Islamic Awareness: Islam is Everywhere

Assalamualaikum and greetings dear readers,

I have always been interested in linguistics ever since I knew the meaning of the word. I was flipping through an English-Malay dictionary when I came across the word linguist; which was translated to ahli bahasa. Such a foreign, elegant word to put under ambition in your biodata. And I decided at that moment, that’s what I’m going to be. A linguist. Whatever that is.

I continued to grow up being interested in a lot more languages, and the first university I knew that offered linguistics was IIUM. I didn’t bother to look any further for other options at other universities. That’s where I’m going to be, I thought. And up to this day, I am grateful that I did not look for any other options.

Learning language in IIUM has been such an experience for me. I never thought you could relate Islam to anything; to literature and whatnot. Of course you could, but I never really thought much about the relation of it all. I never knew the art of it. Having to provide Islamic perspectives at the end of term papers and presentations have taught me a lot. You can learn anything, and never be astray; as long as you know what to do with the knowledge; as long as you know how to view the knowledge.

It has also been a great opportunity to learn the various Islamic studies subjects. Never in my mind would I imagine that if I were to study language, I would have to take up Islamic courses. Despite my choice of study, I was still given the chance to learn about the Quran and Hadith, the history of the Prophet, and so many other things. I even got to learn more on Arabic. A lot of students might whine and complain about these elective subjects, but what they don’t see is that this is what is special about IIUM, what they don’t see is that such things like these are not offered elsewhere, at least not paired up with any other English departments elsewhere, what they don’t see is that they are so lucky to be given such a chance.

Source

I have learnt to view many things in different, new perspectives. I have learnt that Islam is everywhere; that you can pursue whatever you want and you don’t have to leave it, and it won’t leave you, if only you knew.

Yours,
Hamidah