Statistics is the science of learning from data. Every time researchers use a sample to understand a population, they are practising statistical inference. Over the past century, the way we make these inferences has changed dramatically. Each new approach has brought a different philosophy about what “truth” means and how we can best estimate it.…
Planetary Health Through an Islamic Lens
We live in the Anthropocene, an era defined by human impact on the planet. From greenhouse gases altering the climate to plastics filling our oceans, the footprint of humankind is everywhere. While this age is often spoken of with despair, Islam offers a way of looking at the world that can transform how we live…
Medicine with a Soul: A Journey of Competence, Compassion, and Conscience
Speech to the MBBS Graduates of the Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM 2025 My dear graduates, Today is a moment of deep significance — not just for you and your families, but for all of us at the Kulliyyah of Medicine. We come together to celebrate your journey, your sacrifices, and your growth. But more than…
Rosenhan versus Cahalan: The Importance of Proper Records and Methodology in Research
In the history of psychiatric research, few studies have made an impact as profound as David Rosenhan’s 1973 paper, “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” It challenged the validity of psychiatric diagnosis and exposed the depersonalisation of patients in mental hospitals. Decades later, journalist Susannah Cahalan revisited the same study in her 2019 book, The…
Tawhidic Epistemology and the Islamisation of Knowledge in Medical Education
Introduction The modern university, especially in the fields of science and medicine, often functions within a paradigm that disconnects knowledge from values, science from ethics, and intellect from faith. This fragmented epistemology, rooted in secular modernity, results in professionals who are technically proficient but morally and spiritually unmoored. In the Muslim world, this disjunction has…
Ban Vape Now to Protect Public Health in Malaysia
Executive Summary Vaping has emerged as a growing public health and security crisis in Malaysia. Once promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping is now strongly linked to nicotine addiction, youth uptake, serious health harms, and even drug abuse. The enforcement of the Akta Kawalan Produk Merokok Demi Kesihatan Awam 2024 (Act 852), effective…
Statistics and Machine Learning in Public Health: When to Use What
If you’re trained in epidemiology or biostatistics, you likely think in terms of models, inference, and evidence. Now, with machine learning entering the scene, you’re probably hearing about algorithms that can “predict” disease, “detect” outbreaks, and “learn” from data. But while ML offers exciting possibilities, it’s important to understand how it differs from classical statistical…
Good and Evil of AI in Medicine: Where Is the Boundary?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the field of medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve healthcare delivery, diagnosis, and population health management. However, with its promise comes a risk of harm, particularly when AI systems are poorly designed, implemented without appropriate safeguards, or driven by commercial interests at the expense of public good. This paper…
The Evolution of Causality in Understanding Disease
Understanding causality has always been central to the quest for knowledge about health and disease. From the philosophical inquiries of Aristotle to the precision of modern causal inference frameworks, our ideas about what causes disease and how to intervene have evolved through centuries of intellectual effort. This article traces that journey, highlighting key contributions from…
Civilisation and Divine Guidance: Reflections on History and Morality
Civilisation has long been a subject of study, both for its material achievements and its moral dimensions. From an Islamic perspective, civilisations are not accidental outcomes of human progress, but part of a divine plan in which nations, tribes, and communities arise to fulfil higher purposes. Their existence offers opportunities for humanity to cooperate, recognise…