Solehah Yaacob

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Solehah Yaacob
Prof Dr Solehah Yaacob.jpg
Official portrait, 2018
Born
Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Malaysia
Alma mater International Islamic University Malaysia
Occupation(s)Linguist, academic
Employer International Islamic University Malaysia
Organization(s)Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Known forScholarship in Arabic grammatical theory and historical linguistics
TitleProfessor of Arabic linguistics

Solehah Yaacob is a Malaysian linguist, academic and author who serves as Professor of Arabic linguistics at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). [1] Recognised for her scholarly work on Arabic grammatical philosophy and the historical development of the language, she has contributed several studies examining the relationship between Arabic, civilisation and Islamic intellectual heritage. [2] [3] Her work is frequently associated with IIUM’s broader intellectual project of integrating Islamic values within contemporary academic disciplines.

Contents

Early life and education

Solehah was born in Pasir Mas, Kelantan and pursued all her tertiary education at IIUM. [1] After completing a bachelor’s degree in the Arabic language and literature and a master’s degree in Teaching Arabic as a Second Language, she earned a PhD in Arabic linguistics. Her doctoral dissertation examined the historical evolution of the classical theory of ʿamal, a cornerstone of Arabic grammatical analysis. [4]

Academic career

Solehah began her career at IIUM in 1995 and steadily advanced through academic ranks, being appointed full professor in 2020. [1] At the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, she has taught courses on Arabic grammar, semantics, pragmatics, historical linguistics and comparative linguistic theory. [5]

Beyond teaching, she has contributed to research administration and scholarly dissemination. As editor-in-chief of the Journal of Arabic Language Specialized Research (J-ALSR), she has overseen publications on contemporary and classical debates in Arabic linguistics. [6] She has also collaborated with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), IIIT and other national research bodies on Arabic language studies and the Islamisation of the human sciences. [2]

Research and scholarship

Arabic grammatical philosophy

Much of Solehah’s scholarship centres on the classical Arabic grammatical tradition. In her analytical study of the theory of ʿamal, she re-examines the conceptual foundations of Arabic syntax and its philosophical underpinnings. [4] Her work frequently highlights the intellectual sophistication of early Arabic grammarians and the organic relationship between linguistic theory, logic and Islamic intellectual history. [7]

Semantics, pragmatics and rhetoric

Her 2018 monograph connects the classical field of Arabic rhetoric (balāghah) with modern semantic and pragmatic theory, presenting the two traditions as complementary rather than competing. [5] She has also contributed to studies on the linguistic and cultural dimensions of pre-modern Arabic texts. [8]

Historical linguistics

Solehah’s work in historical linguistics frames Arabic as a central civilisational language with a long intellectual reach across regions and time periods. Her DBP monograph discusses the evolution of Arabic and its interactions with neighbouring linguistic and cultural spheres. [2] She has also examined comparative Semitic linguistics, proposing ways in which classical Arabic may serve as a reference point for understanding the broader family of Semitic languages. [3]

Islamisation of knowledge

In line with IIUM’s long-standing institutional mission, Solehah has written on the integration of Islamic ethical perspectives into contemporary knowledge production. [9] Her work in this area explores how language, meaning and ethical reasoning interact within both Islamic and modern academic frameworks.

2025 Media discussion

Sungai Batu Archeological Site where shipwrecks may rewrite anthropological history as they are said to be about 2,200 years. Sungai Batu Archaeological Site 4.jpg
Sungai Batu Archeological Site where shipwrecks may rewrite anthropological history as they are said to be about 2,200 years.

In November 2025, a brief excerpt from one of Solehah's lectures, in which she claim the Romans had learned to build ships from Malays, circulated online and became the subject of regional media coverage. The episode prompted wider discussion about academic freedom, scholarly communication and the treatment of hypotheses in the public sphere. Media coverage from Sinar Harian , Berita Harian , New Straits Times , Malaysiakini , Free Malaysia Today , The Rakyat Post , The Straits Times and the South China Morning Post documented various public responses and institutional clarifications. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] In mid-November 2025, the International Islamic University of Malaysia confirmed it would establish an internal inquiry panel to examine Solehah's claims, pending disciplinary proceedings. [18]

Selected works

Books

Articles

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Staff Profile: Prof Dr Solehah Yaacob". International Islamic University Malaysia. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Yaacob, Solehah (2016). The Intricacy and Delicacy in the Historical Development of Arabic Language. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
  3. 1 2 Yaacob, Solehah (2014). "Arabic Language as the Foundation of Semitic Languages" (PDF). Arab World English Journal. 5 (3): 278–290.
  4. 1 2 Yaacob, Solehah (2014). Dirāsah Naqdiyyah fī al-Tafkīr al-Naḥwī al-ʿArabī. Cairo: Dar as-Salam.
  5. 1 2 Yaacob, Solehah (2018). Balaghah, Semantik dan Pragmatik Bahasa Arab. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press.
  6. ↑ Yaacob, Solehah (2025). "A Review of Arabic Linguistic Argumentations and Their Misconceptions". Journal of Advanced Research in Social and Behavioural Sciences. 28 (2). Karya Ilham Publications.
  7. ↑ Yaacob, Solehah (2019). "The Syntactical Regulator in Arabic Syntax: An Analytical Study". Intellectual Discourse. IIUM Press. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  8. ↑ Yaacob, Solehah (2022). "The Relationship between Literature, Language and Culture in Ancient Texts". Majalah al-Dad. 6 (1).
  9. ↑ Yaacob, Solehah (2024). "Integration of Islamic Values within Science Based on IOHK Theory". International Journal of Religion. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Husin, Mukhriz (5 November 2025). "'Rom belajar bina kapal daripada orang Melayu' - Professor Dr Solehah". Sinar Harian . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Hamid, Suralinda (19 November 2025). "UIAM tubuh panel inkuiri jalankan penelitian dakwaan kapal Taa dun Rom". Berita Harian . Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Hassan, Hazween (10 November 2025). "IIUM Professor doubles down: 'Romans learned shipbuilding from Malays theory' based on extensive study". New Straits Times . Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Prof Solehah tetap pertahan dakwaan Rom belanar buat kapal dark Melayu". Malaysiakini . 10 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "IIUM lecturer defends claim Romans learned shipbuilding from Malays". Free Malaysia Today . 9 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "How to Sink a Theory: Academic responses discussed". The Rakyat Post . 11 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Hassan, Hazlin (11 November 2025). "Romans learnt shipbuilding from Malays? Malaysian academia's integrity in question after claim". The Straits Times . Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Did Malays teach Romans shipbuilding? Malaysian academic's claim draws brickbats" . South China Morning Post . 7 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "IIUM sets up inquiry panel over lecturer's claim on shipbuilding". Free Malaysia Today . 18 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
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