Scientism Issue
by Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan

The call by Lacrema to choose either religion or science ( “Islam vs science :choose your side please” ; 10 Nov 2005 ) is as absurd as it is childish.

It reflects a lack of understanding of the philosophical foundations of modern science ( see our previous letter “science nothing more than a systematic study of the material world” ).

It typifies the naiveté of those – often with little or no scientific background – who are mesmerised by the achievements of modern science which are undoubtedly remarkable and beneficial to mankind.

Scientism embraces a positivist materialist vision of reality that denies a Transcendent reality and the cult of the self-sufficiency of man.

However, with the discrediting of modernism’s grand narratives of which includes scientism, there is today a sober evaluation on the limitations of modern science, a questioning of its epistemological premises and a concern over technology unrestrained by ethics and spirituality such that the unsustainability of the planet is a real, grave possibility.

Not that religion must dictate science, but the principle of the non-overlapping magisterium between the two is an out-dated dictum. Asking one to choose between science and religion reflects the silly arrogance of latter-day dogmatists of scientism, not science.

Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
Founding member
Muslim Professionals Forum
Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza)
Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-40426102
Website : http://mpf.org.my

Tudung Issue
by S.L. Pang @ Farah Abdullah

The Muslim Professionals Forum follows with interest the current debate on the ruling that requires non-Muslim female students at IIUM and parliament staff to don the tudung as initially raised in a Sunday Star editorial of 6 November 2005.

We agree with the Sunday Star editor’s objection to the ruling on parliament staff and commend the prompt intervention of parliamentary Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib.

However the IIUM ruling is a separate matter altogether. The autonomy of educational institutions to impose rules such as the dress code on their students must be respected. The IIUM is an Islamic academic institution. It would be most unusual not to expect a dress code that would reflect the teachings of Islam. For some 20 years non-Muslim students who freely choose to enroll into any of its faculties know this and duly comply with it.

Conversely Muslim students who choose to have their education in government supported mission schools must expect and comply with rules that they may not be comfortable with. This has nothing to do with fundamental human rights, of which there aplenty if the Sunday Star editor is genuinely concerned about them.

Let us not politicize this issue and leave it to the wisdom of the university authorities. Neither is this a polemic of whether the tudung is a measure of one’s Islamic piety as some quarters are so apt to raise whenever such an issue arises.

S.L. Pang @ Farah Abdullah Board Member
Muslim Professionals Forum
Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza)
Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-40426102
Website : http://mpf.org.my