The History of ISTAC
The history of ISTAC unfolds as a deliberate and reflective endeavour to restore the rightful place of knowledge within the Islamic intellectual tradition, inspired by the intellectual vision of Royal Laureate Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas.
29 September 1987
The Majlis approved the establishment of ISTAC as a centre dedicated to rearticulating the primacy of Islam across all fields of knowledge. Conceived under the leadership and vision of
Royal Laureate Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas the Institute was not merely intended as another academic entity, but as a space where knowledge would be re-grounded in its proper metaphysical and ethical foundations.
1989
ISTAC was administered as an autonomous entity under its own Rules and Regulations, shaping a distinct scholarly identity rooted in the integration of knowledge and adab.
16 August 2002
The Majlis integrated ISTAC as a kulliyyah within IIUM, situating it within the broader university structure while preserving its specialised role in postgraduate education.
25 February 2015
ISTAC’s academic programmes were transferred to KIRKHS, involving the careful relocation of academic resources, staff, and institutional memory to ensure continuity.
26 October 2017
The Institute was rearticulated as the International Institute of Islamic Civilisation and the Malay World, reflecting an expanded engagement with regional intellectual and cultural heritage.
17 May 2019
The Board of Governors restored the Institute’s original name, reaffirming its foundational orientation towards Islamic thought and civilisation as a living and enduring tradition.
