BINTULU: The Sarawak State Mufti Department is committed to reviving the scholarly legacy of the great Islamic figure, Sultan Mirza Muhammad Taraghay Ulugh Beg, as a civilisational heritage that can strengthen the state’s position as a regional reference centre for Islamic astronomy (falak syarie).
Sarawak Mufti, Datuk Kipli Yassin, said the effort is in line with the aim of expanding the role of falak knowledge, not only for determining the sighting of the new moon (rukyah hilal), but also encompassing research, education, and the dissemination of knowledge to society.
“Ulugh Beg is remembered not only as a ruler but also as a scholar who devoted himself to knowledge by establishing the observatory in Samarkand, which became a world reference, and producing the great astronomical work, Zij-i Sultani,” he said.
He said this in his speech at ‘Seminar Falak: Inspirasi Warisan Samarkand Memacu Ummah Maju’ held at a leading hotel here today.
Drawing lessons from that legacy, he said the Sarawak State Mufti Department is focusing on the development of a modern observatory capable of supporting various scholarly functions, including Islamic astronomical research, training of experts, and the provision of authentic and authoritative falak data.
“Through this seminar, we hope more researchers and practitioners of falak will emerge, able to combine the intellectual heritage of the past with modern technology.
“This effort aims to open up deeper studies on the influence of Islamic astronomy on the development of falak in the Malay Archipelago,” he said.
Kipli further stressed that the continuity of Islamic intellectual traditions must be preserved because the development of astronomy in this region did not occur in isolation but stemmed from the continuity of the Islamic civilisation that once flourished in other continents.
“As an agency entrusted with safeguarding, elevating, and advancing falak knowledge in the state, the Sarawak State Mufti Department serves as the starting point for the revival of scholarly heritage based on the contributions of past Islamic scholars,” he added.
Such initiatives, he added, not only uphold the legacy of Islamic scholarship but also strengthen Sarawak’s position as a regional reference centre for Islamic astronomy.
