NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMME - MASTER OF ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

The Senate of Universiti Sains Malaysia in its 188th meeting on 13 December 2007 had approved a new graduate programme related to Islamic Development Management, the Master of Islamic Development Management (Mixed Mode). It will be offered by the School of Social Sciences beginning 2008/09 Academic Session (July 2008). Application for a place in the programme is now opened. The details of the programme are as follows:

Master of Islamic Development Management

The Master of Islamic Development management Program is offered by the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The aim of the program is to train and prepare students to manage development the Islamic way. It is the first academic program that integrates the Islamic-based fields of development and management in a holistic way.

Prospective Candidates

The program is trans-disciplinary in nature and as such can be pursued by candidates from various fields of study, whether from the art-based disciplines such as management, development, economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, geography, literature and others, and from the science-based disciplines or from the field of Islamic studies itself.

Entry Requirement

• Good Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university in various fields; or
• Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university in various fields plus relevant work experience

Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV)

Candidates who have been accepted into the program will have the opportunity to benefit from the existence of, utilize the facilities offered by, and participate in activities organized by the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) which pioneers this field of Islamic Development Management.

Duration of the Program

The Master of Islamic Development Management Program is offered on a full time basis. The minimum duration of study for the program is 3 semesters (18 months) and maximum 6 semesters (36 months).

Graduation Requirement

To graduate from the program, each candidate must accumulate forty (40) credit hours which comprise four (4) compulsory courses consisting of sixteen (16) credit hours, one (1) elective course consisting of four (4) credit hours, and a dissertation which carries twenty (20) credit hours.

Compulsory Courses

• Islamic Tasawur and Epistemology
• Islamic Development Management
• Islamic Research Methodology
• Human Capital Development

Elective Courses

• Management Methods for Development
• Islamic-based Development Strategy
• Islamic Asset and Fund Development

Awarding of Degree

Candidates who have successfully fulfilled all of the above-mentioned requirements will be awarded a Master of Social Sciences (Islamic Development Management) degree.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Director
Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV)
School of Social Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Penang
Malaysia

Tel: (6)-04-653 2656 / 653 4601 / 653 3876
Faks: (6)-04-653 2124
Email: syukri@usm.my
www.isdev.usm.my

APPLICATION

Dean
Institute of Graduate Studies (IPS)
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Pulau Pinang
Malaysia

Tel: (6)-04-653 2941 / 2942 / 2944 / 2945 / 2946 / 2947 / 2948
Fax: (04-653 2940
Email: dean_ips@notes.usm.my
www.ips.usm.my

LECTURES ON BUMIPUTRAISM AND CONVERSION ISSUES FOR NORWAY STUDENTS

A total of 32 students from University of Agder and Bergen University College in Norway will be at ISDEV on Thursday, 24 January 2008. Led by Associate Professor Levi Geir Eidhamar of the University of Agder, these students of "Religion in Asia" study programme will follow a series of lectures on Bumiputraism and Conversion Issues in Malaysia. The lectures will be delivered by Associate Professor Ahmad Haji Muhammad (Deputy Dean of the School of Distance Education) and Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Hatta (Social Work lecturer of the School of Social Sciences) respectively. The lectures will be followed by a dialogue session.

Last year, on 5-6 February 2007, ISDEV has also hosted a group of students from the same Universities and study programme. In order to have a continuos and formal smart partnership, University of Agder as coordinator of the programme has suggested a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISDEV. ISDEV is studying the MoU at the moment.

SET FOR 2ND ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT SEMINAR: ISLAMIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, 6 FEBRUARY 2008

Preparation for the Second Islamic Development Management Seminar to be held on 6 February 2008 is almost completed. A total of 27 abstracts on the Seminar's theme, the Islamic Research Methodology, have been received. All full papers are expected to reach ISDEV on 31 January 2007.

Due to Chinese New Year public holiday, the duration of the Seminar has been reduced from two days (6-7 February 2008) to only one day (6 February 2008), with three concurrent sessions. The venue has also been moved from University Conference Hall to University Institute of Graduate Studies.

Some of the abstracts are as follows:

1

KAEDAH PENYELIDIKAN BERTERASKAN ISLAM:

KEPERLUAN, KEDUDUKAN DAN HALA TUJU

Profesor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh

ISDEV, Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan

Universiti Sains Malaysia

syukri@usm.my

http://www.geocities.com/muhammadsyukri

Tel: 04-653 2656 / 4601/ 3422

Faks: 04- 653 2124

Ucaputama ini membahaskan tiga perkara utama. Pertama ialah sebab-sebab betapa perlunya kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam dibina. Kedua ialah kedudukan kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam sekarang. Dan ketiga ialah halatuju kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam. Dalam perkara pertama akan dihujahkan bahawa kaedah penyelidikan lazim yang dominan dan banyak dipakai sekarang sebenarnya tidak sesuai dipakai untuk kajian berkaitan Islam, tidak mempunyai alat analisis yang cukup dan membahayakan aqidah. Itulah sebabnya kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam perlu dibina. Dalam perkara kedua pula akan dihujahkan bahawa usaha membina kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam sebenarnya sudah bermula tetapi masih banyak tertumpu kepada aspek falsafah yang lebih berbentuk ofensif dan defensif daripada berbentuk konstruktif dan presentif, aspek teknikal sangat kurang sekali ditumpukan, dan ahli akademik pengajian Islam agak tertarik menggunakan kaedah penyelidikan lazim ketika ahli-ahli akademik di luar daripada pengajian Islam cuba kembali menggali dan membina kaedah penyelidikan yang berteraskan Islam sendiri. Dalam perkara ketiga pula akan dihujahkan bahawa dalam membina kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam, perlulah dikenalpasti dan dibezakan antara perkara-perkara qat`i yang sudah tidak perlu dikaji lagi dengan perkara-perkara dzanni yang masih perlu dikaji, perlulah dilakukan peralihan tumpuan daripada aspek falsafah semata kepada aspek teknikal, dan perlulah dibina kaedah penyelidikan berteraskan Islam secara holistik dan berterusan, bukan hanya secara serpihan dan berkala.

2
MANHAJ AL-SYA’RAWI DALAM MENTAFSIR AYAT-AYAT

MENGENAI KISAH ASHABUL KAHFI

Yuseri bin Ahmad

Fakulti Kepimpinan dan Pengurusan

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia,

Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800, Nilai

Negeri Sembilan.

yuseri@usim.edu.my

abusyifa@hotmail.com.

No.Tel : 06-7988672

No. Fax : 06-7988244

No.H/p : 019-6139515

Kertas kerja ini membincangkan tentang manhaj atau metodologi yang diguna oleh Syeikh Mutawalli al-Sya’rawi dalam mentafsir ayat-ayat al-Quran yang menceritakan tentang kisah Ashabul Kahfi dalam surah al-Kahfi. Al-Sya’rawi merupakan seorang ulama’ terkenal dari Mesir dan merupakan seorang tokoh Tafsir al-Quran zaman moden yang gemar menggunakan pendekatan ilmu-ilmu moden dalam mentafsirkan ayat-ayat al-Quran khususnya dalam kitab tafsirnya yang bertajuk Tafsir Al-Sya’rawi. Kisah Ashabul Kahfi dipilih sebagai topik perbincangan dalam kertas kerja ini kerana ia berkait rapat dengan soal akidah dan keimanan yang jitu terhadap kekuasaan Allah swt dalam menghidup dan mematikan manusia. Persoalan tentang pemantapan akidah menjadi sangat penting kerana ia merupakan benteng dalaman bagi seorang manusia muslim untuk mengelakkan dirinya dari terlibat dengan maksiat dan dosa seperti yang telah diceritakan oleh Allah tentang Ashabul Kahfi ini. Fokus utama dalam kertas kerja ini ialah membongkar tentang manhaj yang telah digunakan oleh Al-Sya’rawi dalam menghurai, menyelidik dan mentafsir ayat-ayat kisah Ashabul Kahfi. Di dalam tafsirannya, al-Sya’rawi gemar menggunakan pendekatan akal, logik dan perbandingan supaya memudahkan pembaca memahami sesuatu ayat di samping menambahkan tahap keimanan pembaca terhadap Allah swt.

3

PENYELIDIK DAN PENYELIDIKAN: SATU TAFSIRAN ISLAM SEMASA

Ir. Ahmad Jais Alias dan Nor Azaruddin Husni Nuruddin

Pusat Perundingan dan Latihan

Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Tradisi menyelidik adalah satu tradisi keilmuan di dalam Islam, yang bertunjangkan kepada Keimanan kepada Allah SWT dan Rukun-Rukun Iman yang lain. Sejarah Peradaban Islam amat kaya dengan kisah-kisah kesarjanaan Ilmuan Islam, di dalam usaha dan pengembaraan mereka meneroka persada ilmu yang luas, sehingga menghasilkan sumbangan yang amat bermakna di dalam sejarah kemanusiaan. Kertas ini cuba menyingkap apakah rahsia keunggulan penyelidikan sarjana dan ilmuan Islam silam, dan mengemukakan faktor-faktor yang menyumbang kepada keunggulan penyelidikan di dalam sejarah peradaban Islam. Di dalam Islam, penyelidikan adalah usaha dan jihad untuk mencari Ilmu dan Hakikat, yang membawa manusia kepada kebenaran dan keluhuran di dalam kehidupan. Para ilmuan sentiasa mendapat dorongan dan motivasi dari faham mereka terhadap pandangan hidup muslim, bersumberkan Wahyu, Khabar yang benar, pengamatan pancaindera dan ilham. Bertolak dari dorongan dan matlamat yang benar ini, maka terjelma di dalam proses dan kaedah penyelidikan mereka, yang penuh beretika, jujur, mementingkan ketepatan fakta dan makna, kejelasan susur-galur sumber, dan keselarasan dengan syara’ di dalam usaha-usaha penyelidikan mereka. Kertas ini akan cuba membahaskan ciri-ciri penyelidik cemerlang, dan beberapa panduan melakukan penyelidikan, agar tidak terpesong daripada kerangka penyelidikan berlandaskan Islam.

4
KAEDAH PENYELIDIKAN ISLAM DALAM BIDANG KETAMADUNAN MENURUT IBN KHALDUN

Abd. Wahid Jais & Faezah Kassim

Seksyen Kokurikulum, Elektif & TITAS (SKET)

Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur

Ibn Khaldun merupakan tokoh dan pengasas dalam meletakkan laporan-laporan sejarah tamadun di bawah dua ”ujian” iaitu ”ujian kemunasabahan menurut akal” (logik akal) dan ”ujian undang-undang sosial dan fizikal yang diperhatikan” (aplikasi dan realiti). Beliau memulakan pengajian ketamadunan secara kritikal misalnya melalui analisis ke atas tamadun manusia, permulaannya, perkembangan dan faktor-faktor yang membawa kepada kejatuhannya. Beliau dikatakan telah mencipta ilmu historiologi atau analisis dan kajian ketamadunan dengan pandangan-pandangan yang baru. Ini telah menarik perhatian sarjana Islam dan pemikir Barat untuk membincang dan membahaskan pengajian dan analisis beliau. Berhubung dengan kaedah penyelidikan, Ibn Khaldun menekankan tentang perlunya perkara-perkara kemasyarakatan dan peristiwa sejarah diberi analisis secara saintifik dan objektif. Kertas kerja ini akan membincangkan pandangan dan hujah Ibn Khaldun dalam membina bidang ilmu ketamadunan yang utuh terutamanya untuk pemantapan penyelidikan dalam bidang ini. Fokus perbincangan akan menjurus kepada kefahaman yang tepat dan absah melalui pemerhatian terhadap tiga perkara penting menurut beliau iaitu tidak berprasangka, memeriksa dan mengesahkan laporan-laporan dan tidak membataskan kepada kajian sejarah politik dan pemerintahan sahaja.

5
ETIKA DALAM PENYELIDIKAN LAZIM: SATU ANALISIS DARIPADA PERSPEKTIF ISLAM

Dr. Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar,

ISDEV, Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang

Beretika merupakan satu prinsip penting dalam pengkaedahan penyelidikan. Prinsip etika merupakan norma penyelidikan yang dapat meletakkan nilai moral bagi memisahkan perkara yang hak dengan perkara yang bathil. Selain itu etika juga merupakan satu kaedah, prosedur, dan perspektif untuk penentuan tata cara bertindak dan tata cara menganalisis sesuatu permasalahan atau isu. Dalam perbincangan isu etika penyelidikan, terdapat kod dan dasar-dasar tertentu sebagai piawainya. Kertas kerja ini akan memberikan tumpuan kepada kod dan dasar-dasar yang menjadi piawai utama etika dalam penyelidikan lazim. Antaranya ialah Kejujuran, Objectiviti, Integriti, berhati-hati (ketelitian), keterbukaan, menghormati harta intelek, menjaga kerahsiaan, bertanggungjawab dalam penerbitan, ada tanggungjawab sosial, tiada diskriminasi, kompentansi, menghormati hak subjek kajian (eg. Haiwan, alam sekitar), mematuhi undang-undang dan peraturan dan perlindungan kepada manusia yang menjadi subjek kajian. Kod etika ini akan dianalisis daripada perspektif Islam sebagai sebahagian daripada langkah awal ke arah pembinaan etika penyelidikan Islam yang menjadi sebagai sub komponen kepada kaedah penyelidikan Islam.

6
PENGUKURAN PENGHAYATAN ISLAM YANG BERSIFAT HOLISTIK BERTERASKAN AL-QURAN DAN AS-SUNNAH

Shaik Abdullah Bin Hassan Mydin

Pusat Pengajian Pendidikan Jarak Jauh

Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang

abdullah@usm.my

Kertas kerja ini bertujuan membincangkan pengukuran penghayatan Islam yang sering disalahfahami oleh kebanyakan ilmuan bahawa “pengukuran penghayatan Islam” adalah suatu yang abstrak dan tidak dapat digunakan untuk mengukur perkara-perkara yang bersifat zahir sepertimana yang ditekankan dalam kaedah penyelidikan lazim.Hal ini adalah kerana kaedah penyelidikan lazim sangat menekankan aspek – aspek yang bersifat luaran yang boleh dilihat, disentuh dan dirasai. Namun begitu, ramai yang tidak sedar bahawa kaedah penyelidikan Islam bukan sahaja menekankan pengukuran aspek-aspek zahir malah pengukuran aspek-aspek zahir dapat membantu menilai aspek-aspek yang bersifat abstrak seperti iman dan taqwa.Hakikat ini telah dikupas secara menyeluruh dalam sumber rujukan Islam yang bersifat mutlak iaitu Al-Quran dan As-Sunnah. Diharap penulisan kertas kerja ini dapat membantu memperbetulkan persepsi yang salah bahawa kaedah penyelidikan Islam sangat bersifat abstrak dan kurang relevan dalam konteks penyelidikan kontemporari.Hasil kertas kerja ini mudah-mudahan memberi gambaran yang jelas tentang pengukuran penghayatan Islam yang bersifat holistik yang menekankan aspek-aspek zahir yang secara tidak langsung memberi gambaran tentang aspek-aspek yang bersifat spiritual seperti iman dan taqwa.

7
METODOLOGI PENYELIDIKAN ULAMA NUSANTARA DALAM

PENULISAN PERUBATAN MELAYU: KAJIAN TERHADAP

MANUSKRIP KITAB TIBB PONTIANAK

Faisal @ Ahmad Faisal Bin Abdul Hamid &

Nurulwahidah Binti Fauzi

Jabatan Sejarah Dan Tamadun Islam,

Akademi Pengajian Islam,

Universiti Malaya.

016-6659502

Ulama Islam Nusantara telah menghasilkan banyak karya dalam pelbagai bidang antaranya di dalam bidang feqah, ibadat, syariah, usuluddin dan termasuklah dalam bidang perubatan. Penggunaan metode observasi dan pengalaman peribadi lebih banyak diaplikasikan terutama dalam menulis karya perubatan Melayu. Metode ini amat berkesan untuk mencari keserasian antara ramuan herba dengan penyakit yang terdapat pada tubuh badan manusia. Kertas kerja ini juga akan cuba mengupas teori keseimbangan antara panas, sejuk, basah, dan kering sebagai titik keseimbangan untuk mengekalkan kesihatan tubuh manusia. Sebagai sample kajian ini kami memilih Kitab Tibb karangan Haji Ismail bin Haji Mustafa Pontianak untuk melihat metode yang digunakan oleh beliau. Secara ringkasnya, kitab perubatan Islam boleh dianggap agak lengkap berbanding kitab-kitab perubatan yang lain kerana tulisannya agak jelas untuk dibaca dan terang. Setiap penyakit dibahagikan mengikut bab-bab dan di dalam setiap bab dibezakan cara pengubatan atau petua-petua. Kitab ini menerangkan lebih 16 jenis penyakit dan selesai dikarang pada 4 tahun Hijrah Zulkaedah bertarikh 1325M. Diantara jenis-jenis penyakit yang disenaraikan ialah ubat sakit perut, ubat sakit sembelit, ubat majan, ubat meroyan, ubat kembong, ubat senggugut dan lain-lain lagi. Selebihnya juga, kertas ini akan membincangkan metode penyelidikan yang digunakan oleh ulama Melayu silam dalam kitab perubatan beliau dengan lebih lengkap lagi.

8
RESEARCH IN FIQH MUAMALAT- ISLAMIC BANKING:

TRIBULATIONS AND DISCOVERIES

Syahidawati binti Haji Shahwan

Area of Fiqh Muamalat is an essential foundation for a Muslim financier to involve further in depth in any field of Islamic Banking and Finance. Regardless of any fields that a banker, academician or a financier did in their undergraduates, once a person gets involved in the Islamic banking field, s/he needs to understand and to really follow the roots of Fiqh Muamalat. Therefore, there are many studies, researches, writings and articles on Fiqh Muamalat that can assist and counter this demand. The duo-involvement and collaboration of those who are expert in Fiqh Muamalat and those who are well-versed in the field of banking will produce a stable and concrete foundation for the good establishment of Fiqh Muamalat ideology in Malaysia. This paper, therefore, intends to discover a few aspects pertaining to research in Fiqh Muamalat. The pre-determined aspects are related to the process of data collection, problems in conducting survey, possible approach of research methodology and the final analysis that might lead a researcher to extend the research time period. This article is written based on personal experience of the writer and other researchers in similar fields with prior discussion and recommendation from them.

9
THE CONCEPT OF E-DAKWAH AND ITS APPLICATION

IN ISLAMIC MALAYSIAN’S NGOS

Muhamad Faisal Ashaari

Department of Dakwah and Leadership

Faculty of Islamic Studies

UKM.

faisal@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my

The rapid escalating of the virtual technology in this modern world has caught the attention of many Muslim scholars and Muslim technologists. Therefore, the dakwah has potential to spread widely around the world via this technology with a click in a small room and not necessary to meet people face to face. E-dakwah is different with other Islamic online applications due to the focus of e-dakwah is to call people to Allah, to give them awareness about hereafter (al-akhirat), to encourage people to perform amal soleh, to remind them the hazard of syirik and so on. This study tries to get conceptual frame work of e-dakwah and to analyze of its application in Malaysian Islamic NGO.

10
TEKNIK DELPHI DALAM PENYELIDIKAN

PENDIDIKAN BERTERASKAN ISLAM

Zaharah Hussin

Jabatan Asas Pendidikan dan Kemanusiaan

Fakulti Pendidikan

Universiti Malaya

zaharah@um.edu.my / zaharah.hussin@gmail.com

Kertas kerja ini akan membincangkan tentang teknik Delphi sebagai salah satu alternatif dalam penyelidikan pendidikan berteraskan Islam. Ia diperkenalkan sebagai salah satu teknik penyelidikan oleh Olaf Holmer dan Norman Dalkey dari RAND Corporation pada tahun 1953 ( Lang 2000). Laporan RAND Corporation kemudiannya menyatakan bahawa teknik ini mula berkembang luas dalam kepelbagaian disiplin ilmu menerusi penulisan-penulisan artikel dan jurnal-jurnal . Untuk itu, pembentang akan membincangkan tentang pelaksanaan teknik tersebut dan kegunaannya dalam penyelidikan pendidikan berteraskan Islam. Di samping turut mendedahkan pengalaman peribadi dalam mengaplikasi teknik tersebut dalam penyelidikan beliau.

11
KAEDAH PENYELIDIKAN BERTERASKAN ISLAM DALAM KAJIAN PENGHAYATAN AGAMA

Nor Salimah Abu Mansor

Jabatan Dakwah dan Antropologi

Fakulti Pengajian Kontemporari Islam

Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (UDM)

Kampus KUSZA
Tel: 09-6664466 ext:3871/3701

Mobile: 019-9147441

norsalimah@udm.edu.my

Di Malaysia, kajian berkaitan penghayatan agama mula diberi perhatian khususnya selepas dekad-dekad kebangkitan Islam sekitar era 1980an. Namun, kebanyakan kajian di peringkat awal hanyalah bersifat konseptual sahaja. Sekitar penghujung 1990an barulah kajian yang bersifat lapangan mula dilakukan. Kajian-kajian tersebut adalah seperti kajian oleh Hatta Shaharom et. al. yang menghasilkan skala pengukuran Hatta, Jamiah Manap, Khairul Anwar Mastor et. al, Azimi Hamzah et. al dan lain-lain. Kebanyakan penyelidik yang disenaraikan menggunakan metodologi penyelidikan konvensional dalam mengukur keberagamaan responden sebagaimana pengukuran yang digunakan oleh pengkaji religiosity Barat seperti Thouless seawal 1935 dari perspektif agama Kristian. Walau bagaimanapun penyelidik religiositi di Malaysia yang menyelidik takat keberagamaan menggunakan instrumen yang dibangunkan menerusi kajian kepustakaan dan temubual elit dengan pakar-pakar atau sarjana Islam berdasarkan dimensi keberagamaan menurut perspektif Islam. Namun demikian, terdapat beberapa aspek yang perlu ditambah baik untuk menghasilkan penyelidikan yang berjaya menyingkap takat penghayatan agama atau keberagamaan sebenar seseorang semampu yang boleh berdasarkan prinsip nahnu nahkum bi al-zawahir yang diamalkan dalam sunnah Rasulullah s.a.w.

12
PRINSIP-PRINSIP ASAS ILMU PENYELIDIKAN DALAM ISLAM

Ustaz Ahmad Kilani bin Mohamed,

Dr. Nurullah KURT

Pusat Pengajian Islam Dan Pembangunan Sosial

Normala binti Hashim

Fakulti Kejuruteraan Awam

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

81310 UTM Skudai

Johor Darul Takzim

Tel: 07-5535061

Fax: 07-5535101

Mel-E: kilani@utm.my

Kilani7007@yahoo.com

Ilmu penyelidikan yang dianjurkan oleh Islam adalah ilmu yang bersandarkan kepada bukti atau hujah. Oleh itu para ulama’ Islam tidak menerima taklid sebagai ilmu. Taklid merupakan ikutan kepada pendirian orang lain tanpa bukti atau hujah. Artikel ini akan membincangkan prinsip-prinsip asas ilmu penyelidikan dalam Islam. Prinsip yang dimaksudkan adalah merangkumi, pertama: Pembentukan pemikiran ilmiah dengan tidak menerima sesuatu idea yang diketengahkan sebagai benar kecuali adanya bukti yang kukuh. Kedua: Menganjurkan kaedah pengumpulan data secara kuantitatif. Ketiga: Penyelidikan mesti berasaskan perancangan awal yang mengambil kira ramalan masa depan. Keempat: Menerima uji kaji sebagai logik dalam perkara yang berkaitan dengan pengalaman manusia. Kelima: Menerima pakai pandangan pakar. Keenam: Menerima segala ilmu yang bermanfaat walaupun sumbernya daripada mereka yang bukan beragama Islam. Ketujuh: Menolak sebagai ilmu perkara yang dianggap khurafat dan kelapan: Ilmu perubatan adalah contoh penerimaan baginda Rasulullah, ilmu yang berasaskan uji kaji.

13
IMPROVING THE CONTENT ANALYSIS METHOD IN HISTORICAL STUDY

USING ISLAMIC RESEARCH APPROACH

Dr Hussain Othman

Pusat Pengajian Kemanusiaan dan Komunikasi

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia

Batu Pahat, Johor

“History is not a science; it is a method (procédé de connaissance)”, said Charles Seifnobos. This remark warned us from oversimplifying the methodological aspects of historical study. Unfortunately, most of the western scholars had simplified the used of content analysis method in studying the history of the Malay Muslims particularly their textual legacies. This resulted in the misconception and misunderstanding of historical perspectives of the local Muslim people. The basics of content analysis method are coding, categorizing, classifying, comparing and concluding. It generally combines qualitative (defining the categories) and quantitative (determining numbers within categories) aspects. Oftentimes this method is successfully implemented on the study of historical data and contemporary events compiled in common language. However, it was unable to explore further the historical contents compiled in symbolic language such as myths and legends. Hence, this paper is intended to discuss how a proper Islamic approach could be used to improve the content analysis method so that the symbolic contents of history could be properly explained. This Islamic approach comprises twofold understanding – tafsir and ta’wil and it was founded based on the Quranic perspectives. In order to see how this approach could be implemented, this study has selected a number of historical contents compiled in the classical Malay historical texts to be analysed. Finding revealed that this approach has successfully improved the using of content analysis in historical study. Proper historical perspectives were also uncovered from the classical texts of history. Some suggestions have been made in order to develop a proper Islamic content analysis method.

14

PENYELIDIKAN DAN PENGKARYAAN: KES PRINSIP, KAEDAH DAN GAYA (PKG) DALAM PENGKARYAAN DAN TERBITAN ILMIAH DI MALAYSIA

Hasrom bin Haron

Pegawai Penerbitan

Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia

Kuala Terengganu

Tel 017-880-2231 / 09-665-3615

Emel: hasrom2006@yahoo.com.my

Karya ilmiah adalah hasil langsung sesuatu penyelidikan ilmiah, sama ada penyelidikan tulen atau gunaan. Amalan terbaik dalam penulisan dan penerbitan ilmiah akan memberi kesan atau dampak (impact) tinggi sesuatu terbitan dan penyelidikan asal dan primari. Matlamat utama pengkaryaan atau penulisan ilmiah ialah memajukan ilmu pengetahuan dengan membentangkan sesuatu persoalan kajian ilmiah yang baru dan asli dengan memakai kaedah, prinsip dan gaya yang tertentu dan formal. Prinsip, kaedah dan gaya – PKG lazim yang dipakai adalah acuan Barat. Acuan ini dipakai oleh penulis di Malaysia dan terbitannya. Acuan PKG ini dipakai bagi memungkinkan komunikasi ilmiah dapat berjalan dengan berkesan dalam bentuk terbitan buku, monograf dan rencana ilmiah yang piawai. Kertas kerja ini akan membentangkan kepincangan PKG dalam pengkaryaan dan penulisan ilmiah. Data empikiralnya diperoleh daripada koleksi terbitan anggota Mapim – Majlis Penerbitan Ilmiah Malaysia. Data dan kes ini dipungut dari masa ke masa sebagai tugas mengupas dan menilai terbitan tersebut dengan menggunakan kayu ukur yang dibentuk khas. Dari segi teorinya kecacatan (ciri tidak lazim) dalam PKG penulisan akan menyebabkan kelemahan dan kerugian. Kerugian itu boleh melibatkan dasar penerbitan, dasar editorial, kewangan, serta pembaziran sumber. Kelemahan ini juga mengakibatkan duplikasi terbitan yang tidak membawa kemajuan dalam pengakaryaan ilmiah. Kecacatan ini adalah juga pelanggaran etika penulisan. Dalam tujuan membina suatu kaedah penyelidikan baru Islam yang pastinya akan menuju kepada penulisan ilmiah yang berkesan lagi berfaedah, maka kecacatan dan malan tidak beretika ini perlu dipadam.

15
FALSAFAH PENYELIDIKAN BERTERASKAN ISLAM:

SATU TINJAUAN AWAL

Dr Noor Shakirah Mat Akhir

Bahagian Pengajian Islam

Pusat Pengajian Ilmu Kemanusiaan

Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang

shakirah@usm.my

Penyelidikan adalah asas kepada perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan. Penyelidikan memberi maksud perbuatan memeriksa sesuatu yang belum terang, menyiasat untuk mendapat keterangan dan sebagainya tentang sesuatu. Usaha penyelidikan adalah antara yang utama dianjurkan dalam Islam. Ini dapat difahami dari wahyu pertama yang diturunkan kepada Rasulullah s.a.w. Maksud ayat 1-5 dari surah al-‘Alaq jelas menyarankan galakan menuntut ilmu. Maksud firman Allah: ”Bacalah dengan (menyebut) nama Tuhanmu yang menciptakan, Dia Telah menciptakan manusia dari segumpal darah. Bacalah, dan Tuhanmulah yang Maha pemurah,Yang mengajar (manusia) dengan perantaran qalam, Dia mengajar kepada manusia apa yang tidak diketahuinya. (Al-‘Alaq: 1-5). Dapat difahami secara tidak langsung kepentingan membuat penyelidikan kerana ilmu akan hanya diperolehi setelah berusaha dan meneliti. Selain itu, sememangnya terdapat banyak ayat-ayat al-Quran yang menjurus kepada galakan untuk memikirkan, mengamati dan menyelidiki serta melihat. Namun penyelidikan dalam Islam mempunyai falsafah tertentu dan bukanlah satu usaha yang bebas dan tidak terkawal. Artikel ini akan membincangkan falsafah kepada penyelidikan dari perspektif Islam. Perbincangan akan merangkumi aspek tasawwur (world view), epistemologi dan ontologi dari perspektif Islam sebagai asas kepada penyelidikan menurut Islam.

A NAS A WEEK - 12 MUHARRAM 1429H

[45] Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.

[al-'Ankabuut, 29:45]

A NAS A WEEK - 4 MUHARRAM 1429

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up. 1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays. 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous. 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner."

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 2: Belief, Hadith No. 33]

A NAS A WEEK - 28 DZULHIJJAH 1428

[20] These are clear evidences to men, and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith.

[al-Jaathiyah,45:20]

A NAS A WEEK - 21 DZULHIJJAH 1428

Narrated Abu Musa: Some people asked Allah's Apostle, "Whose Islam is the best? i.e. (Who is a very good Muslim)?" He replied, "One who avoids harming the Muslims with his tongue and hands."

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 2: Belief, Hadith No. 10]

A NAS A WEEK - 14 DZULHIJJAH 1428

[102] Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (the son) said: "O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one practising Patience and Constancy!"

[al-Saaffaat,37:102]

A NAS A WEEK - 7 DZULHIJJAH 1428

Narrated Al-Bara': I heard the Prophet (p.b.u.h) delivering a Khutba saying, "The first thing to be done on this day (first day of 'Id ul Adha) is to pray; and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah) and whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunna (traditions)."

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 15: The Two Festivals ('Eids), Hadith No. 71]

BUSY WEEK FOR ISDEV: THE THIRD ISDEV GRADUATE WORKSHOP & THE FIFTH ISDEV LECTURE SERIES

This week would be a quite busy week for ISDEV. Two major events will take place. The first will be the Third ISDEV Graduate Workshop to be held on 12-13 December 2007 (Wednesday and Thursday) beginning from 8.30 am till 4.30 pm at Training Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, and the second will be The Fifth ISDEV Lecture Series to be held on the following day of 14 December 2007 (Friday) at 3.00 pm till 5.00 pm at University Conference Hall.

The highlights of the Graduate Workshop would be the announcement of ISDEV Best Master Thesis Award and ISDEV Best PhD Thesis Award as well as two Research Discourses, firstly by Associate Professor Muhammad Mumtaz Ali of International Islamic University Malaysia on 12 December 2007 on "Islamic Critiques of Conventional Research Methodology" and secondly by Professor Dato' Paduka Mahmood Zuhdi of Islamic Academy University of Malaya on 13 December 2007 on "The Application of Usul-Fiqh in Islamic Research Methodology". Both Research Discourses will begin at 9.00 am till 10.30 am.

On the following day, at the ISDEV Lecture Series, Sheikh Imran N. Hosein of Trinidad and Tobago will speak on "The Grand Design of Money Creation".

All are cordially invited to the Research Discourse and Lecture Series. For further information, please get in touch with ISDEV at +6-04-653 2656 or +6-04-653 4601 or +6-04-653 3422 or +6-04-653 2800.

A NAS A WEEK - 30 DZULQAEDAH 1428H

[96] If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (all kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

[al-A'raaf,7:96]

A NAS A WEEK - 23 DZULQAEDAH 1428

Narrated Aishah, Ummul Mu'minin: The Apostle of Allah (s.a.w) said: By his good character a believer will attain the degree of one who prays during the night and fasts during the day.

[Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 41: Kitab al-Adab, Hadith No. 4780]

A NAS A WEEK - 16 DZULQAEDAH 1428

[28] "Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.

[ar-Ra'd, 13:28]

A NAS A WEEK - 9 DZULQAEDAH 1428

Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: Allah's Apostle said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 73: 'Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)', Hadith No. 40]

PHD DEFENSE BY NOR AZZAH KAMRI

ISDEV Research Associate Nor Azzah Kamri will sit for her viva voce on 26 November 2007 (Monday) at 9.00am. She will be defending her PhD thesis entitled Implementation of Islamic Code of Ethics in Islamic Development Organization: A Case Study of Lembaga Tabung Haji Malaysia.

Before her real defense, Nor Azzah will be familiarized by ISDEV with a stituation of a viva voce through a mock viva to be held on 23 November 2007 (Friday) at 3.00pm at Meeting Room C05 (ISDEV), School of Social Sciences. The mock viva will be chaired by Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh while Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar and Dr Nizam Sahad will act as examiners. All are welcome

A NAS A WEEK - 2 DZULQAEDAH 1428H

[99] No authority has he (Satan the Rejected One) over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.

[an-Nahl,16:99]

INVITATION TO ISDEV RESEARCH DISCOURSE SERIES ON ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKET AND ISLAMIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

During November and December this year, ISDEV will host four series of Research Discourses. Two would be on the Islamic Capital Market and the other two on the Islamic Research Methodology.

Both titles relate to the two research projects that are currently carried out by ISDEV. All are cordially invited and the details are as follows.

12 November 2007

"Equity in Islamic Capital Market: Concept and Operational Mechanism" by Professor Dr Abdul Ghaffar Ismail (Coordinator of EKONIS, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), 10.00am - 12.30 pm, Training Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

22 November 2007

"Sukuk in Islamic Capital Market: Concept and Operational Mechanism" by Professor Dato' Sano Koutoub Mustapha (Deputy Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia), 10.00 am - 12.30 pm, Training Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

12 December 2007

"Islamic Critiques of Conventional Research Methodology" by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Ali (International Islamic University Malaysia), 9.00 am - 10.30 am, Ibn Khaldun Room, Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

13 December 2007

"Application of the Methods of Usul-Fiqh in Research" by Professor Dato' Paduka Mahmood Zuhdi (Islamic Academy, Universiti Malaya), 13 December 2007 at 8.30 am - 10.00 am, Ibn Khaldun Room, Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

4 ABILITIES TO EXTRACT INFO DURING FIELDWORK

When carrying out a fieldwork, one has to be equipped with at least four abilities in order to extract maximum information and data needed.

The first is the ability to understand respondents' stance so that discussion could be done along, and not contrary to, that stance. The second is the ability to understand terms and talk of the day of the respondents so that the same language could be used to be part of the respondents and smoothen the discussion. The third is the ability to make ourselves important to the respondents so that they would not ignore us. And lastly, the fourth is the ability to justify the importance of the research for the respondents so that prejudices and uncertainties among the respondents could be avoided.

These are what had been developed and used by Muhammad Tahir (above) during his fieldwork in Bandung, Indonesia recently. He deliberated these during the recent Monthly Graduate Supervision held on 2 November 2007, to be shared by other fellow graduates and lecturers.

Muhammad Tahir is doing his doctorate on Tazkiyah An-Nafs in Islamic Development - The Case of Kopentren of Darut Tauhid in Bandung, Indonesia under the supervision of Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and Dr Khairul Anwar Othman. He is currently writing the analysis of the findings from his fieldwork.

ISDEV INTRODUCES ANOTHER ACTIVITY, THE ISDEV RESEARCH DISCOURSE

In view of an increasing number of research projects undertaken by ISDEV and of the need to provide a maximum benefit to as many interested intellectuals as possible, the Centre now introduces a new activity called ISDEV Research Discourse.

In this Discourse, intellectuals and researchers from other institutions outside Universiti Sains Malaysia will be invited to speak on a topic related to any particular research that is being carried out by ISDEV.

This Discourse is a little bit different from ISDEV In-House Seminar, of which the speakers are from outside Universiti Sains Malaysia, presenting their ideas on a given topic that is thought to be helpful in concretizing ISDEV researches. In ISDEV In-House Seminar, the speakers are the members of ISDEV research teams themselves, presenting their research findings to be shared and commented by other colleagues.

Until the end of the year, four ISDEV Research Discourses on topics particularly related to ISDEV researches on Islamic Capital Market and Islamic Research Methodology have been scheduled. They are as follows:

1. 12 November 2007: "Equity in Islamic Capital Market: Concept and Operational Mechanism" by Professor Dr Abdul Ghaffar Ismail (Coordinator of EKONIS, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), 10.00am - 12.30 pm, Training Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

2. 22 November 2007: "Sukuk in Islamic Capital Market: Concept and Operational Mechanism" by Professor Dato' Sano Koutoub Mustapha (Deputy Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia), 10.00 am - 12.30 pm, Training Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

3. 12 December 2007: "Islamic Critiques of Conventional Research Methodology" by Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Ali (International Islamic University Malaysia), 9.00 am - 10.30 am, Ibn Khaldun Room, Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

4. 13 December 2007: "Application of the Methods of Usul-Fiqh in Research" by Professor Dato' Paduka Mahmood Zuhdi (Islamic Academy, Universiti Malaya), 13 December 2007 at 8.30 am - 10.00 am, Ibn Khaldun Room, Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

All are cordially invited.

Announcements and reminders of the Research Discourses will be posted from time to time.

A NAS A WEEK - 24 SYAWAL 1428H

Masruq is reported to have asked 'A'isha about the action (most pleasing to) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She said: He (the Holy Prophet) loved (that action) which one keeps on doing regularly. I said (to 'A'isha): When did he pray (at night)? She replied: When he heard the cock crow, he got up and observed prayer.

[Hadith from: Sahih Muslim, Book No. 4: 'The Book of Prayers (Kitab Al-Salat)', Hadith No. 1614]

LECTURES AT ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION IN DVDs

Graduate students and interested parties who are interested in lectures pertaining to graduate research and thesis writing could now get them in DVD from ISDEV. These DVDs, based on lectures delivered at ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision (all in Malay), have been produced by ISDEV Media Unit and sold at a very low cost of RM5 each (excluding of postage).

To date, the titles that are available are as follows:

1. Fieldwork by Dr. Azlinda Azman
2. Constructing Research Proposal by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Fatah Che Hamat
3. Research Objectives, Questions & Hypotheses by Dr Zulkarnain A. Hatta
4. Past Research by Dr. Lilis Surienty Abd Talib
5. Literature Review by Dr. Nor Malina Malik

Those interested to have the DVDs as references or personal collection could now make an order from Sukainah at suekainah@yahoo.com or +6-04-653 4601 (office phone) or +6-04-653 2124 (fax).

Availability of new titles will be announced from time to time via ISDEV NEWS at http://isdevnews07.blogspot.com/ and ISDEV Site at http://isdev.usm.my/

A NAS A WEEK - 17 SYAWAL 1428H

[32] Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace.

[Faatir,35:32]

ISDEV NEAREST EVENTS

Announcing ISDEV Nearest Events

Event: Graduate Monthly Supervision
Topic: Research Scope, Limitation and Significance
Speaker: Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar
Date: 2 November 2007 (Friday)
Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences


Event: In-House Seminar
Topic: An Islamic Analysis of Research Problems
Speaker: Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi
Date: 16 November 2007 (Friday)
Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences





Event: In-House Seminar
Topic: Observation Techniques - An Islamic Perspective
Speaker: Dr Fatan Hamamah Yahaya
Date: 23 November 2007 (Friday)
Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm
Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences

All are cordially invited

A NAS A WEEK - 10 SYAWAL 1428H

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 2: Belief, Hadith No: 12]

DR ZAHRI HAMAT NOW A LECTURER AT THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

Former ISDEV Research Associate Dr Zahri Hamat has been appointed as a contract lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia for two years beginning 1 September 2007. He is attached to Development Planning and Management Programme at the School, teaching Economics for Development. Simultaneously, he continues to help School of Distance Learning to teach courses in Management Studies.

Dr Zahri also co-supervises Ekarat Sitisan, a Master student working on Potentials for the Establishment of Zakat Fund in Bangkok, Thailand. A couple more PhD candidates from Malaysia and Indonesia who will be working on Zakat are also expected to be co-supervised by Dr Zahri soon.

Currently, Dr Zahri also chairs the Organizing Committee of ISDEV Graduate Workshop III. The Workshop is an ISDEV annual occasion and specially organized for graduates working on Islam related research in universities worldwide. It will be held on 12-13 December 2007. In this Workshop, ISDEV Best Master Thesis Award and ISDEV Best PhD Thesis Award for 2007 will be given away to the winners.

In a very near future, Dr Zahri Hamat will be ISDEV Management Committee Member and will undertake a research with Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh on Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia. The research investigates zakat accounting practices in Muslim majority countries of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, and Muslim minority countries of Thailand and Singapore. It will be funded by Research University Grant. Another research (consultancy project) on The Impact Study of Zakat Distribution in Penang would also be done by Dr Zahri with Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and Dr Hasanah Abd. Khafidz. It is expected to be funded by Pusat Urus Zakat of the Religious Council of the State of Penang.

NOR AZZAH KAMRI SUBMITTED PHD THESIS ON ISLAMIC CODE OF ETHICS OF TABUNG HAJI

ISDEV Research Associate Nor Azzah Kamri has submitted her PhD thesis. The title is Implementation of Islamic Code of Ethics in Islamic Development Organization: A Case Study of Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji Malaysia. She has been working with ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and ISDEV Management Committee Member Dr Zakaria Bahari. Viva voce for the thesis is expected to be held sometime in November 2007. When the exact date is confirmed, a mock viva will be held at ISDEV to familiarize and train her to face the real viva voce. After passing her PhD, Nor Azzah Kamri will return to and teach at Akademi Islam, University of Malaya.

A NAS A WEEK - 3 SYAWAL 1428H

[149] Whether ye publish a good deed or conceal it or cover evil with pardon, verily Allah doth blot out (sins) and hath power (in the judgment of values).

[an-Nisaa', 4:149]

A NAS A WEEK - 26 RAMADHAN 1428H

Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan"

[Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 32: 'Praying at Night in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)', Hadith No: 237]

`MORALISTIC & ETHICAL OBJECTIVITY' IN ISLAMIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

It was realized at the ISDEV In-House Seminar on 28 September that in Islamic Research Methodology, objectivity must be limited to `moralisitic objectivity' or `ethical objectivity' rather than `plain or absolute objectivity' as advocated and used by conventional research methodology. Moralisitic or ethical objectivity here means an objectivity that protects respondents' dignity and self-respect, based on Shari`ah.

That was one of the main discourses articulated during the presentation on "An Analysis of Research Ethics in Conventional Research Methodology" by Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar at the Seminar. Other discourses also include scrutinization on other research ethics proposed by the American Psychological Association (APA), such as limitation of capability and skills, protection of respondents' rights and dignity, avoidance of danger on respondents, protection and avoidance of abusement of respondents' secrecy, honest and unmanipulated presentation of research findings, and acknowledgement to those involved in realizing the research.

The Seminar concluded with an awareness that in Islamic Research Methodology, the factor that motivates a researcher's compliance of research ethical principles is iman, the practical application of the ethics is embedded in the principles of shari`ah, and the ultimate aim is to seek the truth and mardhatillah, the pleasure of God.

A NAS A WEEK - 19 RAMADHAN 1428H

[3] The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

[al-Qadr, 97: 3]

ISDEV ANNUAL IFTAR WELL-ATTENDED

On Tuesday 25 September 2007, Teratai Room at Chancellory was packed with more than 40 ISDEV members and friends attending ISDEV Annual Iftar. Guests of honour were Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development) Associate Professor Dr Omar Osman and Dean of the School of Social Sciences Associate Professor Dr Ismail Baba.

The occasion was an annual occasion organized in every Ramadhan of the year. It began with iftar (breaking of fast), followed by maghrib prayer, dinner, isyak prayer and finally by tarawih prayer led by ISDEV Fellow Associate Professor Haji Sibly Maros and assisted by ISDEV Research Associate Zubir Idris.

ISDEV is grateful to the organising committee led by Dr Zakaria Bahari and thankful to generous donors who made this occasion possible.

A NAS A WEEK - 12 RAMADHAN 1428H

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We went out on an expedition with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) during Ramadan. Some of us observed the fast and some of us broke it. Neither the observer of the fast had any grudge against one who broke it, nor the breaker of the fast had any grudge against one who had fasted. They knew that he who had strength enough (to bear its rigour) fasted and that was good, and they also found that he who felt weakness (and could not bear the burden) broke it, and that was also good.

[Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 6: 'The Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Sawm)', Hadith No. 2480]

MUSLIMS' CRITIQUES OF CONVENTIONAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

During his talk on "Contemporary Muslims Critiques of Conventional Research Methodology" at ISDEV In-House Seminar on Friday 21 September 2007, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh (left) observed that the Muslims' critiques of the conventional research methodology are still mostly confined to the philosophical underpinnings and almost none is touched on its technical instruments. In fact, he argued, there are limited literatures on Islamic Research Methodology themselves, hence the need to fill the loopholes so as construction of a holistic Islamic Research Methodology could be realized in a comprehensive manner.

Profesor Muhammad Syukri Salleh is the Director of ISDEV and the talk was the fourth series of ISDEV In-House Seminar pertaining to the critiques of conventional and construction of Islamic research methodology.

The next series will be held on Friday 28 September 2007. Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar will speak on "An Analysis of Research Ethics in Conventional Research Methodology".

A NAS A WEEK - 5 RAMADHAN 1428H

[183] O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

[al-Baqarah, 2:183]

IN-HOUSE SEMINAR: CONTEMPORARY MUSLIMS' CRITIQUES OF CONVENTIONAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

On coming Friday 21 September 2007, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh will speak on "Contemporary Muslims' Critiques of Conventional Research Methodology" at ISDEV In-House Seminar. The talk is the fourth series of the discourse on Islamic Research Methodology, to be held at Meeting Room C05, School of Social Sciences at 9.30 am. Though in-house in nature, the talk is opened to all. All are cordially invited.

A NAS A WEEK - 28 SYA'BAN 1428H

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.

[Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 6: 'The Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Sawm)', Hadith No. 2361]

A NAS A WEEK - 21 SYA'BAN 1428H

[9] O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!

[10] And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.

[11] But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."

[al-Jumu'ah,62:9-11]