4TH DAY IN UK: STARTING RESEARCH WORKS AT THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

3RD DAY IN UK: MOVING FROM OXFORD TO LEICESTER

The five ISDEV members who are currently in the United Kingdom have on Monday 29th June moved to Leicester from Oxford, about 80 miles north of the later. They arrived at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, also the campus of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE), at about 12.30 noon.

They will be here until 2nd July, to continuing carrying out their respective researches. Professor Syukri is researching on the foundation of Islamic development, Dr Zakaria on the Islamic capital market, Dr Zaini on Islamic conflict management, Dr Zahri on the zakat accounting and Dr Fadzila Azni on the management of Islamic development institutions. They have had a brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop in late afternoon of the day.

Checking out from the Ethana Guest House in Oxford

In front of the MIHE administrative building

A brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop

SECOND DAY IN UK - RESEARCH WORKS CONTINUE IN LONDON

On Sunday 28th June, Professor Syukri and his entourage proceeded to London to carry on with their research. They spent the whole day at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Park Road, Book Plus in Edgewear Road, and Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park.

Arriving London from Oxford, at the Marble Arch Underground (Tube) Station
Islamic Cultural Centre
Islamic Cultural Centre
At the Book Plus
Briefing by brother Anas, the owner of the Book Plus

One of Muslims speakers at Speaker's Corner leading solatul-`asar before delivering his speech
Listening to the Muslim speaker
Observing arguments between a Muslim (the man) with a Qadiani's advocate (the woman)

A NAS A WEEK - 5 RAJAB 1430H

Abu Sa'id and abu Huraira reported that they heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Never a believer is stricken with discomfort, hardship or illness, grief or even with mental worry that his sins are not expiated for him [Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 32: 'The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wal-Adab)', Hadith No. 6242].

ISDEV MEMBERS ARRIVED SAFELY IN UK AND STARTED THEIR WORKS

The five ISDEV members - Prof Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni - had landed at Heathrow and ferried to Oxford safely on Saturday morning, 27th June. After a brief rest at Ethana Guest House in Cowley, Oxford, they started their works by visiting University of Oxford and seeking for latest literatures and publications around the University, especially at the Blackwell at George Street, near the Bodlein Library.

Checking-in at Penang International Airport

Waiting for departure at KLIA

Watching in-flight movie
Safely landed at Heathrow
In-front of one of Oxford's landmark near Bodlein Library of the Oxford University
In front of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Researching on the latest publications at Blackwell
At Oxford University Press
Visited brother Ibrahim Stanton and family at Juxon Street, an old British friend of Prof Syukri

ISDEV MEMBERS GO GLOBAL

It’s another milestone for ISDEV this July. Five ISDEV members are scheduled to fly off to United Kingdom to participate at the Two-Day Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Management and Finance organized by the School of Management, University of Leicester, United Kingdom. The conference which will be held on 2nd July 2009 to 3rd July, 2009 will witness five of ISDEV members presenting the following papers:-

Professor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Management of Islamic Development Approach: A Critical Analysis of the Management of Islam Hadhari in Malaysia










Dr Zakaria Bahari, The Changes Of Product Structural In Islamic Banking: Case Study In Malaysia








Dr Mohamad Zaini bin Abu Bakar, The New Economic Policy As A Mechanism Of Islamic Conflict Management In The Multicultural Society: The Case Of Malaysia







Dr Zahri Hamat, Business Zakat Accounting and Taxation in Malaysia










Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, Total Quality Management (TQM) from Islamic Perspective: An Epistemological Analysis

Prior to the Conference, they will be in Oxford and London to carry out research on their respective projects. They are also scheduled to meet Professor Khurshid Ahmad, a well-known Islamic economist and Dr Manazir Ahsan, the Director of the Islamic Foundation in Leicester on 3oth June.

ISDEV PROLIFIC POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW DR ABDUL HAMEED KHAN ABBASI BIDS GOODBYE

A farewell cake for Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi

In a short span of nine months, ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi, a resident from the District Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, bade goodbye to fellow members of ISDEV as his flight home to Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan has been scheduled on 17th June, 2009.

Dr Abdul Fatah delivers his farewell words to Dr Abdul Hameed, witnessed (from left to right) by Ustaz Zul-kifli, Dr Zakaria and Dr Mohamad Zaini

A highly prolific researcher and academician Dr Abbasi, who was awarded the Post Doctoral Fellowship by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, started his post doctoral at ISDEV on 18th September, 2009. Amongst the activities carried out by Dr Abbasi was his Post Doctoral Research work on “Contemporary Methodologies in Tafseer” under the supervision of Professor Dr. Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

Dr Abdul Hameed receiving one of his certificates of achievement at ISDEV from ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh

Regarding the Director of ISDEV as his supervisor, Dr Abdul Hameed mentioned that he was indeed blessed to have the ideal supervisor in the world whom he regarded as a man of wisdom, man of principles and a man of excellent manners. What amazed him was the adaptability of Professor Muhammad Syukri to be a teacher when a teacher is needed, to be a brother and friend when a confidante is needed and a mursyid when guidance is much sought after.

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi felt that “ISDEV was like paradise” to him on earth, affirmed that the research atmosphere provided by ISDEV was very ideal indeed. This was further enhanced by a first-rate Masjid Al-Malik Khalid and first-class library facilities. He further supported this assertion by stating that the people at ISDEV were all very lovely, loving and very cooperative indeed.

Besides being fully engaged in his research, within these nine months at ISDEV, Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi accomplished to produce six research articles in the field of Tafseer and Hadith. Two of these articles have been published whilst the remaining four articles are due for publications in Lahore and India soon.

In addition to these activities, Dr Abdul Hameed also presented a total of 18 seminars on Quranic Arabic which was duly attended by ISDEV members. He also proved to be an attentive and active participant in the seminars organized by ISDEV such as the seminars on Hadith Methodologies and Sciences, Methodologies of Tafseer al-Quran and Reserach Methodology at ISDEV.

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi mentioned that he would definitely miss the chillies which were sweet in Malaysia. He deduced that the reasons behind Malaysians being polite and sweet people could be most likely attributable to the consumption of these sweet tasting chillies.

Before parting and flying back to his hometown, Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi has the following reminders to fellow members of ISDEV as his parting words:-

“Obey Allah, cling strongly to Islamic values, read and follow the Quran, respect others and do not create problems for other people or Allah will create problems for you in this life and in the hereafter. And remember to tawakkal ‘ala Allah!”

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi with some of ISDEV members on his last day at USM

A NAS A WEEK - 29 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

O ye who believe! persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper [Aali 'Imraan, 3: 200].

RESEARCH ON ZAKAT ACCOUNTING BRINGS MEMBERS TO SINGAPORE

Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) and Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh (right) glancing through a book at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) bookshop

Little was known that from 31st May, 2009 to 2nd June, 2009 Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Director of ISDEV, Dr Zakaria Bahari and fellow postgraduate of ISDEV Shereeza binti Mohamed Saniff were in Singapore to carry out the field work on part of the research pertaining to Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia.

Although the main focus to collect the data for the said research was at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), nonetheless these researches maximised the time allocated with visits to Wisma Indah (among the first wakaf property to be developed by MUIS), Darul Arqam Singapore (Converts’ Association of Singapore) and the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) which is located next to the National University of Singapore Campus.

The trip was definitely an eye opener for these researchers as they witnessed a number of events during the trip which gave them a glimpse to the broad spectrum of the Malay Muslims life in Singapore. Nonetheless the achievements in management and development of vital infrastructures for the Malay Muslims in Singapore are definitely commendable. The visit to the latest masjid built by MUIS in Singapore, Masjid Al-Mawaddah, in Sengkang leaves one feeling a sense of exhilaration of the achievements made by our brothers and sisters in Singapore even though they constitute the minorities in Singapore.

Dr Zakaria and Prof Syukri with brother Helmy of MUIS at Masjid Al-Mawaddah

SUKIMAN & WARJIO GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED WITH THESIS

The monthly graduate supervision for May, 2009 witnessed the proposal presentation of 2 of ISDEV’s PhD candidates which was held at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.

Sukiman presented his thesis proposal entitled “Kaedah Pembangunan Aceh Pasca Tsunami: Analysis Ke Arah Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam” whilst Warjio (pic.) presented his theis proposal entitled “Politik Dakwah Di Indonesia: Kajian Kes Ke Atas Parti Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) 1998-2008”.

After receiving feedback from the evaluators of the proposed thesis and fellow members of ISDEV, both candidates received the affirmation to proceed with the thesis proper.

Congratulations and all the best to Sukiman and Warjio!

A NAS A WEEK - 22 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam)) as saying: A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supporting the other [Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 32: The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wal-Adab), Hadith No. 6257].

A NAS A WEEK - 15 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them. Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee... [Aali 'Imran, 3: 159].

BRIEF ON THE RECENT TRIP BY ISDEV MEMBERS TO MEDAN, INDONESIA

The 31 strong ISDEV delegates that went to Medan recently touched down at the Penang International Airport (PIA) on Sunday 10 May, 2009. These delegates received a warm welcome from family members and well wishers who missed their presence after their 7 days/6 nights intellectual cum vacation sojourn.

In line with the spirit of travelling as envisaged by the Holy Quran and the sunnah of Rasulullah (saw) the trip started with a briefing at the Penang International Airport by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh who reminded the members to specifically invocate (niat) to Allah that the change of status of members to be a mussafir receives Allah’s blessings. In addition to the above as the journey is intended to train the intellectual, emotional and physical strength of each delegate, members were at all times to be mindful of the privileges and accolades and tests provided to a mussafiruun.

Throughout the trip, the delegates moved as a Jemaah (Congregation) of ISDEV. In ensuring that this united spirit of brotherhood remained steadfast during the trip, delegates were given a wake-up call at 4:30am every morning by the Royal Perintis Hotel staff in Medan. Delegates were supported and encouraged to perform the Subh prayer as a Jemaah which was immediately thereafter followed with a short morning Tazkirah delivered by one post graduate students of ISDEV at each session. The Maghrib and Isya prayers (usually in Jama’ takdim or Jama’ ta’khir) which were also performed congregationally saw the delegates being very attentive to the evening Tazkirah delivered at each session. As in the morning Tazkirah sessions, the evening sessions were also delivered in turns by ISDEV postgraduate students.

PhD candidate Sukiman giving a tazkirah after Subh prayer

Listening to the tazkirah attentatively

A brief itinery on the activities throughout the 7 days 6 nights trip are as follows:

1st day: Arrival at Polonia International Airport, Medan, Indonesia

Upon arrival at the Polonia International Airport, Medan, Indonesia delegates were immediately whisked away to Warong Solo for dinner where most members for the very first time had a taste of “Juice Poligami”. After dinner the delegates then proceeded to the official opening of the “Seminar Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke-2: Wakaf dan Pemberdayaan Ummah” held at Aula Asrama Haji Medan.

In front of Hotel Royal Perintis

2nd day: Seminar Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke-2: Wakaf dan Pemberdayaan Ummah

Delegates attended a day long “Seminar Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke-2: Wakaf dan Pemberdayaan Ummah” which was divided into 3 consecutive sessions. Each session encompass presentations of three working papers and thereafter followed usually by lively questions and answers sessions. ISDEV Director, Professor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh presented his paper on “Transformasi dan Paduan Pemerkasaan Wakaf” in the third session and ISDEV Associate Fellow Razali Othman presented his paper on "Usaha Manipulasi dan Menghapus Institusi Wakaf Oleh Kuasa Penjajah Barat" in the second session.

ISDEV delegates at the Waqf Seminar

3rd day : Journey to Lake Toba enroute Parapat

After a day long seminar session the previous day, delegates took a breather from the intellectual arena during the 3rd day. Delegates had to experience the 5 hours drive to Lake Toba en route Parapat where an overnight stay had been arranged. After dinner, delegates were feasted to barbequed fresh fish, a joint effort made possible by lecturers and students of ISDEV. Those juicy and succulent fish were caught from the nearby legendary Lake Toba.

Barbequeing fresh fishes from Lake Toba

4th day : A day at Samosir Island and back to Medan city

Delegates were ferried, for a 45 minutes’ ride, to Samosir Island and were entertained with fun and games designed to be in a very friendly competitive manner. ISDEV postgraduate students won the quizzes (teka-teki) and portrayed aspiring nasyeed singers in the making. Delegates were given time for a shopping spree at the Island before being ferried back to Parapat and thereafter endure another 5 hours’ drive back to Medan.

On the boat from Samosir Island

Unboarding the boat from Samosir Island

5th day : Workshop Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke 2:Wakaf Dalam Berbagai Perspektif

ISDEV Director Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh (right) delivering a Public Lecture on Teaching-Learning Method: Heart-to-Heart Way, chaired by the Rector, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (left)

Back to the intellectual realm, this time some delegates were seen to be cool, calm and collected admist their anxiety to present their working papers at the “Workshop Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke 2: Wakaf Dalam Berbagai Perspektif” held at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara. More than 20 papers on a wide range of topics centered on Wakaf (Islamic endowments) were presented by ISDEV members at the international workshop which was carried out in four concurrent sessions.

Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh receiving a gift from the Rector

Some of the ISDEV participants of the Workshop

6th day : PhD Proposal Presentations

The morning session saw the delegates participating in the PhD Proposal Presentation of two postgraduate students of ISDEV at the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utrara.

The afternoon session remained to be the most awaited time for the delegates – free and easy day. Nonetheless true to Malaysian style almost all delegates opted for a shopping spree at the heart of Medan’s infamous Pajak Ikan. A few others opted to head to the bookstores to scout for the latest publications in town.

7th day: Last minute shopping and home sweet home

Since the flight back to Malaysia was in the evening, delegates were given time in the morning to continue with their free and easy activities in the morning. Delegates were feasted to a farewell lunch at one of ISDEV postgraduate students’ house, Datuk Chairil Anwar, in the heart of Medan before leaving for the “Bandara”.

Alhamdulillah delegates ended their musafiruun status when the flight they boarded touched down at Penang International Airport just before 8:00pm.

A NAS A WEEK - 8 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

Yahya related to me from Malik that he heard that Luqman al-Hakim made his will and counselled his son, saying, "My son! Sit with the learned men and keep close to them. Allah gives life to the hearts with the light of wisdom as Allah gives life to the dead earth with the abundant rain of the sky." [Hadith from Malik's Muwatta', Book No. 59: Knowledge, Hadith No. 59.1.1].

A NAS A WEEK - 30 JAMADIL AWWAL 1430H

And those who strive in Our (Cause), We will certainly guide them to Our Paths: for verily Allah is with those who do right [al-'Ankabuut, 29:69].

A NAS A WEEK - 23 JAMADIL AWWAL 1430H

Narrated Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab: While the Apostle of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) was sitting with some of his companions, a man reviled AbuBakr and insulted him. But AbuBakr remained silent. He insulted him twice, but AbuBakr controlled himself. He insulted him thrice and AbuBakr took revenge on him. Then the Apostle of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) got up when AbuBakr took revenge. AbuBakr said: Were you angry with me, Apostle of Allah? The Apostle of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) replied: An angel came down from Heaven and he was rejecting what the man had said to you. When you took revenge, a devil came down. I was not going to sit when the devil came down [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 298: Kitab al-Adab, Hadith No. 4878].

A NAS A WEEK - 16 JAMADIL AWWAL 1430H

Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? [al-Hajj, 22: 46]

ISDEV AND PUSAT URUS ZAKAT PENANG COLLABORATED IN THE PUBLICATION OF TRANSFORMATION OF ZAKAT

Some of the participants of the Workshop

On Thursday, 30 April 2009, a total of 15 participants attended a Workshop on Zakat Transformation organised by ISDEV and Pusat Urus Zakat (PUZ) Negeri Pulau Pinang. Held at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Workshop was intended to stretch out ideas on the transformation of zakat, from subsistence zakat to productive zakat, to be compiled in an edited book by PUZ in conjunction with its 15th Anniversary.

The Workshop was chaired by ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and participated by General Managers of Pusat Pungutan Zakat (PPZ) Wilayah Persekutuan, Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) and Baitulmal Sarawak, as well as academicians from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (KUIS) and officer from Jabatan Wakaf, Zakat dan Haji (JAWHAR). All agreed to contribute a paper each for the book.

Presentation of these papers prior to publication will be held in another workshop scheduled on 21-22 July 2009. The title of the book was agreed to be Zakat Transformation: From Subsistence Zakat to Productive Zakat and will be edited by Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Mohd Salleh Abdullah and Dr Zahri Hamat.

ISDEV MEMBERS FLYING OFF TO MEDAN, INDONESIA

A total of 31 ISDEV members and associates, consisting of lecturers and postgraduate students, will be flying off to Polonia International Airport, Medan Indonesia on Monday 4th May, 2009. They will be part of the delegates attending the “Seminar Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke-2: Wakaf dan Pemberdayaan Ummah” scheduled on 5th May, 2009. A trip said to be filled with intellectual stimulation will also witness some of these delegates presenting their papers at the “Workshop Antarabangsa Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Ke-2: Wakaf Dalam Berbagai Perspektif” on Friday 8th May, 2009.

A NAS A WEEK - 9 JAMADIL AWWAL 1430H

Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: The most perfect believer in respect of faith is he who is best of them in manners [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 40: Kitab al-Sunnah, Hadith No. 4665].