International Islamic University Malaysia, Educational campus in Muar, Malaysia
The International Islamic University Malaysia is a tertiary institution in Gombak, a northern suburb of the capital Kuala Lumpur, with buildings made from pale sandstone and blue-tinted glass domes. The grounds spread across forested hills and include several faculty blocks, a main mosque, and dormitories for students from around the world.
The founding took place in 1983 through a joint initiative of several Islamic states and the Malaysian government. The first rector was Abdul Hamid AbuSulayman, a Saudi scholar who shaped the academic model according to international standards.
The campus uses Arabic and English as official teaching languages, with corridors and lecture halls often filled by students in traditional dress from all world regions. Prayer rooms spread across the entire grounds and are used five times daily by lecturers and students together.
Visitors should register at the administration building and obtain permission before entering the grounds, as many areas are only accessible to students and staff. A visit to the main mosque is usually possible, with appropriate clothing required.
The library holds a separate section for rare Islamic manuscripts from the 15th century, which can be viewed by researchers with prior arrangement. The administration building also displays a massive wall mural depicting the historical spread of Islamic scholarship from Baghdad to Southeast Asia.
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