view to developing a perspective on the principal features of good governance in Islam such as justice, people’s welfare, and trustworthy leadership. The Qur’anic concept of “rendering the trusts to whom that they belong” strikes a note with the principle under review. What are the salient features of the trust of governance in Islam, and how do the Qur’an commentators and leading scholars answer this question? The discourse in this case would identify and prioritise the key principles of a just and trustworthy government in Islam and explain to the reader the Islamic basis of these principles. The discourse should be concise, purpose-driven, and relevant to the concerns of Malaysia and other Muslim countries.

Islam Hadhari offers, in the spirit of renewal, a refreshing presentation of a set of important principles that focus on people’s welfare, good governance and justice. Regeneration and renewal of the Islamic civilisation, grounded in the authentic and germane teachings of Islam, are integral to the basic mission of the Institute. The International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies admittedly aspires to suggest policy recommendations to the government. However, it seeks to do so with the purpose of advancing people’s welfare by developing credible Islamic perspectives on various issues of concern. Our credibility will ultimately depend on the quality of our work, the calibre of our research, and our commitment to objectivity that is not compromised by political or partisan interests.