SIMPLE FAREWELL TO ISDEV POST DOCTORAL FELLOW

Dr Bibi Hamida Sayed (right) giving her parting speech

31 May - A simple “Fare Thee Well” was held on 28 May, 2013 at the Meeting Room of C05 in honour of ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Bibi Hamida Sayed. Both Dr. Bibi and her husband Abdur Raheem, were given the opportunity to deliver a short but heartfelt parting speech to all ISDEV members present.

Dr. Bibi Hamida is an Assistant Professor and teaches the Arabic Language at the J.C.W Peshawar University  in Pakistan. She was attached to ISDEV for her Post Doctoral Fellowship for almost a year embarking on a research on "The Need to Adapt Islamic Literature as Per Modern Contemporary Trends".

Dr Bibi's husband Abdur Raheem (standing) saying his goodbyes in Urdu

Brother Taha (standing) translating Abdur Raheem's  speech

It is hoped that her findings and scholarly writings of her research had not only be of benefit to the academia world but to the entire Muslim community at large.

A solemn atmosphere at C05 upon hearing the farewell wishes

Dr Bibi Hamida would always be welcomed at ISDEV with open arms. ISDEV is indeed grateful that there is a relentless stream of candidates aspiring to be part of ISDEV through the ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow programme which has a focus intention to spread the beauty of Islam though the academic route.

ISDEV Director, Prof. Syukri presenting Dr Bibi with gifts from the heart

With the existence of this bond of ukhuwwah (brotherhood), a gift from the heart by way of a commemorative souvenir was presented by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh to Dr. Bibi Hamida Sayed.

A NAS A WEEK - 16 RAJAB 1434H

And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness [al-Dhariyat,51:18].

ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION - MAY 2013

A captive audience at the DPU of USM

23 May –The ISDEV Monthly Supervision for May 2013 was held at the University Conference Hall (DPU) of Universiti Sains Malaysia on 17 May, 2013. The focus of this month’s graduate supervision was on the “Mini-INGRAW 2012” (ISDEV International Graduate Workshop).

Dr Fadzila Azni (left) chairing the "Tarbiyah Pengarah"

The program started at 9.30am sharp with the “Tarbiyah Pengarah” delivered by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh. Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad served as the Chairperson for this session.

Prof. Syukri Salleh delivering his "Tazkirah Pengarah"

The “Tarbiyah Pengarah” emphasized on the importance of ‘Menikmati Kaedah Hati ke Hati’ (Benefitting from the Heart to Heart Method). In his Tazkirah, Prof. Syukri firstly gave an introduction on the term “Nikmat” and the importance of muhasabah (reflections) to assess how far the “Nikmat” has been achieved. Prof. Syukri also took the time to outline several factors such as habl min Allah (relationship with Allah SWT), relationship with one’s parents and/or spouse, relationship with one’s teachers and one’s qalb (heart) as important factors for this “Nikmat” to be achieved and felt by all members of ISDEV.

Four of the five presenters with Ustaz Shahir Akram (right)

After the “Tarbiyah Pengarah” session, the “Mini-INGRAW 2012” saw five students presenting their working papers. INGRAW is an annual conference jointly organized by ISDEV and the Institute of Postgraduate Studies, USM which is mandatory for ISDEV students to participate. As such working papers which were not in receipt within the stipulated dateline of INGRAW 2012 or newly registered students of ISDEV who wanted to present their working papers were given the opportunity to present at the “Mini-INGRAW 2012”. Ustaz Shahir Akram served as the Chairperson for this session.

Mini-INGRAW 2012 in session

The rationale afforded for this “Mini-INGRAW 2012” is so that all students are given equal opportunity to present their working papers before an audience simultaneously helping students to gain some useful information, sharing of ideas and most importantly the opportunity to improve their papers for publication purposes.

A NAS A WEEK - 9 RAJAB 1434H

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: That the Prophet said, "No Caliph is appointed but has two groups of advisors: One group advises him to do good and urges him to adopt it, and the other group advises him to do bad and urges him to adopt it; and the protected is the one whom Allah protects." [Hadith from the translation of Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 75: The Book of al-Qadar (Devine Preordainment), Chapter 4, Hadith Number 2140]

MEDAN, INDONESIA: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

ISDEV members at the waiting bay before boarding the flight

13 May - The journey of ISDEV academic expedition began on 21st April, 2013 until 27th April, 2013. A total of 51-strong delegation from ISDEV led by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh left for Medan Indonesia.

ISDEV - A strong presence felt at WAPI-6

Participants of WAPI-6 posing with Prof. Syukri (centre)

The first task was on the 22nd April 2013, where all the delegates presented their respective papers in the 6th International Workshop on Islamic-based Development (WAPI-6) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU).

The well attended "ICID the 5th" at the Conference Room of Hotel Madani

On the 23rd April 2013, ISDEV delegates then attended the 5th International Conference on Islamic Development (ICID the 5th) that was held at the Conference Room of Hotel Madani, Medan with the theme on Islamizing Development (Islamisasi Pembangunan).

Prof. Syukri Salleh delivering his opening remarks

Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh delivered the opening remarks with the prologue on "Islamizing the Thoughts on Development" (Islamisasi Pemikiran Pembangunan).

Authors of Chapters in the book "Politik Pembangunan Islam"

In addition to this conference, the launch of the book entitled ‘Politik Pembangunan Islam’ by Dr. Warjio took place during the opening ceremony of this conference.

The book launch of 'Manusia Menurut Hidayah al-Quran' at UMA

A group photo at the end of the book launch session at UMA

Then on 24th April, 2013, ISDEV delegations were also invited to Universitas Medan Area (UMA) to witness the launch of another book entitled ‘Manusia Menurut Hidayah Al-Quran’ by Haji Ismet Junus, the Director of UMA Islamic Centre. This networking between UMA and ISDEV USM is hoped to continue and strengthened in the near future.

A place to remember by ISDEV delegates - The beautiful and serene Danau Toba

The next day was a trip in the form of an academic tour to Parapat, Danau Toba. All passionate ISDEV delegations went to Parapat, Danau Toba on 25th April 2013 to experience the beauty of nature and strengthened the ukhuwwah (brotherhood) with one another. The experience and knowledge gained by the delegates on this tour were indeed priceless. ISDEV delegates also managed to visit Pulau Tomok, Samosir for sightseeing.

Razali receiving the award from Almarhum Dr Suhrawardi's wife, Puan Latifah

In a tribute to Almarhum Dr Suhrawardi, ISDEV introduced the "Dr. Suhrawardi Award" for the best paper presented at WAPI-6. This year, the award went to Encik Razali Othman and Puan Khatijah Othman.

An act of sealing ukhuwwah.
 Congregational solat followed by a Tazkirah every subh and maghrib

The seven day academic expedition was a success. All the delegates experienced a whole new perspective on being a traveler (musafir) and the strong ukhuwwah felt among one another was sealed  further during this trip.

A NAS A WEEK - 2 RAJAB 1434

Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do [al-Saf, 61:3].

MISDEV'12 PRESENTS PROPOSAL DISSERTATIONS

A mixture of intensity yet calmness was felt in the Meeting Room of C05

10 May - When it comes to the end of the semester, each student would be busy with final assignments and preparations for the final examinations. The same goes with ISDEV Master students (MISDEV’12). The last three weeks of this month is akin to a nightmare to all of them because each of them will be presenting the proposal of their dissertations.

Mohd Hafez Sabri (left) presenting his proposal

For the first week, a total of 6 students had presented their dissertations. They were Mohd Hafez Sabri, Surita Hartini Mat Hassan, Farah Farhana Johari, Rhodhiyah Johari, Mohd Syahmi Mohd Miswan and Nurul Nadiah Md. Salleh.

  

Farah Farhana presenting her proposal

Their proposal presentations which was held at the Meeting Room of C05 started at 10am and only ended after 1pm. This group of MISDEV’12 students presented their dissertation proposals in front of their supervisors as well as three other ISDEV lecturers who all acted as evaluators. ISDEV lecturers freely gave their comments and suggestions on how the students in each of the proposal presented could improve their research as well as their dissertations proper.

Shahmir (right) posing a question 

The evaluators for the session consisted of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr.Zakaria Bahari, and ISDEV lecturers Dr. Fadzila Azni as well as Dr. Zahri Hamat. The remaining 11 candidates will be presenting their dissertations on May 15 and May 22.

A NAS A WEEK - 26 JUMADAL AKHIR 1434

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah () said, "The believer who recites the Qur'an is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is delicious. A believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date-fruit which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste. The hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like basil whose fragrance is so sweet, but its taste is bitter. The hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a colocynth which has no fragrance and its taste is bitter." [Hadith from Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Book 9, Hadith Number 995].

WAN NORHANIZA WINS THE PRESTIGIOUS PERSADA KENCANA AWARD

Wan Nor Haniza Wan Hasan approaching USM VC,
Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman to receive her award

3 May - Wan Norhaniza Wan Hassan, ISDEV’s PhD student (or RISDEV) recently received the “Anugerah Persada Kencana- Penyelidikan Terbaik PhD Sastera Tulen” (The Persada Kencana Award – Best PhD Research (Pure Arts)) during the ‘Majlis Persada Kencana’ held at Dewan Budaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia on Thursday 11 April, 2013. She received the award in recognition of her academic excellence and the huge potential of her research.

Wan Norhaniza (centre) with ISDEV lecturers, student and research assistant
(from right to left) Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Shereeza and Nur Inani

According to Wan Norhaniza, this award was totally unexpected to her. Nonetheless she is grateful to Allah SWT and described the acknowledgement as a sign of recognition of her research area. She also added that the award given to her is extremely meaningful and she valued the trust that has been placed on her by the university. She is currently conducting a research on ‘Indeks Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam’ (Islamic-based Development Index). This research is expected to ensure that the development that is said to be Islamic-based does not exhibit the characteristics of a conventional development.

The backdrop of the Anugerah Persada Kencana

Wan Norhaniza received a plaque, certificate and cash. The award was presented by USM Vice Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman. The event was officiated by the Deputy Minister for Higher Learning, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.