On December 12, 2024, as part of the conference of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" (GSV) in Malaysia, the conference participants visited the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC). The honorary delegation was personally met by the rector of the institute, Professor Abdelaziz Berghout, and conducted a tour of the educational institution, the central object of which was the Sheikh Said Muhammad Naqib Al- Attas Library.
A collection of rare books, including a unique edition of the outstanding monument of Persian literature “Shahnameh”, dating back to the 17th century, as well as a handwritten Holy Quran of Malaysian origin from the 18th century; artefacts: weapons and armor from the Safavid and Mughal eras, flintlock guns from Algeria, Turkey and Morocco, and many other exhibits were presented to the delegation of the GSV. Currently, the library, founded in 1979, contains more than 150,000 volumes of books.
Rector of ISTAC Abdelaziz Berghout spoke about a unique model of the institution, formed thanks to the intellectual influence of Sheikh Al-Attas, who advocated the concept of the “Islamization of knowledge”. This means that a teacher of a particular subject, for example, sociology, must also obtain a diploma in Islamic studies. Subsequently, he will be able to teach sociology from an Islamic perspective, and this model applies to all scientific disciplines. Professor Berghout recommended that his colleagues adopt this model.
Two days earlier, the GSV members were given a sightseeing tour of the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The guide began the event by presenting basic facts about Malaysia and its capital.
Malaysia is a multicultural and multi-religious country with a population of about 33 million people. Islam is the country's official religion, and the Malays, who practice Islam, make up the majority of the population. There are also significant numbers of Malays of Chinese and Indian descent.
A unique feature of Malaysia is its system of government. The country has a monarchy, but power is not inherited. Nine royal families elect a king from among themselves for a five-year term. At the same time, the sultans can recall the king, which gives the state system elements of democracy. Currently, the king of Malaysia is Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. He succeeded Sultan Abdullah Riyadh al-Mustafa on the throne.
The tour participants also visited the king’s residence, the Istana Negara, which is one of the main attractions of Kuala Lumpur. Here the king holds meetings with delegates from other countries and carries out executive functions. Although it was not possible to visit the palace itself, the participants of the excursion were able to walk around the park surrounding the residence and the square in front of the main gate - a giant majestic arch decorated with golden Arabic letters conveying an ayat from the Holy Quran.
Kuala Lumpur is a modern and dynamic city, which is known for its architectural beauty and tall buildings. The guide focused on the famous Petronas Twin Towers – the tallest in the world (452 meters). These towers symbolize three different cultures: the geometry reflects Islamic art, the number of floors (88) is associated with Chinese numerology, and the silhouette of the top of the building is characteristic of Hindu artistic culture.
As already noted, Malaysia is a multi-religious country, and Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism are also represented. The guide mentioned the holidays celebrated in the country, such as Chinese New Year and others, which are recognized as national holidays. According to the guide, the Chinese in Malaysia are known for their wealth and actively build temples.
The excursion participants were impressed by snow-white building of the Chinese Tian Temple Hao, the facade of which is decorated with images of animals from the Chinese calendar. No less fascinating was a visit to "Little India" - an area with Indian culture, where you could feel the atmosphere of this beautiful country. Historically, Indians were brought to Malaysia by British colonizers to work in the rubber industry, which became an important stage in the development of the country.
The tour gave participants a deeper understanding of Malaysia’s cultural diversity and economic development. The country is heavily involved in gold mining and has a developed agricultural sector. Malaysia is famous for its rich flora and fauna: elephants, tigers and gibbons live here, and more than half of the country’s territory is covered by jungle. Palm trees and palm oil play an important role in the country’s economy; the trees were brought from Africa by the British. The climate is tropical, with one rainy season when the weather can be cloudy due to the influence of the monsoon.
On the way back to the hotel, the guide told about Malaysia’s colonial past. Kuala Lumpur received the status of the capital when the British built many administrative buildings here. The guide also touched on the topic of the struggle against British colonialism in the 20th century, which became a preface to a visit to the next attraction – the National Monument in Kuala Lumpur, a memorial to fallen soldiers in Malaysia dedicated to the heroes who died for the country in resistance to Japanese occupiers during World War II and during the struggle for the country’s independence from the British Empire.
The tour ended at the Batik production center, where participants were able to learn about traditional fabrics and the art of their creation. Interestingly, during the event, the guide answered questions about the demographic situation in the country. According to him, the largest number of children is observed in Muslim families.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
