Islam and Its Worldview An American Perception 30 Safar - 1 Rabi' al Awwal/19 -20 August 1993 Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

This seminar, sponsored jointly by the Institute of Islamic Understanding,
Malaysia, and the Malaysian-American Com.mission of Educational
Exchange, consisted of four sessions and the presentation of seven
researeh papers. Mohammad Kamal Hassan (Internatio Islamic University,
Malaysia) spoke on the Islamic worldview, which he stated is "theistic
and ethical" and in sharp contrast to secularism and atheism. Topics
discussed included how the Qur'an fulfills the human urge to have a
vision of divine reality by personifying God's attributes, how "Mother
Nature" could not have created itself, God's creation of the universe and
nature's as well as humanity's purpose and role (i.e., vicegerency), and
the requirements and expectations of God as regards humanity's control
over nature. The speaker concluded with a reminder that humanity is subject
to perpetual tests as regards the use of God-given bounties and resources
and that collapse can be the result of upsetting the balance and
harmony instituted by God in natw and life ...