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Kuala Lumpur: The Sayed Ismail Shihabudeen Council for Visionary Leadership (SISCO), a Centre of Excellence under the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS) at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), officially launched the Certified Course on Visionary Leadership and Community Engagement in a formal ceremony held recently at IIUM.

Objectives of the Certified Course

1. To equip postgraduate scholars and researchers with visionary leadership skills and meaningful community engagement.
2. To align with IIUM’s aspiration to lead the way and inspire the world.
3. To provide opportunities for scholars to benefit from the lived experiences and wisdom of IIUM professors.

The programme commenced with welcoming remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin, Head of the Department of Fiqh and Uṣūl al-Fiqh, Coordinator of SISCO, and Director of the Certified Course. He outlined the background and objectives of the initiative, highlighting that the programme emerged from the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Zahra Foundation, Kerala, India and IIUM. He emphasized that the certified course reflects IIUM’s vision and mission in producing future leaders for the Ummah.

He further explained that the Sayed Ismail Shihabudeen Council for Visionary Leadership (SISCO) represents an important institutional initiative that embodies IIUM’s commitment to nurturing value-based and visionary leadership. SISCO is now actively functioning as a Centre of Excellence under AHAS KIRKHS, marking a significant step in strengthening academic and leadership-oriented initiatives within the Kulliyyah. SISCO also serves as a platform for global networking and focused research activities. The Zahra Foundation has maintained an official relationship with IIUM through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) first signed on 4 September 2018 and renewed two years ago.

The establishment of SISCO as a Centre of Excellence was officially launched on 22 March 2024. Since then, the centre has organised several academic programmes, initiated two research projects, and hosted a number of talks and lectures.

Dr. Muhsin also paid tribute to al-Marḥūm Sayed Ismail Shihabudeen, after whom the centre is named, describing him as a visionary leader whose seminal intellectual contributions and meaningful community engagement continue to inspire the centre’s mission. He noted that Shihabudeen’s magnum opus, ʿAlā Hāmi sh al-Tafāsīr, serves as a guiding intellectual foundation for the course.

The inaugural address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Hafiz bin Zakariya, Dean of AHAS KIRKHS, IIUM. He expressed his appreciation to SISCO for organising a timely and meaningful initiative focused on leadership and community engagement. Referring to Robin Sharma’s internationally best-selling book The Leader Who Had No Title, Prof. Dr. Hafiz emphasised that true leadership is not confined to formal positions or titles. He observed that Islam has long upheld this principle, teaching that every individual bears responsibility and leadership within their own sphere. He further remarked that waiting for a title before contributing to society is a misconception, a view shared by both Islamic teachings and contemporary leadership thought, underscoring the relevance and impact of the SISCO certified course.

The course structure was subsequently presented by Br. Muhammad Muhsin, the secretary of the certified course, who briefed participants on the programme timeline from January to April, the selection of facilitators from various Kulliyyahs, and the assessment methods and participation requirements.

The session was further enriched by the presence of Kulliyyah officials and esteemed professors, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tunku Mohar bin Tunku Mohd Mokhtar, Deputy Dean of AHAS KIRKHS; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Noh bin Abdul Jalil, Deputy Dean of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rabiah Tul Adawiyah binti Mohamed Salleh, Head of Research and Innovation, AHAS KIRKHS; Datuk Prof. Dr. Berghout Abdelaziz; and Dr. Belal Barakat Sulaiman Salhab.

The session was moderated by Sr. Fida, PhD Student at Department of Psychology who served as the emcee for the event.

The launching ceremony marked a significant milestone in strengthening leadership development initiatives at IIUM, reaffirming the shared commitment of SISCO and the University to nurturing visionary, intellectually grounded, and community-oriented leaders for the Ummah.

Reported by

Muhammed Muhsin (Master student of Islamic revealed knowledge and heritage in Quran and Sunnah (IRKHS), IIUM)

Moosa Sinan (Master student Islamic thought and civilization (ISTAC), IIUM)