關於伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科

最近教育部（注意：如今的教育部是由505大選前中央政府的教育部和高等教育部合成的新部門）宣布把伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科、族群關系、大馬研究列为私立大專生必修科目。而且该部也宣布學生們在该科目及格後方能獲得學位。其中伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科最受人瞩目。很多人赞成，也有很多人反對，甚至我發現许多人误解了它的意義。因此，本人根据我去年修讀该伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科的心得向大家講講它的内容大概。

伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科（ Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia，简称 TITAS ） 是一科另類歷史。大家曾在中學時期學習的歷史课里一一叙述每個國家或地域的歷史過程、從落後到繁榮的过程。它是涉及年份、地點、歷史人物以及流程 （chronology）。另一方面，伊斯蘭及亚洲文明科只是大略講解整個文明崛起、興盛的缘由。它也谈及每個文明内所盛行的人文價值觀和文化素质。由於这科只谈到伊斯蘭文明、馬來文明、中華文明和印度文明，所以准大学生不需擔心自己的頭腦吸收或背不到其重點和從其重點衍生出來的普通/冷門知識。

或许很多人误以爲伊斯蘭和亚洲文明会教導伊斯蘭教義。这間接令大家觉得教育部應该鼓勵大學生修读佛教经典、基督教、興都教等。其實，這科目根本不教導修读者如何念诵可蘭经，不教導如何崇拜真主阿拉，也没有教導如何書写爪夷文（Jawi characters）。该科目只是教導学生们認識伊斯蘭文明和其他上述文明内崛起、興盛以及其盛行的文化特征。另外，伊斯蘭文明被列入该科目的课程纲要是因爲它的文明崛起和发展是從伊斯蘭宗教廣泛流通後所促成，並以民族文化为主軸的其他民族文明不同。所以请所有非穆斯林不需要擔心，也请勿搞错。。。

學習伊斯蘭和亚洲文明没有错，然而本人倒是觉得TITAS應該给修读人文科学和歷史科生修讀，不用强制所有大專生修讀。有些学生的学科与歷史毫無關聯，甚至他们用功钻研本身核心科目之余，不知道如何對待这些令人莞爾的学科。我们不能强逼学生修讀自己不想讀的東西，盡管它的确有其用處。 

此外，本人也建議教育部推荐学生们修讀或認識佛教文明、基督教文明、犹太教文明歷史等。这样不但能令穆斯林能够了解其他宗教的基本主张和崛起史，并且也能鼓励他们尊重多元文化，做一位拥有良好世界觀念的穆斯林。非穆斯林也能多多了解其他宗教如何促进文化交流和摒弃每個宗教之间的刻板影响。这样，我们就可以推进和睦相处的價值觀，無须被一些宗教偏激分子或團體之舉動影响。

好了，本人换英语繼續講。。。I want to clarify some academic matter. In this issue, I spotted some people commented that learning history of Islamic civilisation is a ‘backward’ thing. Erm… I totally disagree with that opinion. Actually, there are many benefits when you learn the history of Islam or Islamic civilization. Firstly, by knowing what are the origin and the fundamental principles of how Islam works, we can avoid ourselves from being suffered from Islamophobia which being advocated by Zionist. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, many Westerners had their own negative perception toward Islamic society due to the ignorance toward Islam. This situation was catalysed more by Zionist-sponsored prime media. This has created Islamophobia which emphasized the exaggerated nonsense against what related with Islam and Muslim society. So, by knowing what is the true Islamic principle, we can explain the fact to ourselves and reject the nonsense tale among those who has being influenced by Islamophobia.

Secondly, by knowing the Islamic civilisation, v can get know that once upon a time Islamic civilisation produced a lot of scholar who had contributed to science n technology. For example, Al-khawarizmi introduced algebra which we apply daily in every sector; Ibnu Sina discovered a lot of new medical facts which has being documented in his masterpieces which were used later in Europe for few centuries long. This ancient achievement may be an inspiration for us to make ourselves excellent in the future. We can also acknowledge what the Islamic scholar has contributed and try to preserve these long-lasting works to our future generations. 

Last but not the least, by learning Islamic civilisation, we can also cultivate our positive perspective toward multicultural world, and also to clarify some negative perception about Islamic practice. However these benefits will work only if you learn that subject by heart and soul, not by prejudice view. I think the Islamic civilisation should be made as optional subject because not all student are interest in these history-based subject, and these knowledge may also irrelevant to those who are not involving in social science and literature-based careers. Kindly do not compel all students to take subjects which are not favoured by them. Let education be education, not becoming indoctrination.