UMPSA Researchers Successfully Develop Spiritual Intelligence Knowledge Module To Empower MUIP Preachers

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 July 2024 - A team of researchers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) successfully developed a Spiritual Intelligence Knowledge Module for preachers of the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP).

The outcomes of the research were presented to YAM Tengku Panglima Raja Brigadier General Tengku Amir Naseer Ibrahim Shah ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah as  Deputy Chair of MUIP and was granted by him to be used to train MUIP appointed preachers.

The purpose of this module is to train preachers with the knowledge of spiritual intelligence.

It is part of an effort to provide support, especially from a psychological point of view, to converts in the face of life challenges after they choose to revert to the teachings of Islam.

YAM Tengku Panglima Raja Brigadier General Tengku Amir Naseer Ibrahim Shah suggested that this module could be utilised by all preachers, including principals, madrasah teachers and all institutions under MUIP.

“This step is important as a concerted effort to improve the quality of preachers in an effort to spread the beauty and understanding of Islam to all races in Pahang,” he remarked.

He also hoped that a workshop would be held to train trainers to deliver the module to MUIP preachers in the future.
His Majesty also stated that closer collaboration could continue to be established with UMPSA in an effort to strengthen the institution of knowledge under MUIP through collaboration with the newly established Darul Makmur Institute of Knowledge.

Also present were MUIP Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Haji Ahmad Hairi Hussain, Deputy Executive Officer: Baitulmal and MUIP Operation, Dr. Haji Asmadi Abd Rahman, Head of Human Capital Development Unit, Ustaz Sh. Mohd Firdaus Sh. Othman, Senior Lecturer of PSK UMPSA, Dr. Ahmad Muhaimin Mohamad and senior lecturer from the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology (FSTI) UMP, Dr. Mohd Khairul Izamil Zolkefley.

According to the Principal Investigator from the UMPSA Centre for Human Sciences (PSK), Dr. Rohana Hamzah, among the specialities of this module is that it is the result of the combination of experts from various fields not only in the field of preaching and education but also in the field of science and technology.

“This approach is suitable because Islam is a religion that encourages people to think and love knowledge.

“The integration of religious knowledge and science can bring more people to believe in the existence and oneness of Allah SWT.

“In fact, the real purpose of the scientific process is to bring humans to know their Creator,” she said.

Therefore, she said, Islam is a religion that is followed because one believes in its truth and not by coercion.

“What is more special, the process of developing this module has been carried out scientifically.

“This module has gone through the process of verifying its contents from experts in various fields, namely dakwah, aqidah, usuluddin, Islamic psychology, Islamic psychospiritualism and Arabic language before being tested on preachers.

“We, the researchers, would like to thank MUIP for sponsoring this research grant,” she said.

She added that, hopefully, the expertise in UMPSA can be utilised through closer collaboration to develop prosperous communities, especially in Pahang Darul Makmur.

By: Dr.  Rohana Hamzah, Centre for Human Sciences (PSK)
Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty   of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology