Prof. Dato’ Dr. Muhammad Nur Manuty, Chairman of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), launched a groundbreaking English textbook with an Islamic perspective at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair held at the World Trade Centre.

The books are authored by Dr Roase Mumtaz and published by Al Ameen Serve Holdings. The Holistic English book set comprises of a textbook, workbooks, teacher’s guide, audio library and a pre-recorded online video training on how to teach English with Islamic Perspective. These textbooks and workbooks are designed for Grade 1-6 Muslim students for whom English is a second language.

While signing a poster for the book, Dato’ Dr Manuty explained how such a book teaching English with Islamic perspective was in waiting since the 1980s when the idea was first introduced. He congratulated the author and publisher for bringing to live a project that was a dream of many for 4 decades.

Having thanked Allah(swt), his family, publisher Che Mazlan Saad and chief editor Alifah Ab Aziz, Dr Roase Mumtaz said, “Most standard textbooks today teach English language with a philosophy and value system that maybe different from Islamic values.” He continued to explain that this made it necessary to develop textbooks that teach English with Islamic Perspective.

The author further explained in his speech that often in standard English teaching textbooks, the purpose of learning a language is seen as only to communicate one’s needs but from an Islamic perspective it should also be about conveying the concept of Tawheed in the best manner possible. Since the concept of Tawheed maybe slightly complicated for primary grade learners, it has been recoined in the book as Islamic Healthy Habits and Islamic Akhlaq.  Therefore, the textbooks books are designed such that they are teaching English language skills within themes of Islamic healthy habits and Islamic Akhlaq and how to convey them to others.

Holistic English having been reviewed by several scholars in the field of Integration of knowledge from Islamic Perspective and experts teaching English Language in the school and university levels, is now being used in around ten schools and the demand for the books is growing. 

Dr Roase Mumtaz holds a PhD in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) and has worked for around 14 years with Al Jazeera Media Network. Al Ameen Serve Holdings, helmed by Che Mazlan Saad, has been publishing books for children for around 25 years. Their catalogue includes textbooks teaching Arabic with Islamic perspective, books on how to learn reading and writing in English for kindergarten goers and also books on learning Malaysian language and the Quranic recitation. (ILKHA)