Values in an Islamic University in Malaysia: Analysis from western and Islamic perspectives

Abstract

Values assist in shaping individuals’ moral. Ethical principles and integrity are the outcome of strong moral. Previous research highlighted those values can be viewed from western and Islamic perspectives. The objective of this paper is twofold, and they are (i) to provide a comparison of western and Islamic values and highlight the difference in values (ii) to analyze the application of Islamic values in an Islamic focused university in Malaysia, namely Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). USIM has five Core Values, namely (i) Professional; (ii) Trustworthy; (iii) Efficient; (iv) Global and (v) Consensus. Islamic values have been found to also include a majority of Islamic values except for Power and Hedonism of Western values. This is expected as all community would want to instil good values amongst its community members to ensure the integrity and sustainability of its community in the long run. Islamic values do not include Power and Hedonism of Western values, because in Islam, Muslims believe that only Allah SWT has the ultimate will and power over life and death. As for hedonism which refers to worldly pleasures, Islam encourages the attitude of promoting mashlahah rather than focusing on worldly pleasures. USIM’s core values are much in line with Islamic values and it too does not include Power and Hedonism in its core values. Value of Tawheed is not included in the core value of USIM but it is embedded in its Vision. This paper has provided some preliminary analysis of the difference between Islamic and Western values and the adoption of Islamic values in an Islamic focused university being USIM. With the practice of Islamic values in USIM, it is hoped that USIM will be able to achieve its vision of producing “competent intellectual, leaders and professional based on the Muslim intellectual tradition, noble values of religion and culture for the universal good”.