04/06/2026
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ: ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ด๐ฒ
Addressing the growing influence of misinformation, digital distractions, and shallow information consumption, the "INFODEMIC: Intellectual Superficiality in Contemporary Society" seminar gathered students at the Al Farouqi Center of the King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS), to explore how individuals can safeguard their minds and pursue truth in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
The seminar featured two speakers who approached the issue from both philosophical and Islamic perspectives.
During the first lecture, Sir Jumadir Mungkon of the Department of Philosophy, discussed epistemology, vice epistemology, and epistemological character, emphasizing the importance of intellectual humility in the pursuit of knowledge. He explained that genuine understanding requires not only recognizing what one knows but also acknowledging the limits of one's knowledge. He further stressed that awareness of one's vulnerability to misinformation and disinformation, particularly on social media, is a crucial step toward becoming a more responsible and critical thinker.
Mungkon also cautioned participants about the addictive nature of modern information consumption, arguing that many digital platforms are designed to maximize user engagement. He noted that social media companies profit from prolonged attention, encouraging habits of constant scrolling and instant gratification that can foster intellectual laziness and discourage deep reflection. He urged students to develop disciplined learning habits and exercise greater control over their attention rather than allowing algorithms to shape their thinking.
Providing an Islamic perspective, Mr. Maulana Talha Ombawa discussed the importance of preserving the intellect, one of the fundamental objectives of Islamic law. He described the human intellect as a divine trust that must be protected from corruption, manipulation, and negligence. Drawing from Islamic teachings, he explained that knowledge is not merely the accumulation of facts but a means of guiding one's actions, strengthening faith, and seeking truth.
Ombawa emphasized that intellectual clarity is closely linked to spiritual well-being, noting that the condition of the heart influences a person's ability to recognize and accept the truth. He warned that persistent sins and moral negligence can harden the heart, cloud judgment, and weaken discernment.
The program concluded with a reaction and synthesis delivered by Sir Norjamal G. Batugan, who connected the philosophical discussion on epistemic responsibility with the Islamic emphasis on preserving the intellect. He underscored the importance of developing minds that are both critically engaged and morally grounded, closing the seminar with the reflection: โ๐๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ข๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ.โ
Writer | Juwaireah Yusoph
Photos | Anjirah Macmod
