Institute of Islamic Studies, University of the Philippines-Diliman

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Author: UP Institute of Islamic Studies

In contemporary world permeated by hegemonic Western positivistic sciences which rescinded the important value of ethics, faith traditions and revealed knowledge that have had impacted human lives for several centuries and millennials were relegated to private life. This notion of privatizing civilizational religions, Islam in particular, had created intellectual numbness, apathy and indifference. To bring forth ‘intellectual compassion’ in the arrogant world of Western sciences, the UP Institute of Islamic Studies was created on November 22, 1973 by Presidential Decree 342, as part of the Philippine Center for Advanced Studies (PCAS). Following the abolition of PCAS on July 9, 1979 by virtue of Executive Order No. 543 issued by the then-president of the Philippines, the Institute was re-established as a separate unit of the University.

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News & Archives

Understanding the Rohingya Crisis by Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen

The Rohingya refugee crisis has increasingly become an international concern, especially in the aftermath of the attacks on Myanmar security posts on August 25 by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the subsequent ‘clearance operations’ launched by the Myanmar security forces. The violence has driven out more than 620,000 Rohingya out of Rakhine State to Bangladesh. The United States and the United Nations have called the systematic violence against the Rohingya a case of ethnic cleansing, which the Myanmar government denies. This talk will focus on the fundamental problems and its future prospects. It will be held on December 11, 2017 (Monday) from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Bulwagang Salam in Romulo Hall of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies.

The distinguished speaker is Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen, an Assistant Professor and Executive Director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, JindaI School of International Affairs. He is a Political Scientist whose concentration are in Comparative Politics and International Relations. Since 2013, Dr. Kipgen has served as a “country expert” on Myanmar for Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), a collaborative academic research project of the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and the Kellogg Institute, University of Notre Dame (USA). Dr. Kipgen has published single-authored books in Routledge (Taylor & Francis), Oxford University Press, and Ruby Press; peer-reviewed academic articles in Social Research, International Studies, World Affairs, Journal of Asian and African Studies, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Ethnopolitics, Strategic Analysis, South Asia Research, Indian Journal of Political Science, Economic and Political Weekly, Asian Profile, and Asian Affairs. He has also published over 160 articles in various leading international newspapers and magazines in five continents – Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America.

His books are:
– Myanmar: A Political History (Oxford University Press, 2016)
– Democratization of Myanmar (Routledge, 2016)
– Democracy Movement in Myanmar: Problems and Challenges (Ruby Press, 2014)

The talk is moderated by Asst. Prof. Frances Antoinette Cruz of the UP European Languages department. She is an affiliate faculty member of UP Center for International Studies and  the President of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO).

Everyone is invited and it’s open to the public. Before attending the event please email us (iis@up.edu.ph and iis@upd.edu.ph) your name and affiliation, and if you’re coming as a group submit to us the list of names and their affiliations. Thank you.

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News & Archives

UP Academic Program Improvement (API) writeshop/workshop on UP-IIS MA in Islamic Studies curriculum development

Since the establishment of the first high quality MA program in Islamic Studies nationwide, it reflected a generalized degree study on Islam. The new additions of specializations musing as UP-IIS response to the exigencies of changing (modern) times. This contemplation resulted to several months of curriculum revision and development that culminated on a 2-day writeshop/workshop held on 24-25 November 2017 at the La Breza Hotel, Quezon City. The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies will have four specializations.

1. Islamic Thought and Civilization
2. International Relations (Siyar) of the Ummah
3. History and Society of Muslims in the Philippines
4. Islamic Law (Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines)

These curriculum changes and revisions are not yet final. They are subjected to approval from university’s administrators. In addition, the UP administration counterpart is to provide us building to house all our programs and support us in our initiative as we are contributing to nation building inline with university’s mandate.

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Theses

2015 Thesis: “Cyberspace Da’wah: A Study on Muslim Filipinos Online” by Luqman L. Bin Usman Imam

This study was conducted among Muslim Filipinos Online who themselves conduct and participate in Cyberspace Da’wah. The following objectives of this study are (1) To know what is Cyberspace Da’wah; (2) To discern how Muslim Filipinos conduct Cyberspace Da’wah; (3) To know the goals of Cyberspace Da’wah; (4) To identify what types of people participate in Cyberspace Da’wah; (5) To identify the trending topics in Cyberspace Da’wah; and (6) To know the effects of Cyberspace Da’wah.

The study revealed that the Cyberspace Da’wah is doing da’wah in a medium of communication (Internet) to spread the true message of Islam to people in farthest places.

Muslim Filipinos conduct cyberspace Da’wah with the popular use of social media such as Facebook and Youtube by posting, sharing da’wah materials and uploading Da’wah videos. In Cyberspace Da’wah, the goals of da’i (caller/propagator) is to send the true message/value of Islam, likewise, mad’u (audience/seeker) goal is to receive the true values/message of Islam.

Interestingly, most of the people who participate in Cyberspace Da’wah are non-degree course holders in Islamic Studies. They acquired Islamic knowledge through informal learning and a large number of them are graduates of Ibtida’I (Elementary). Undauntingly, their sincerity to fulfill their obligation as ambassador of Islam made themselves involve in Cyberspace Da’wah.

The trending topics in Cyberspace Da’wah are the most sought after knowledge regarding Tawheed (Oneness of Allah). Sunnah/Hadith and discussions of comparative religion and contemporary issues. Cyberspace Da’wah has meaningful effects on the life, creed conversion and attachment of mad’u (audience/seeker) to Islam.

It is concluded that Cyberspace Da’wah has beneficial advantage and to strengthen this foundation, it is recommended that there must be established rules and regulations for the conduct and exercise of Cyberspace Da’wah.

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Theses

2016 Thesis: “Zakat Institution: A Study on its Contribution to the Community Development in Talipao, Sulu” by Alpha Jairi Untih

This study is entitled “Zakat Institution: A Study on its Contribution to the Community Development in Talipao, Sulu”. It aimed to provide answers of the following inquiries:

  1. How is the Zakat institution in Taliapao organized?
  2. What are the contributions of zakat institution to the development of this area?
  3. What are the challenges faced by the zakat institution in Talipao?
  4. What is the prospect of zakat institution in Talipao?

The study are divided into four divisions.

  1. Institutionalization of Zakat in Talipao
  2. Contribution to community development
  3. Challenges faced by the zakat institution
  4. Prospect of the zakat institution

The institutionalization of zakat in Taliapao is not accurately and highly specialized but it is only suitable to the ability and power that could be done by people of Talipao as a Zakat institution but not highly institutionalized. It is only appropriate to the level standard of the adat (tradition) of the community. Fortunately, it could give realization to the mind of the individual Muslim in Talipao.

Furthermore, zakat institution had already materialized some developments in Talipao, Sulu that people of said community can at least be having a suitable comfort in terms of worship in the masjid and knowing Islam in the madrasah. In addition, there is also a dividend from zakat institution given to the needy and poor individuals as their suitable livelihood assistance.

The Da’wah Al-Islamiyyah is also conducted in the Talipao community; the people acquired Islamic knowledge and understanding that can lead them to worship Allah (SWT) alone properly in a manner of the Prophetic Sunnah. They have seen the reality of Islam that is being glittered under the teaching process of Da’awah Islamiyyah.

Under the development in Talipao, individual student have learned Islamic science under the principle of Islamic education which is conducted in a madrasahn created in Talipao. However, they use Islam in a way that can lead them to comfortable living and support their Islamic morality.

This principle has served them as their wisdom and philosophy in their life. Even the zakat institution has faced challenges such as management, organization, process and mostly war between the MNLF and GRP during the Marcos regime in the early 1970s. However, with all the challenges that zakat institutions have faced, the institution has a prospect beyond Talipao, Sulu. It dreams to remain in touch with its goals and objectives of the future of the Talipao through one generation after another. It has been aiming to remain steadfast and determined to continue the mission of forefathers and to the future progress in Talipao, Sulu.

The researcher is recommending that the zakat institution in Talipao must maintain the good outlook of the organization, management and process of the zakat institution so that it can provide strong resistance of the organization including its program objectives that are being carried out in the process of the implementation of its plan and development in the Talipao community as a whole.

It should be doing its obligation and duties on every activities being done. Its tendency is that can it can maintain its determination to survive along the process in all its objective with all constituent including all inhabitants of Talipao and their necessities throughout life. This must be done correctly in light of Islamic principles and teachings as well as its wisdom.