Tribute to Dr.Z

Where should I start? This is Dr.Z. He’s my inspiration. The most incredible lecturer I ever met.

I was in his class for ‘The Islamic Worldview’ and ‘Islam, Knowledge & Civilization’. There’s never been a day where I wouldnt wake up with a thought that I will learn something new. It’s amazing how I could learn so much from him in the two semester/two classes.

He studied and obtain B.A in Physics-Astronomy at University of Wisconsin-Madison (1986). Then continued his study and obtain M.A in Islamic Thought at University of Chicago (1990) and completed his Ph.D in Islamic Thought under the supervision of Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al–Attas in 1997 and worked at ISTAC from 1991 – 2002.

“Why study Islam Thought in the west, why not Jordan (any other Islamic country)?”

I dont remember exactly what he said, but, the point is, we should not discriminate the west education. We must be open minded in knowledge. And someone must be learning about those things. It’s part of Fardu Kifayah.

One thing that I learn from his last talk last night, a forum on The Lost Kingdom : Andalusia is how we, Muslim people used to appreciate knowledge so much that we are willing to translate every single things from the west. Even if it’s wrong.

And nowadays, we have people who burn & making a fatwa to ‘HARAM’ the books which contradict with their point of view / “controversial”.

“Do not burn the books! If you dont like it, dont read it. In fact, we should tell people, “Hey, I read the book” and be able to point out and tell people this is right, this is wrong.”

We are told to use our mind. Faith with reasons. Do not use reasons with faith, you will go ashtray and do not use faith without reasons, you will be an extremist.

“Why we keep talking about the past, how it is so nice, what is the point? Why dont we talk about the future?”

We learn history to take a lesson from it. So that we wouldnt repeat the past for a better future. Which is most of us fail to understand and then, here we go again, repeating the mistakes. If there’s no past, there will be no future.

“Genius?”

We we talk about genius people. Who is the one on your mind? Einstein? Stephen Hawking? I’m sorry people. I beg to be differ.

Why are they considered to be ze most genius when what they specialize is only physic & physic? In case you dont know, there are people who are known as polymath.

Notable medieval Muslim polymaths included al-Biruni, al-Jahiz, al-Kindi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Idrisi, Ibn Bajjah, Ibn Zuhr, Ibn Tufail, Ibn Rushd (Averroes), al-Suyuti, Jābir ibn Hayyān, Abbas Ibn Firnas, Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen or Alhacen), Ibn al-Nafis, Ibn Khaldun, al-Khwarizmi, al-Masudi, al-Muqaddasi, and Nasīr al-Dīn al-Tūsī.

Ibn Khaldun is an astronomer, economist, historian, Islamic jurist, Islamic lawyer, Islamic scholar, Islamic theologian, hafiz, mathematician, military strategist, nutritionist, philosopher, social scientist. Other than that, we have Ibn Sina, father of modern medicine who is also the founder of Avicennism, Avicennian logic, concepts of inertia and momentum, forerunner of psychoanalysi, important contributor to geology, pioneer of aromatherapy and neuropsychiatry.

Now. That’s what we call GENIUS! They alone wrote books yang setebal encyclopedia. And not one. Berjilid jilid. Next time, bila ada orang cakap pasal genius people. Dont forget dengan bangganya include Muslim scholars who are polymath okayy? (:

I remember back then, during the first semester, Dr.Z criticized us in a joking manner, “I do this and this when I was at your age, and what you do? seriously?” He even laugh at us for being unable to cope with our studies. Just one freaking ONE branch of knowledge? =.=”

Dr.Z definitely have change my views on certain things and if he wasnt my lecturer, I wouldnt know that there are people in Malaysia who are intellectually brilliant. And sadly. Underexpose. We have Prof Muhammad Syed Naquib al-Attas, but why he’s not getting the right recognition like A Samad Said?

This thing say so much about Malaysia & Malaysian. We are ignorant in knowledge. We doesnt appreciate knowledge. And according to Dr.Z, special high level academic library curator, our library is pathetic.

I could go on and wrote more things that I learn from Dr.Z, but I doubt that everyone would actually read it. Buku teks pun baca skip-skip.

BTW, I got A for “Islam, Knowledge & Civilization” subject last semester. The only A out of all subjects that I took last semester. And that made my day despite the fact that my CGPA drop like nangka busuk. Dr.Z is a strict person and he gave the grade according to what we deserved. No markah-markah kesian. “If you’re expecting A from me, this is not the right class.” Yippieeeeeee!

Imma miss his wisdom words, his strict face, sometimes dorky and his weird laugh. And not to forget, his famous remarks such as Bloody stupid idiot, Shit, Intellectually zero, Bodoh and Bullshit.

Dhila cried last night! LOL. Yeah. It is really heart breaking. To lost someone that awesome like him. Dr.Z is like one of the rarest gemstone in the world. He’s moving to UTM to be a professor in a newly established department, science & civilization? something like that.

Anyways,

After few months stalking, I finally, have the courage and decided to add him on my FB. (: I met him with few friends of mine after the talk finished and he was like “This is my students and how’s everythinge? etc..” and her wife was like “Oh yang buat video tu“. LOL

(one of his assignments is to made a video related to the subjects that we learn to so that we can upload on youtube etc and spread it around)

And among his last words to us? “Add me on Facebook!“

So, are we friend now?

“We will meet again InsyaAllah in future talks” (:

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