IIUM academics group: Stick to expertise when speaking publicly

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Academic Staff Association has reminded its members to speak based on their respective fields of expertise, especially in the public sphere.

While it did not name any individuals, the reminder followed a viral video believed to be of an IIUM professor speaking about Prophet Muhammad's wife at an event.

In a media statement posted on Facebook, the group pointed out that professional academics’ commitments to disseminating knowledge and encouraging informed discussion extend beyond the campus.

“In recent times, we have observed instances where individuals have ventured beyond their fields of expertise in public discussions, which can undermine the integrity of scholarly discourse and public trust in our institution,” it said.

In the clip, Solehah Yaacob shared her view that Prophet Muhammad's wife, Siti Khadijah Khuwailid, could have been from the Malay world.

"When I see VTT (TikTok videos), and I’ve seen quite a few, they say that Khadijah is from the Malay world.

"I was shocked by that view. Because in my search, the Arab writers did not write in detail who Khadijah was,” the linguistic professor said.

"Suddenly we got from the Malay world, Khadijah was from here. And we know she was a rich woman with a big business.

"To have a big business at that time you must have gold. There was no forex or bitcoin back then. She had to have something that everyone in the world was interested in, which was gold.

"And there is no gold in the Arab land. Where is the gold, ladies and gentlemen? In our place. We are the land of gold," she added.

‘I only asked listeners to think’

However, Solehah in a statement on Facebook earlier today claimed she never mentioned that Khadijah was from the land of the Malays.

She explained that the title of the video “Khadijah al-Khuwailid is from the Malay world” was made by an individual who cut a segment of her full speech.

"I'm just raising the issue and asking the listeners to think, previously there were many things that I expressed that some netizens condemned.

"For those who don't study or never knew classic records related to the role of the Malays in the Arab world, my advice is that we should not be quick to lash out at information that sounded strange to our ears, it is possible that we also lack knowledge," she said.

Use right approach

The IIUM Academic Staff Association also reminded its members to respect their respective disciplines and fields which are built on a solid foundation based on research.

"It is important for us to respect the limits of our expertise and the expertise of other academics. Talking about issues outside our expertise can lead to misinformation and confusion," it said.

In addition, the association said that although interdisciplinary dialogue is encouraged, it is essential to approach such collaboration with humility and an understanding of how complex issues often require input from multiple fields of knowledge.

“Academics hold a unique position in society, and with this privilege comes the responsibility to communicate information accurately.

“When discussing areas outside our expertise, we risk diluting our credibility and the credibility of our institution,” it added.

Overall, the association called for stricter upholding of academic standards that require a commitment to evidence-based conclusions, before asserting opinions or making claims in unfamiliar areas.

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