He struts around the International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) Gombak campus like he owns the place, sits in on lectures (though he mostly naps through it), and has charmed his way into everyone’s hearts.
Even students who graduated years ago return just to see him.
Now 10 years old, Labun – a cat – lives with a staff member and remains the beloved mascot of IIUM’s Abu Hurairah Club, a student-led animal rescue NGO.
The club cares for campus strays by maintaining over 100 feeding stations and providing the animals with medical care.
“Labun was the first cat we rescued. We call him the legend. And he is the first cat with a metric card at IIUM!” said Zarinah Jan Yusof Khan, the club’s advisor.
The Abu Hurairah Club, named after one of Prophet Muhammad’s companions known for his love of cats, was officially founded in 2019. It has rescued over 500 cats and 10 dogs.
But beyond rescue work, the club’s true mission is to create awareness and compassion towards animals.
“We have many students in the club who were actually afraid of cats,” said Zarinah, a senior lecturer at IIUM. “But when they join our programmes, they become cat lovers, and come to assist us. This is what we want to do – create compassion.”
The club also emphasises responsible treatment of animals, drawing from Islamic teachings and universal values. “Across all religions, we have to take care of the animals – they are our obligation,” Zarinah, a cat lover and rescuer herself, explained. “If you don’t like them, you don’t abuse them. If you can’t afford to take care of them, we can. But do not abuse them.”
The club’s dedication has earned them international recognition. In 2020, it received the Regional Centre of Expertise Award, acknowledged by Unesco, for its Greater Gombak Animal Shelter Project.
Two years later, it was honoured with the Highly Commended Award for Benefiting Society under the International Green Gown Sustainability Awards.
Students had been secretly rescuing injured animals since 2006, but were prohibited from setting up a formal club. Everything changed, however, when cat-lover and animal rescuer Zarinah returned from teaching abroad, using her voice to fight for approval. With her backing, the club was finally approved.
Their work soon caught the attention of a fellow cat rescuer who personally built them a shelter on campus grounds.
Now, with university support, the club has organised national cat shows, partnered with the Turkish Embassy for expert talks, and are even working with a Malaysian minister to push animal welfare policies in Parliament.
Their goal? To make animal welfare clubs compulsory in all universities and schools. “We should be starting at the university and school level to create awareness among students and to be compassionate toward the animals,” said Zarinah.
With over 300 cats on campus, managing their welfare is no small task. The club works with various faculties to care for the animals, implementing a structured trap-neuter-release system to control the population.
“We also make sure that we tag them and we vaccinate them yearly,” Zarinah said. The other faculties have their own designated cats, with students taking responsibility for their care. These cats also serve as therapy animals, offering students a place to unwind and de-stress.
With rising mental health concerns, the club has found that interacting with animals provides a much-needed emotional outlet. “Playing with the cats, coming here to clean the shelter, feed them, clean wounds – it’s like therapy for them,” Zarinah shared.
Weekend volunteer sessions allow students to bond over their love for animals. “Students nowadays are always lonely. These programmes give them friends they can talk to,” Zarinah elaborated.
Looking ahead, the club envisions a dedicated cat therapy garden on campus – not just for students but to raise awareness and educate the wider community about responsible pet care.
With every purr and playful paw, the Abu Hurairah Club is not just changing lives on campus – they’re inspiring a future where every animal is treated with the love and respect it deserves.