Reflective Journey

  Salam all. The thing that I discovered though this week that really shifted the way I think about sustainability is measurement. What is in a number? We hear a lot about how to arrange a safe city, but rarely do we take a minute to ask how we know that we are doing it right. but alhamdulillah, I learned that indicators and indices are not just numbers; they are instruments for tracking evidence of genuine progress, to expose gaps and to drive action with intent. Indicators, such as the Human Development Index or the Ecological Footprint, for instance, do more than present figures; they narrate a story about people, well-being and the planet. What intrigued me was that even Malaysia has its own Shariah Index, indicating our dedication in ensuring that governance is merely a precise reflection of Islamic values. It’s a nice reminder that sustainability isn’t one-size-fits-all; it can be local and based on our own values. There was something else I noticed about the indicators: inpu...

  Salam All. For this week, I discovered new knowledge about what it really means for a university to be sustainable, and I feel very thankful that IIUM has been practising what other universities are just discussing. From the fieldwork, I understood that sustainability is not only about going green—it addresses the way we live, relate, how we use resources, care for the people and the environment around us. Alhamdulillah, I’m proud to be a part of IIUM, a university that treats sustainability as an amanah, and not a trend. I was so inspired that here at this University -students are welcomed in being a part of the change while working towards a more sustainable campus environment. From food waste composting to solar panel projects, from recycling centers to green transportation options such as UniRide, we are increasingly a reminder of how much transformative power exists when we all join together towards a common objective. Yes, to little things like shorter showers and turning o...

On this week agenda, I gained new knowledge on how important institutions are in realizing sustainable development, in particular within SDG 16 and 17. What impressed me the most is the amount of work that goes into coordinating everything, up and down the chain, from global, to national, to local. It’s not just about setting goals — you need a good system to plan, execute, review and assess your progress. Alhamdulillah I'm extremely grateful that our country, Malaysia, has already taken actions such as setting up a SDG Council, initiating monitoring mechanisms and engaging multiple stakeholders to ensure no one is left behind. I was also particularly encouraged by the fact that the SDGs aren’t just a UN thing—they are everyone’s thing, and every country also has the freedom to localize them according to their particular national conditions. How Malaysia is doing it: Something that is really evident of Malaysia’s integration is how the SDGs are embedded in our Five-Year Plans and n...

Salam all, this week, I learnt new knowledge about the challenges we face in achieving sustainability, and it truly opened my eyes to how complex and interconnected these issues are. I was especially struck by the idea that sustainability is not just about protecting the environment, but also about building a fair society and a just economy with good governance. Alhamdulillah, I feel grateful to be exposed to this deeper understanding, because now I realise that injustice and inequality are at the heart of many unsustainable practices in the world today. One thing that really stayed with me was the comparison between the income of an average African person and the subsidy received by a cow in Europe. SubhanAllah, it's heartbreaking to think that a human being struggling to survive gets just about the same as an animal does in a wealthier country. It made me reflect on the global imbalance we live in, and how much work still needs to be done to make things fair. Truly, how can we ta...

  Salam all, for this week lesson, Prof specifically focus on the role of university in SD. I learnt new knowledge about the important role of universities in sustainable development. I found it interesting how the concept of education in Islam, as shared by SMN Al-Attas, really focuses on balance, not just in academics, but also in spiritual, moral, and social aspects. It made me realise that true education is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about building character and being responsible towards the environment and society. I also liked how the idea of khalifah was mentioned—reminding us that we are caretakers of the Earth. Other than that, I was also inspired by the idea that universities should go beyond the classroom and engage with the community, involve in research that meets real societal needs, and build partnerships with different stakeholders. This holistic approach, as highlighted in the concept of Sejahtera, really opened my eyes to how education can be meani...

  Salam all. This week, we have focused on SEJAHTERA institution in IIUM. In the lecture, I understand now that SEJAHTERA is an effort of localising the SDG to fit our culture and identity.  Based on the image I have attached above, it is a reflection of what I got by relating all of the other lessons from the previous weeks. IIUM has shown its efforts in sustainable development by promoting its SEJAHTERA values and Rahmatan Lil-A'lamin in every subjects and projects. I am very much impressed and inspired to be a part of the efforts in managing the environment, social, and economy.

Salam all, for this week, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi began by outlining the history of global conferences that shaped sustainable development strategies, starting with the 1972 UN Conference on Human Environment and leading up to the 2016 launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key milestones included the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Conference, which produced the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, followed by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, and the 2002 Johannesburg Summit, which highlighted issues like ocean preservation and sustainable resource use. The Bali Conference later gathered 180 countries to address climate change challenges. The lecture concluded with an explanation of Sejahtera, a concept of holistic well-being, balance, and sustainability in life, and how Malaysia localizes sustainable development through initiatives like Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and the Five Wisdoms of Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan. Moving on, I also learnt new knowledge, which...

  Salam all, this week, I understand more on the role of Islam in Sustainable Development. Focusing on Maqasid Shariah, Islam has always prioritise the preservation of five elements in our daily life; faith, life, intellect, lineage and lastly, wealth. Of course, standing on its own, Maqasid Shariah has prove its importance in our muslim community. However, after this class, I understand that there is more to it. By relating Sustainable Development with Maqasid Shariah, I can see that it is very much a reflection of each other, as SD has 5Ps, with the purpose of development for the future. To summarise: 1. Faith = Partnership 2. Life = Peace 3. Intellect = People 4. Linage = Planet 5. Wealth = Prosperity Alhamdulillah, may this knowledge helps everyone.

  Salam all. Continuing the lesson, Prof has taught us another perspective, the Islamic perspective. Throughout the learning experience, I think the most profound one is visualise in the image I have attached above. To explain, sustainable development has been engraved and close with the teaching of Islam. We were taught to practice zakat and encouraged to do waqaf. These activities help the development of our economic sides in the sustainable practices. Other than that, we as human are also khalifah, the vicegerent of Allah the Almighty. We were taught to socialise with others and care about other human beings. It is our role as human to make sure everyone is taken care of. Lastly, in islamic teachings, we were also taught about many concepts and Prof has successfully helped me in understanding how it can be related to the sustainable development. Alhamdulillah.

Salam and happy ramadhan everyone! I joined the class a bit later than the others and watched the video Prof. Dr. Suhaimi has provided. It's impressive how detailed the video is in explainig about the sustainable development. Now, I understand that there are pillars to SDG, which are environmental conservation, economic development, and social well-being, highlighting the importance of a harmonious relationship between nature, community, and the economy. These pillars are important because we as human are very much related to them. I believe that if everyone take part in the sustainable efforts, the future generations will benefit a lot from it.