Konsep sastera Islam oleh Tan Sri Prof. Dr Mohd Kamal Hassan = The concept of Islamic Literature by Tan Sri Professor Dr Mohd Kamal Hassan

This study is about the concept of Islamic Literature proposed by Tan Sri Prof Dr. Mohd Kamal Hassan during the debate between Kassim Ahmad and Shahnon Ahmad during the 80’s. Kamal Hassan had proposed an interesting and in-depth concept of Islamic literature despite its brevity. It is noticeable as well that his idea reflected originality; there was hardly any proof of him being influenced by others before his disposition. Islamic literature was the main area for him, given his involvement in the Islamisation paradigm. In his proposal, he outlined four aspects that need to be abided by in the conceptualization of Islamic Literature. First: aesthetical values if to be understood or to be compared with the western paradigm need to be looked at from a different perspective. Second: in Islamic culture, the main objective is for the advancement of the human race thus and it excludes the cultures of people in a certain space and time who are Muslims which those cultures are by no means void of any value for the advancement of humanity. Thirdly: Islamic culture is not intended to improve or refine additional items in human life, instead, it aims to embellish and ennoble human life itself. Forth: Islamic culture has a very close relationship with religion. It is also loaded with good ideas either in greatness or declination, and this is reflected in the fields of science, art, literature or social welfare