In 2015, United Nations (UN) has implemented 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where the fifth goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls all over the world. The efforts of promoting gender equality are not new, yet it is a continuous mission as a global concern from one generation to another. Islam is one of the religions which attempts to emphasize equality for all mankind. Unfortunately, there are claims that gender inequality and injustice are being justified in the name of Islam. Islamic texts are blamed for having deliberately encouraged gender bias and have shown a preference for males over females. The stereotype image of the female role is continuously portrayed as a symbol of the oppression of Muslim women, even though in the present-day women have been given other significant roles in society. Therefore, this study aims to remove any accusation that claims Islam is an unjust religion towards gender equality and analyse its value within the current context. Applying the qualitative design, this study collects and analyses related verses from the Quran and selected hadiths from six canonical books of hadith known as Kutub Sittah. As a result, the study found the similarity and differences on the concept of gender equality in SDG and the Islamic texts from the Quran and hadith. However, eliminating injustice and discrimination towards women should be significantly continued as a global and humanitarian mission.

The Dusun community is the majority indigenous people in Sabah. The original beliefs of this society were pagan, influenced by elements of animism. However, since the advent of Islam in the state of Sabah began around the 15th century AD, some of the Dusun community slowly began to convert to Islam. In Sabah, the main settlement of the Dusun community is in the Ranau district. Ranau District is divided into three State Legislative Assemblies (DUN), namely DUN Kundasang, DUN Karanaan, and DUN Paginatan. Based on the three DUNs, the settlement of the Muslim Dusun community is concentrated in the Kundasang DUN. The culture of the Dusun Islam community, on the other hand, is decorated with various features of the past heritage treasures of their ancestors, whether in material or non-material culture. Thus, the study focuses on two main objectives; first, to explain the changes in the practice of sogit tanah (non-material culture) before and after the Dusun community had embraced Islam. Second, discuss the elements of syncretism inherent in the practice of sogit land between pre-Islamic teachings and Islam and assess from the perspective of Islamic law. Thus, this study uses a qualitative approach based on observation methods, interviews, and document analysis. The results of the study found that the practice of land sogit practiced by the Muslim Dusun community in Ranau district has undergone many changes before and after the advent of Islam. Consequently, there is an element of syncretism between Islamic and pre-Islamic teachings that cannot be practiced.

Sensitiviti agama seringkali menjadi cabaran utama dalam mencapai sebuah keharmonian negara. Apatah lagi seringkali dipaparkan melalui media berlakunya ekstrimis dan kesalahfahaman antara agama mahupun bangsa yang kemudiannya memberi satu impak prasangka dan prejudis antara masyarakat. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk membawa satu pencerahan melalui konsep Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin sebagai platform yang digunakan untuk merangka keharmonian dalam kepelbagaian masyarakat di Malaysia. Melalui konsep dan gagasan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin ini bukanlah suatu yang baru diketengahkan malah ia telah lama diamalkan. Metode kajian ini adalah berdasarkan analisis kandungan teks (content analysis) yang diolah daripada perspektif Islam, historis dan falsafah bagi menjelaskan kerangka konseptual keharmonian yang dibina daripada gagasan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin. Berdasarkan kajian ini, hubungan masyarakat Malaysia masih terkawal walau banyak cabarannya dalam mengecapi keharmonian tersebut. Hal ini kerana sikap toleransi sesama masyarakat masih diketengahkan sebagaimana konsep Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin. Jangkaa kajian akan menghasilkan satu kerangka konseptual keharmonian dalam konteks Malaysia yang diperincikan daripada perbahasan tentang gagasan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin daripada pelbagai perspektif dan amalannya di Malaysia. Dengan adanya kajian ini, hubungkait antara keharmonian dan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin dapat dihasilkan yang boleh diguna pakai sebagai satu dasar kerajaan demi melestarikan masyarakat plural yang harmoni di Malaysia.