PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) — Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, today reminded Malaysians that true progress and innovation must always be guided by adab, the discipline of giving things their proper place and preserving the moral heart of civilisation.
Her Majesty said that while innovation continues to transform how people learn and connect, wisdom must deepen alongside technological progress.
“Whatever progress we make, it must be guided by adab. Adab is more than etiquette. Royal Laureate Professor Tan Sri Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas reminds us that adab is what gives life to justice,” she said in her speech at the Festival of Ideas (FOI) Putrajaya 2025.
Raja Zarith Sofiah emphasised that adab requires giving knowledge and authority their rightful place, honouring expertise as a trust, and ensuring that urgency does not overshadow what is truly important.
Her Majesty also warned of the growing influence of social media, where the loud can drown out the wise, and urged that even disagreements should be expressed with respect and reflection.
“We all have the right to agree to disagree but this too must be done with careful thought and with adab,” she said, citing a hadis: “May God have mercy on a servant who spoke well and gained good, or kept silent and avoided harm.”
Raja Zarith Sofiah further reminded that adab must extend beyond homes and schools into the halls and corridors of power.
Citing Sheikh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani’s teaching of “Adab before knowledge” and Prof Dr Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud’s reminder that “Our worlds and our actions are a reflection of our thoughts and our soul”, the Queen stressed that every online post or statement carries moral weight and lasting consequences.
“If they are good and bring praiseworthy consequences, in the minds and actions of individuals and communities, nationally and internationally, we will be highly rewarded—not just in our lifetime but beyond.
“Conversely, every recorded word and action that has not been properly thought out and which is based on half-truths or complete lies, will have tremendous impact beyond our worst imagination,” she said.
Her Majesty said the loss of adab produces injustices, which are serious crimes in Islam because Allah SWT commands Muslims to practise justice even when we hate something or someone.
On innovation and research, the Queen said adab demands transparency, accountability, and attentiveness to those whose voices are least heard.
Raja Zarith Sofiah reaffirmed Malaysia’s aspiration to pair excellence with responsibility, noting that universities are not only centres for ideas but also for moral reflection.
“When our students graduate, their degrees mark not only what they know, but who they become in society,” she said.
Concluding her address, Her Majesty urged all Malaysians to seek knowledge with humility and to serve society with sincerity.
“Adab remains the one constant which will guide our words and actions. It does not close our minds but instead it opens our hearts. It does not diminish ambition, it purifies intention. It reminds us that knowledge is not merely power, but a trust—an amanah to be used for the good of many,” she said.
The Queen also expressed hope that FOI Putrajaya will continue to serve as a platform for wisdom to be shared and carried forward faithfully, serving as a light for those who learn, a guide for those who lead and an aspiration for all who serve.
— BERNAMA
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