By Melor Suria Minhat
Photos by Izwan Azman
BANGI, 28 October 2026 –Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through the Institute of Islam Hadhari, organised the 9th International Seminar on Islamic Civilization (ISIC 2026) to provide an international platform for discussions on the role of women in shaping the future of Islamic civilisation.
Themed “Women and Islam in the Future”, the seminar was officiated by UKM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation Affairs), Prof. Dr. Ismanizan Ismail, who emphasised the importance of knowledge, leadership and responsibility in shaping the future of Muslim women and their contributions to civilisation.
“When we discuss the future of Muslim women, we must move beyond a narrow discourse of participation. We must also discuss agency, responsibility, leadership, knowledge and contribution to civilisation,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to integrate religious and contemporary knowledge in education to prepare Muslim women for their personal, professional and social responsibilities.
“Our educational institutions must avoid creating a false choice between religious knowledge and contemporary knowledge. The future requires an education system capable of integrating both,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Ismanizan also called for greater scholarly responsibility in ensuring that the intellectual and civilisational contributions of Muslim women are accurately documented and communicated, particularly in the digital era. He expressed hope that the seminar would generate research collaborations, joint publications and international academic networks.
Meanwhile, Director of the Institute of Islam Hadhari, Prof. Dr. Roziah Sidik @ Mat Sidek, highlighted the importance of ISIC 2026 as a platform for scholarly exchange and international cooperation.
“Through this strategic collaboration, we hope to bring together diverse perspectives on pressing issues that matter to our societies today, particularly the role of women in shaping our collective future.
“This seminar provides an exceptional opportunity for scholars across institutions and borders to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and deepen mutual understanding,” she said.
Also present was UKM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Prof. Dato’ Dr. Fariza Md Sham.
