Ungku Abdul Aziz bin Ungku Abdul Hamid (1922–2020): The Thinking and Worldview of an Illustrious Malaysian Muslim

Abstract

This article seeks to examine the worldview of almarḥūm Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz bin Ungku Abdul Hamid of Malaysia (1922–2020) as reflected in his scholarship and intellectual journey, which would be instructive in giving more insight into the mind of a learned Muslim in the context of a post-colonial Muslim nation. To gain a clearer idea of how Ungku Aziz’s mind was shaped and to better understand his thought process, this article examines the discussions, sources, and influences that left impressions on him, and how he focused his mind throughout his life in chronological order. The methodology adopted for this purpose is primarily a creative use of the archival or documentary research method which involves analysing the usage of key terms by the subject related to the question of “worldview” or “thinking framework,” “belief,” “thought,” and the “mind” in selected documents and records. In addition, verbal statements of relevant information were also utilised to furnish certain details. Finally, this article argues that while there are areas of Ungku Aziz’s discussions and statements which could be more informed by insights from the intellectual tradition of Islam, Ungku Aziz generally held a more nuanced and learned view of Islam as a religion and civilisation—different from many other economists or Muslim Western-trained academics of his time.