IIUM Journal of Human Sciences (IJOHS)
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Syed Ahmet Arvasi’s Alternative Model of Nationalism
Get PDFThis paper highlights Syed Ahmet Arvasi’s ideas on an alternative model of nationalism that integrates Islam and ethnic peculiarities without discriminating against any minority groups. It also explains the profound importance of Islam in Turkish society, and how Islamic identity is interwoven with Turkishness. This research finds that Turkey has taken very concrete steps towards Westernization and consequently lost aspects of its traditional Turkish and Islamic culture. Moreover, based on the ideas of Arvasi, the research finds that the ethnocentric European ideology of nationalism was alien to the Turkish people, who had been affiliated with a multi-ethnic Islamic identity and values for centuries. The ideology of modern Turkish nationalism demanded a secular approach, creating a nation based on secular and Western values, consequently causing social discord and tensions. This study accordingly suggests, based on the ideas of Arvasi, that there should be a more inclusive alternative model of national cohesion for the Turkish nation. Also, Arvasi suggested that the basic ideology of the Turkish nation was Islam, therefore the Turkish nation’s concept of nationalism must be inherently linked to Islam. In summary, for the Turkish nation to live in social harmony, Turkish nationalism should be based on the concepts of social race and Turkish-Islamic culture
Urbanisation, Land Resources and Social Change in Tinghir
Get PDFFrom its initial tribal environment, the city of Tinghir underwent intense and rapid socio-spatial changes during the second half of the 20th century that facilitated the spread of an urban way of life among its inhabitants. The transformation of social relations and their diversification, the evolution of social institutions, and the upheaval of the old spatial logics that had reigned in the Todgha valley for centuries have all accompanied the transformation of the ksour of the valley into the polynuclear pre-Saharan city that we know today. By adopting the historical approach, the study highlights the tension between the different elements composing the urban landscape of Tinghir: those imported, following globalisation, and the substrates of a very ancient local culture
Work-Family Interface in Malaysia: Perceptions of and Perspectives by Muslim Women
Get PDFThis article contributes to the ongoing discourse in gender and women's studies by offering a comprehensive exploration of the work-family interface, focusing on Malaysian Muslim women's unique perspectives and experiences. Employing a quantitative survey approach and examining various facets of this phenomenon, including influencing factors, challenges, perceptions of conflict, and strategies for balance, this research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the work-family interface. By directly incorporating the voices and experiences of working Malaysian Muslim women, this study sheds light on the intricate nature of their efforts to harmonise professional and family roles. The findings underscore the paramount importance of achieving work-family equilibrium in contemporary society and emphasise the need for shared domestic responsibilities, redefined gender roles, and career choices aligned with family priorities, reflecting the agency and resilience of these women in managing this multifaceted interface
Religion in the Age of Superheros: An Examination of Consecration and Exemplarity in Hollywood
No full textTwenty-first-century cinema has witnessed a sharp rise in the production of movies based on mythological stories. The increased appetite for mythological content, which transcends race, colour, or creed, has helped shape new genres and academic curricula. At the centre of this trend is the concept of a superhero. The superhero embodies virtue combined with a perfect balance of traits that an average human being cannot achieve, as a mythical figure above the vagaries of emotion or weakness, who is a fighter for social justice and can single-handedly tackle internal and external threats. When first transposed from a classical to a contemporary prototype about a century ago, the modern superhero personified secular humanism as an ideal; however, recent enactments display a more succinct construct empowered by Biblical overtones. This paper explores why religion is making inroads into what has remained chiefly an areligious ideal in the modern world. Furthermore, the paper explores why a towering avatar of excellence epitomises secular virtue while embellished with legendary forms of valour entrenched in faith. The paper argues that the revival of modern-day exemplarity reflects a profoundly religious inclination of Western society. Despite its outward orientation, Western society harbours a metaphysical valuation of self. It may be that in the absence of an indispensable ethical or social figure, the superhero archetype underlines its yearning for a flawless role model. The methodology for this article is descriptive and analytical and based on the corpi of contemporary sociological and political texts
Social Awareness Toward Marital Rape Among Married Women: A Case of Gombak
Get PDFThis study measures the level of awareness among married women toward marital rape who live in Gombak. It uses a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approaches, with 54 respondents using the Likert Scale and SPSS version 26 and three interviewees using thematic analyses to understand married women’s awareness towards marital rape. The findings indicate a correlation between cultural misunderstanding and religious misconceptions with the level of awareness. It is further supported by views based on these women’s experiences and perceptions. This study helps to circulate awareness about marital rape and consequently to take appropriate action from the authoritie
An Examination of Salafiyyah Scholars' Discourse on Kneeling and Bending as Manners of Greeting in Islam
Get PDFBending, bowing, and kneeling are popular greetings across various tribes and societies, especially in Nigeria. The admissibility or otherwise of these manners has attracted the attention of Salafiyyah scholars in Islam. Relying on different sources, both from the Qur'ān and aḥādith, the past and present scholars in the Salafiyyah bloc have declared these manners as forbidden in Islam, which may even constitute Shirk (associating partners with Allah). The objective of this paper is to examine various pieces of evidence that are relied upon by these scholars for making such declarations, having realized that the issues of kneeling or bending, among others, are not expressly declared as such in either of the two primary sources of Islamic legislation compared to other acts that constitute ḥarām or Shirk. The exegetical and analytical methods of research were adopted in this paper. The two methods enable the assessment of relevant verses of the Qur'an and aḥādith of the Prophet in the light of classical Mufassirūn's submissions on those verses and renditions of scholars like Al-Bani on most cited aḥādīth on the issue of bending as a manner of greeting in Islam. After a critical examination, the finding revealed that most verses are grossly misconstrued; the most relied upon ḥadīth is weak, while the supporting ones are unfounded. It is also discovered that there are a lot of misconceptions, misunderstandings, and overgeneralizations in the Salafiyyah scholars' submissions as regards the issues of bending and other manners of greeting. This paper, therefore, concluded that there is no substantive basis for a declaration of kneeling and bending while greeting as either ḥarām or Shirk due to the absence of express provision from the Qur'ān and ḥadith.
Dakwah on Instagram and the Potential Application of ELM and Relevance Theory
Get PDFInstagram is popular in Indonesia, with 109.03 million users in a country with a population of 277,534,122 in 2023. It is the third most popular social media platform after Facebook and YouTube. The phenomenon of using dakwah on Instagram has gained significant attention in recent years, but it has yet to be studied using the fusion of Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Relevance Theory in Indonesia, which creates a research gap. Amongst the rise of social media platforms in Indonesia, according to previous studies, Instagram has become a popular platform for Muslims to engage in dakwah, which refers to the act of spreading Islamic teachings and inviting others to embrace Islam. The most attractive feature of Instagram is its great visual appeal and potential for engagement, which is attractive to young Muslims. This conceptual paper explores the possibility of using ELM and Relevance Theory as part of a conceptual framework for analysing dakwah content on Instagram from the perspective of young Indonesian users. ELM is a persuasive communication theory that seeks to understand how individuals process and respond to persuasive messages. Relevance Theory, on the other hand, focuses on the cognitive processes involved in communication and how the relevance of messages to users is determined. By applying both of these frameworks to the context of dakwah on Instagram, we can understand how persuasive messages are received and processed by Instagram users and how relevance is established in relation to Islamic messages
Facebook and Female Member of Parliament in Malaysia, Where are We Going Now?
Get PDFFemale participation in politics at the decision-making level is less than 25 percent. One of the barriers faced by female MPs is the lack of access to equal coverage in traditional news media. As an alternative, social media such as Facebook is likely to break this barrier down as it can offer opportunities for them to engage with the citizens and connect with their constituencies. This is because social media has transformed the way politicians interact with citizens. It functions as a political equaliser to female decision makers by giving them the opportunities to communicate directly with their supporters and explain their positions, unfiltered. Hence, social media is expected to assist women achieve greater political parity. The objective of this paper is to understand how women in politics use Facebook sustain successful political careers as members of Parliament in Malaysia. Hence, this paper relies on a qualitative content analysis of the female members of the Parliament to find out the distribution pattern of Facebook usage by the MPs and the extent it is used to facilitate communication to address gender related issues. This study also seeks to find out the barriers to inactive use of Facebook in advocating the aforementioned issues. To answer these questions, the researcher relies on interview method. This study found that female MPs focus more on the interactive function of social media rather than its informative function. This means that female MPs, who are frequently at a disadvantage when competing for resources, have not been using Facebook to empower their status and position. This study also found that although Facebook is used by many female MPs, Facebook does not guarantee an equalising platform for women to advocate for gender-related issues. The results show that a few MPs were reluctant to post and discuss said matters on their Facebook pages
Facebook and Female Member of Parliament in Malaysia, Where are We Going Now?
Get PDFFemale participation in politics at the decision-making level is less than 25 percent. One of the barriers faced by female MPs is the lack of access to equal coverage in traditional news media. As an alternative, social media such as Facebook is likely to break this barrier down as it can offer opportunities for them to engage with the citizens and connect with their constituencies. This is because social media has transformed the way politicians interact with citizens. It functions as a political equaliser to female decision makers by giving them the opportunities to communicate directly with their supporters and explain their positions, unfiltered. Hence, social media is expected to assist women achieve greater political parity. The objective of this paper is to understand how women in politics use Facebook sustain successful political careers as members of Parliament in Malaysia. Hence, this paper relies on a qualitative content analysis of the female members of the Parliament to find out the distribution pattern of Facebook usage by the MPs and the extent it is used to facilitate communication to address gender related issues. This study also seeks to find out the barriers to inactive use of Facebook in advocating the aforementioned issues. To answer these questions, the researcher relies on interview method. This study found that female MPs focus more on the interactive function of social media rather than its informative function. This means that female MPs, who are frequently at a disadvantage when competing for resources, have not been using Facebook to empower their status and position. This study also found that although Facebook is used by many female MPs, Facebook does not guarantee an equalising platform for women to advocate for gender-related issues. The results show that a few MPs were reluctant to post and discuss said matters on their Facebook pages
The Evaluation of an Online Peer Support Group on the levels of Internal and External Self-Confidence among Undergraduate Students during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy Approach
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic had a great impact on individuals of all walks of life in the aspect of psychosocial functioning particularly those from a B40 background as well as students. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psycho socio-spiritual educational support group using the Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy approach on the levels of internal and external self-confidence among 4th-year undergraduate IIUM students during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also aims to identify the issues of self-confidence from the participants during Covid-19. Seven 4th-year IIUM undergraduate students have been interviewed to identify the self-confidence issues and 22 participants (N=22) from the age of 22 to 24 years old were recruited via purposive sampling method to participate in the online peer support group. The present study used a mixed-method, exploratory approach with a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test-post-test design and a qualitative design. Two questionnaires have been utilized, the internal and external self-confidence scale by Kelsey Evelyn Perkins, and in-depth interviews employed five open-ended questions. The Likert scales consisted of 12-items that required participants to rate from 1“strongly disagree to 7 “strongly agree.” Data were analysed qualitatively by thematic analysis and quantitatively using Paired Sample T-test computed in the 26.0 version of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) with a P-value <0.5 considered statistically significant. There was a statistically significant increase in Internal Self Confidence pre-test score (M=55.64, SD=9.459) to Post-test (M=69.55, SD=9.012), t(21)=5.670, p<0.05 (two-tailed). There was also an increment for External Self Confidence pre-test score, (M= 41.00, SD=10.156) and post-test (M=50.18, SD=13.800), t(21)=3.217, p<0.05 (two-tailed) after the implementation of the online peer support group among undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the current research, peer support might be a helpful tool to improve self-confidence among undergraduate students and broaden its function as a coping mechanism to improve the quality of life and well-being. The findings of this research will also shed light on the use of Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy in the fostering of Internal and External Self-confidence