JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED SCIENCES

THE MULTIPLICITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS: CHALLENGES IN ATTAINING 'ARABIC LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AMONG BLACK AND LATINO AMERICAN MUSLIM CONVERTS

2026-04-08T20:01:59+00:00

This article examines the complex challenges faced by Black and Latino American Muslim converts to Islām when learning 'Arabic as a second or additional language. Drawing on historical analyses of the slave trades, sociological perspectives on post-1965 'Arab-Black American relations, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Critical Race Theory, this paper contends that historical legacies and contemporary social dynamics converge to create unique pedagogical and psychological barriers for these learners. Based on the author's unpublished dissertation research, which employed a Transformative Mixed-Methods Phenomenological Approach, the synthesis of data sources reveals challenges such as psychological barriers stemming from historical trauma, strained intergroup relations, issues of identity and belonging within Muslim communities, potential biases in educational settings, and the complexities of 'Arabic diglossia. The article further explores the intricate navigation of intersecting racial, ethnic, and religious identities. The author describes these profound psychological barriers as a "Multiplicity of Consciousness," an expansion of W.E.B. Du Bois’s concept of double-consciousness. This research sheds light on this critical phenomenon, establishing its significance for future inquiry and suggesting avenues for fostering more inclusive, effective, and equitable 'Arabic language learning environments within Islāmic contexts.

FROM STORIES TO STRATEGY: AI-BASED INSIGHTS INTO MUSLIM REVERT NARRATIVES FOR DIGITAL DA’WAH

2026-04-08T20:01:59+00:00

This article presents an AI-assisted qualitative study of 1,192 Muslim reversion narratives sourced from online platforms. The objective is to identify recurring themes, trigger events, and motivational pathways in the reversion journey. Data was collected from YouTube channels and Islamic websites, processed through web scraping and transcript extraction tools (yt-dlp, BeautifulSoup), and structured using OpenAI GPT prompts with manual validation. Thematic coding, clustering algorithms (KMeans), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to analyze patterns. The findings highlight Tawheed, the Qur’an, and Muslim behavior as key motivational factors, while interaction with Muslims and online content served as common trigger events. Gender and age patterns were also observed, suggesting different influences across demographic groups. The study offers data-driven insights for more empathetic and targeted digital Da’wah strategies and demonstrates the potential of AI in analyzing religious narratives for academic and practical applications.

EVALUATING AN AI MODEL’S QUR’ANIC RECALL AND CITATION IN ARABIC AND SAHIH INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH: A REAL-DATA PILOT ETHICAL AND ANALYTICAL REVIEW

2026-04-08T20:02:00+00:00

Large Language Models (LLMs) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are commonly used to query religious texts, including the Holy Qur’an, raising questions about accuracy, reliability, and contextual fidelity, as minor deviations in Quranic recall can carry significant theological, ethical, and educational implications. This quantitative study presents a reproducible bilingual, pilot grounded evaluation of ChatGPT-5’s Quranic recall, citation, and thematic search abilities based on Arabic and Sahih International English translation operating three distinct task categories: (a) Verse Completion, (b) Citation-from-Text, (c) Thematic Retrieval in themes such as Patience, Charity, Fasting, and Mercy. The results displayed near-perfect accuracy across both languages for verse completion, with a reading of 1.00 in Arabic and English. The results of citation-from-text recall achieved 0.97 in Arabic and 1.00 in English. Regarding thematic retrieval, evaluated by Precision@10, the themes of Patience, Charity, and Mercy were identified, achieving 1.00 in Arabic and 0.90 for Fasting, while maintaining 1.00 in English. The implications of this study demonstrate that AI chatbot LLMs, such as ChatGPT-5, can provide accurate Quranic recall when grounded; however, Arabic syntax and morphology remain key challenges for AI systems, while ethical and bias considerations leave Quranic thematic analysis (tafsīr) to be avoided.

DETERMINANTS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSLIM STUDENTS IN NORTH BEKASI, INDONESIA

2026-04-08T20:02:00+00:00

This study investigated the influence of personal, family, educational, and socio-cultural factors on the development of entrepreneurial skills among Muslim middle school students in North Bekasi, Indonesia, using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. Quantitative data were collected from 120 students through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 30 purposively selected students. The findings revealed that all four factors significantly influenced entrepreneurial skills, collectively explaining 71.2% of the variance (R² = 0.712). Among these, personal factors—such as motivation, self-confidence, and initiative—emerged as the strongest predictor (r = 0.881, p < 0.05), followed by family, socio-cultural, and educational factors. Qualitative data confirmed these results, highlighting themes of self-efficacy, parental role modeling, school-based entrepreneurial activities, peer support, and Islamic values promoting ethical trade and self-reliance. These findings underscore the importance of an integrated approach to entrepreneurship education that engages schools, families, and communities to foster ethical, competent, and resilient young entrepreneurs. Future research should consider longitudinal studies, comparative analyses, and intervention-based evaluations to deepen understanding and strengthen educational strategies.

ASSESSMENT OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPs) UTILISATION AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN IGABI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

2026-04-08T20:02:00+00:00

The study examined the assessment of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) utilisation among rural dwellers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Data were elicited through the administration of questionnaire to 80 randomly selected rural dwellers from 2 villages each, in 4 purposively selected wards in the Local Government Area based on availability of NTFPs. The wards are: Birnin Yero, Sabon Birni Dajis, Gadan Gayah, and Afaka. The result showed that majority (80%) had secondary education. Also, 44% of the rural dwellers are in their youthful age, married (44%) with house hold size of 11 – 15 members. The use of vegetables ranked 1^st in the list of NTFPs assessed. Households (33%) and trado-medical practitioners (30%) were perceived to use NTFPs more with frequent (≥2.3) level of utilisation than other rural dwellers while insecurity/kidnapping ranked 1^st in the list of utilisation constraints. The provision of proper arms and ammunition to forest guards and other security personnel to tackle the problems of insecurity in the study area was recommended among others.

STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTION OF GIS AND AI-DRIVEN NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR RESILIENCE AND MITIGATION IN THE FLOOD-VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

2026-04-08T20:02:00+00:00

Flooding remains a major environmental challenge in southwest Nigeria due to extreme rainfall, rapid urbanization, deforestation, and inadequate drainage systems. In response to the limitations of conventional flood control measures, innovative approaches such as Geographic Information System (GIS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)–driven Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly being considered. These technologies support the identification of flood-prone areas and the strategic deployment of natural infrastructure to enhance resilience and mitigate flood risks in vulnerable communities. This study employs a mixed-methods approach combining GIS spatial analysis, AI-based flood prediction models, and 50 stakeholders were interviewed to evaluate the effectiveness and barriers to utilization of these technologies in Lagos, Ibadan, and Abeokuta. A survey method was used to collect data from the stakeholders. Results show that GIS-based flood models significantly enhance real-time flood monitoring, while AI-driven NbS reduce runoff, improve urban resilience, and minimizes flood damage. Most stakeholders (24%) from agencies such as NiMET, NEMA, Urban Authorities, IUFMP, and NGOs, along with 16% of community leaders, reported awareness of GIS and AI-driven Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for flood management in Southwest Nigeria. However, an equal proportion (24%) noted poor GIS effectiveness in detecting flood risks and the limited usefulness of AI-NbS. Additionally, 30% of respondents identified inadequate flood management data as a major barrier. A large majority highlighted systemic constraints, including weak policy enforcement (82%), insufficient funding (84%), and limited community engagement (76%), all of which hinder the effective deployment of GIS/AI-NbS in the region. However, challenges like limited access to real-time hydrological data, weak policy enforcement, and financial constraints hinder full implementation. The study concludes by recommending integration of AI and GIS into Nigeria’s flood risk management systems through improved policy frameworks, strengthened data infrastructures, and increased stakeholder engagement.

COREY KEYES’ MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF MENTAL HEALTH

2026-04-08T20:02:01+00:00

Mental health and substance use disorders have emerged as two of the foremost global health issues post-COVID-19. For instance, the incidences of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders are becoming prevalent, more burdensome, and unequally distributed worldwide. Even though youth advocates, public and global health professionals, and various government and nongovernment health and social care agencies have promoted social policies to improve the major social determinants of mental health, such as freedom from discrimination and violence, social inclusion, and equitable access to economic resources, mental health and substance use inequity and stigma persist overwhelmingly within families, communities, countries and across regions. This paper posits that while mental health promotion involves shared responsibility, needing the responsive involvement of many health and social sectors, developing and implementing social policies on the structural determinants of the major social determinants of mental health alone may not reduce global mental health and substance abuse inequity and stigmatisation. Therefore, this theory/model paper explored how the use of Corey Keyes’s mental health continuum, which operationalises mental health as a syndrome of symptoms of positive feelings/functioning in life, in addition to the three major social determinants of mental health, might reduce the negative stigmas associated with mental illness and substance use and enhance access to the social determinants of health. Based on the evidence that Keyes’ model not only demonstrates that mental health is a multifaceted state, but also that it is not purely the absence of mental illness symptoms or diagnosis, we concluded that, the model's flourishing with mental illness section presents something positive, which might disabuse the minds of all the stakeholders from either self or public stigmatisation, thereby eliminating one of the major roadblocks for individuals with mental illnesses to equitable access to the major social determinants of mental health.

NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND LIFESTYLE RISK FACTORS: AN EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH BURDEN IN BANGLADESH

2026-04-08T20:02:01+00:00

In Bangladesh affected patients’ non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancers are increasing alarmingly. Their prevalence is shaped by lifestyle risk factors, including poor diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use and social determinants such as health equity, access to services, and variations in nutritional status. A secondary dataset covering the years 1994-2023 was analyzed dividing into three decades to examine disease prevalence in response of health equity, nutritional status, service access, and immunization coverage. Multiple correlation and linear regression were applied to track long-term trend patterns and analyze the relationships among health indicators and key predictors of disease burden. The correlation analysis represents a positive association between the Health Equity Index and disease prevalence (r =0.45) whereas nutrition and immunization coverage showed weaker associations. Similarly, regression analysis identified Health Equity Index as the strongest predictor for 22% of the variance. The decade-based analysis shows disease prevalence increased 35.8% from (1994 – 2003) to (2004 – 2013) while decreased 17.6% by (2014 – 2023). Despite the many factors Health Equity Index and service access play a vital role for NCDs prevalence. Ensuring the proper mass nutrition, physical activity, health equity and disciplined lifestyle might prevent the rise of non-communicable diseases.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MULTIGRADE TEACHING PRACTICES AND POLICY RESPONSES IN SOUTH ASIA

2026-04-08T20:02:01+00:00

Multigrade classrooms are widespread in rural areas of South Asian countries and are commonly employed where teacher shortages or low student enrollment necessitate this arrangement. Despite their prevalence, evidence related to multigrade pedagogy - particularly place-based pedagogy - remains fragmented across a range of policy documents, donor project reports and academic studies. Following PRISMA 2020, the systematic review synthesizes existing evidence from 88 studies in the 2000–2025 bracket, including peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, and reports from international organizations. The review highlights existing practices related to multigrade curriculum development and teaching practices, teacher professional development and policy responses in South Asian countries. Recurrent challenges including lack of policy implementation, curriculum misalignment, teacher preparedness, weak assessment frameworks, resource constraints and teacher workload have been identified. Simultaneously, the review synthesizes evidence related to student adaptability and community-based practices that have proved successful in the multigrade sphere. The review concludes that multigrade education can play a transformative role in achieving SDG 4, by providing equitable access to quality education, provided that a significant investment is made in curriculum adaptation, teacher training and systemic support via policy implementation. Furthermore, with the advancements in the field of technology, low-tech-first supports can be effectively utilized to reduce teacher workload and provide improved accessibility.

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL DEVICE USAGE ON THE ISLAMIC UPBRINGING AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIM CHILDREN IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

2026-04-08T20:02:01+00:00

The widespread use of digital devices has significantly transformed the way children interact with the world, raising questions about their impact on religious upbringing and overall development. This study explores the effects of digital device usage on the Islamic upbringing and holistic development of Muslim children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys and interviews with parents, teachers, and children, the research examines how digital media influences key aspects of child development, such as religious practices, moral values, social skills, academic performance, and emotional well-being. The findings reveal that while digital devices provide access to beneficial Islamic content and educational resources, they also pose risks related to screen addiction, exposure to harmful material, and potential disruptions to family dynamics and traditional Islamic teachings. This thesis discusses the challenges of balancing digital engagement with religious and developmental goals, and proposes strategies for parents, educators, and policymakers to guide children in using technology in ways that align with Islamic principles and support their overall growth. The study calls for a more nuanced approach to digital device usage, one that encourages moderation and integrates Islamic values in fostering healthy, well-rounded development in children.

DIGITAL EMPATHY: HOW TECHNOLOGY IS REPROGRAMMING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY

2026-04-08T20:02:02+00:00

The 21^stcentury has built a remarkable bond between human life and technology. Nowadays, AI, social media, and digital networks are no longer just digital tools, they have become living platforms of human emotion, belief, and harmony. Not only in south Asia but the majority people of around the world now depend on digital platforms and various tools for learning, worship, business, and even expressing sympathy. Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp, every single digital platform has become a mirror reflecting feelings and emotions. This paper presented the term Digital Empathy- which defined the power of technology mediated - network to promote compassion, solidarity and inclusive growth - to examine how digital systems transform society, science, religion and business. On the other hand, this study claims that empathy in this digital era is not fading but transforming into new forms of digital sympathy, especially within Islamic systems. In Bangladesh and other Muslim communities, religion and technology often intersect to create new ethical and emotional experiences. The principles of rahmah (mercy), ukhuwwah (brotherhood), and adl (justice) from the Qur’an now appear in online charity, digital dawah, and virtual religious guidance. Digital Platforms like Facebook and YouTube livestream religious lectures from scholars in Dhaka, Istanbul, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur, letting believers feel spiritually connected across boundaries. Many Islamic organizations use digital tools to manage very important duties like -zakat, sadaqah, and emergency relief- turning faith into a network of real-time compassion. The paper uses a qualitative case study method that includes both regional and global evidence to examine how digital empathy operates in various social and religious contexts. During the July-25 Revolution, in Bangladesh, despite the imposition of a state of emergency and internet shutdown across the country digital platforms became political tools and moral instruments, which gathered students from every corner of the country together under a shared sense of justice and care against the ruling corrupted government. In September 2025, large-scale anti-corruption protests and demonstrations took place across Nepal, organized by Generation Z students and young citizens. The main reason was the government banned numerous social media platforms later which flashed all the corruptions of the government. Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya Movement shows the solidarity and unity among the various people of the multicultural society which also displayed how digital platforms can result in a great impact on the socio-politics of the other south Asian nations. The impact of digital empathy goes further on politics. During Cyclone Remal in 2024 and the floods in 2022 in Bangladesh, youth from every region of the country used Facebook, WhatsApp, and mobile banking system to coordinate relief effort, gather funds, and assist rescuers. NGOs, and international agencies like IFRC, UNICEF, and Red Cross supported these efforts online, turning digital empathy into a powerful force for survival. Day by day digital empathy is changing Islamic frameworks in the field of religion and morality. In Bangladesh, programmers are trying to create Chatbots powered by AI, to answer daily Islamic questions, while scholars are discussing the validity of “AI Fatwas.” In Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, virtual Islamic seminars and online fatwa platforms are changing traditional religious authority, providing global Muslims with quick access to moral guidance. Many Islamic banks and other banks in Bangladesh are now using digital systems to ensure Islamic Shariah compliance, while mobile banking apps like bKash and Nagad, allow people to donate directly to mosques and charity funds. These examples shows that digital empathy forms the ethical backbone of the new relationship between humans and technology. The study also strongly suggests adding Digital Empathy in the National Curriculum of Bangladesh’s education policy to strengthen moral awareness, emotional understanding, and responsible digital citizenship. Digital empathy is not just a side effect of technological progress; it represents a new ethical ecosystem where sympathy, faith, and technology integrate to build a more humane digital future.

MAPPING THE FUTURE: OPPORTUNITIES & PITFALLS OF AI IN TALENT MANAGEMENT IN THE TELECOM SECTOR OF BANGLADESH

2026-04-08T20:02:02+00:00

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quick to reshape the Talent Management practices worldwide, with the telecom sector in Bangladesh beginning to embrace this transformation faster than most others. This study explores the integration of AI in 03 critical Talent Management functions: (a) Recruitment and Selection, (b) Training, and (c) Performance Management, through a qualitative inquiry. Data were collected via a focus group discussion with 08 HR managers representing leading telecom firms in Bangladesh. The findings of the study revealed that AI has streamlined: (a) Recruitment processes by supporting job description development, candidate sourcing, and initial screening, though reliance remains partial due to concerns about contextual accuracy and potential bias. (b) In training, AI tools are being leveraged to design personalized learning paths and identify skill gaps, yet human oversight remains vital to ensure relevance and mitigate risks of reduced coaching. (c) In performance management, AI-driven analytics are increasingly used for tracking, reviewing, and summarizing employee performance, helping reduce managerial workload and enhance objectivity. However, barriers such as data privacy concerns, subscription costs, and dependence on third-party platforms constrain full adoption. The study recommends a phased, hybrid adoption model, emphasizing affordable, task-specific solutions, robust data governance, and employee reskilling. The study also suggested gradual but structured integration of AI in HR functions, investment in context-specific AI solutions, and clear data governance frameworks. These steps are crucial for maximizing efficiency while safeguarding employee trust and organizational integrity in Bangladesh’s telecom sector.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISKS AMONG GARMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS IN BANGLADESH: A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

2026-04-08T20:02:03+00:00

Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector is now the world's third largest exporter. RMG provides steady employment for approximately 4,000,000 workers, the majority of whom are women. This remarkable progress, however, has been hampered by a lack of factory safety and industrial mishaps, which characterize health risks. This study aims to examine the occupational health risks of garment workers and assess their connection to broader health trends. A longitudinal dataset covering the period 1994 to 2024 was built using official data in the retrospective analysis, using reported data from government sources. which was done by face-to-face interview by an interviewer. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed by computer by SPSS version 17.0. Out of 145 respondents, the majority (36%) were found in the age group of 16-20 years where the mean age was 22.30 years with S.D. of ±6.95 years. Among all the respondents, 85% were female. 40.52% were educated institutionally. 52.4% respondents were machine operators, but the maximum (78%) were unskilled and 72% had a length of job between 2-7 years. 90% of respondents normally worked for 8-9 hours. 84.5% did 2-3 hours overtime. In the last one year 60.8% had no accidents but minor cuts, burns or injuries were faced by 29.3%. Moreover, most respondents were unconcerned about physical or environmental pollution, while 68% were concerned about noise pollution. Due to the direct link to health risks, employees complain of headaches, general weakness, and eyestrain. Occupational health in the garment industry is a critical public health concern in Bangladesh. Workers’ headaches and eyestrain were caused by inadequate lighting and ventilation system and noise pollution. More importance should be given to the workers to improve their health condition and working environment, so that they can increase their productivity, which can ultimately increase production and add GDP to the country. Industrial health hazards should be minimized by the proper implementation of labor laws by the government.

EXPLORING BANGLADESH CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH INTEGRATING DEEP CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK BY IMAGE CAPTIONING

2026-04-08T20:02:03+00:00

Image captioning is a significant task at the intersection of computer vision and natural language processing that aims to automatically generate concise textual descriptions of images. Although seemingly simple for humans, this task is complex for machines as it requires both accurate image analysis and the generation of semantically coherent sentences. Recent advances in encoder–decoder architectures, which combine convolutional neural networks for feature extraction with recurrent or transformer-based networks for sentence generation, have achieved promising results in this domain. In this work, we focus on applying image captioning to represent Bangladeshi culture, traditions, foods, and heritage sites, an area largely overlooked in existing research. To this end, we build a novel deep convolutional neural network model trained on a curated heritage dataset consisting of images of historical landmarks, cultural events, and traditional foods of Bangladesh. The proposed model generates culturally enriched captions that highlight not only the visual content but also its cultural and historical significance. Our system can serve as a digital bridge to promote Bangladeshi culture, benefiting travelers, researchers, and enthusiasts while contributing to cultural preservation. Ultimately, this study demonstrates how image captioning can extend beyond visual description to support heritage promotion and global cultural engagement.

CRYPTOCURRENCY AND ISLAMIC ETHICS: A SCHOLARLY APPRAISAL OF OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

2026-04-08T20:02:03+00:00

Over the last few years, debates regarding cryptocurrency have become extremely popular among both scholars and ethicists, but most notably, in the area of Islamic Finance. This research will examine how these conversations are evolving, by combining the perspectives developed from a Multi-Expert Forum held by the International Open University (IOU) with responses received from academics and practitioners who work in the area of cryptocurrency, through an open-ended questionnaire. It also provides evidence of a diverse set of views, as opposed to a singular position. There are a number of respondents who see great promise in blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies, primarily because of the potential for decentralized systems, and in developing asset-based crypto models. In contrast, a large number of participants felt a sense of instability from the nature of speculative gharar (speculation) in digital currencies, in addition to the absence of tangible or intrinsic value in digital currency. Additionally, an ethical dilemma arose when discussing digital currency usage in unregulated marketplaces or when engaged in illegal activities. Regardless of their viewpoint on the issue, all of the participants agreed that engaging in digital currencies should be done with extreme care and with caution; and that digital currency engagement should be regulated. A large number of the participants suggested the need for increased regulation of digital currency and greater collaboration among scholars so that the Islamic ruling process regarding digital currency will be both credible and proactive rather than reactive. This research has also demonstrated the need for educational opportunities to enable communities to be aware of the digital economy and have the knowledge and confidence to engage with it while maintaining the ethical and moral principles of Islamic finance.