USIM POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM THE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND MU'AMALAT VISIT ISDEV

Associate Professor Dr. Zurina Shafii sharing information on USIM

13 Feb - On 18 December 2012, 11 students from the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) were at ISDEV to share ideas and information on USIM in general and the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat in particular as well as to know more about ISDEV accomplishments, the courses offered and activities conducted by ISDEV.

The delegation from USIM was led by Associate Professor Dr. Zurina Shafii and assisted by Dr. Nurhidayah Laili, both of whom are from the faculty. Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad served as a chairman of the program which was held at C23.

Associate Professor Dr. Zurina Shafii - head of delegations from USIM

Dr. Nurhidayah Laili from USIM introducing herself

Presentation from ISDEV was given by two postgraduate students embarking on the research area in Islamic Asset Management. The first was given by Shereeza Mohd Saniff who presented on both the Masters and PhD programmes offered by the School of Social Sciences, through ISDEV. She also informed  USIM delegates about the various regular weekly, monthly and annual activities organized by ISDEV, through which ISDEV cultured is inculcated and preserved.

Women power - Representatives from both USIM and ISDEV
(from L-R)  Dr Nurhidayah and Assoc. Prof. Dr Zurina (representing USIM)
Areen Hamiza, Dr. Fadzila Azni and Shereeza (representing ISDEV)

Azreen Hamiza Abdul Aziz then presented on her research pertaining to the Contemporary Concept of Islamic Asset Management and passionately shared her positive and endearing experience being a Masters student of ISDEV.

ISDEV members play host to the delegates from USIM at C23

USIM postgraduate students with some of the brothers from ISDEV

A NAS A WEEK - 2 RABBI'UL THANI 1434

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, salallahu 'alaihi wassalam, said, “He who relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Judgment; he who makes easy what is difficult, Allah will make it easy for him in the world and the Hereafter; he who conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in the world and the Hereafter; Allah helps the servant so long as he helps his brother; he who travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy a path to Paradise; a people do not gather together in the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying together, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will cover them, angels will surround them, and Allah will mention them to those with Him; and he who is slow to good deeds will not be hastened by his lineage.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 35, Number 6518]

ISDEV LECTURE SERIES ON CONTEMPORARY ISLAM IN MALAYSIA FOR NORWAY UNIVERSITIES' STUDENTS

A group photo - ISDEV members with the Norwegian Undergraduate Students 

25 Jan- 27 undergraduate students from Agder University and Bergen University College, Norway, were at ISDEV to participate in the 5th Annual Lecture Series on Contemporary Islam in Malaysia. They were led by Professor Dr. Levi Geir Eidhamar. It was an annual occasion resulting from the signing of an MoU between ISDEV and the Norway Universities sometime in 2007. Dr. Zakaria Bahari, ISDEV Deputy Director, served as the chairman of the program which was held at C23.

Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) chairing the session and on the right is
Professor Dr. Levi Geir Eidhamar

Shereeza (holding the microphone) presenting her point

The session was divided into two parts. The first part was a talk on "Conversion and The Use of the Name of Allah SWT" by Shereeza Mohamed Saniff, ISDEV PhD candidate while the second talk was delivered by Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid from the School of Distance Education, entitled  'Bumiputera Policies in Malaysia'. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr Ahmad Fauzi giving his talk on "Bumiputera Policies in Malaysia"

Some of the students from Norway attentively listening to the speaker

During the Q& A session, Prof. Levi raised his disagreement on the prohibition of the use of the term Allah by non-Muslims in Malaysia. His disagreement is based on three reasons. Firstly the term Allah had been used by the Christians in Egypt for a long time, even before the time of Rasulullah SAW. Secondly, Rasulullah SAW did not prohibit the usage of the term Allah, hence it is against the sunnah of Rasulullah SAW if the Malaysian Muslims prohibit it. Thirdly the non-Muslims in East Malaysia have been using the term Allah without any problem.

Prof. Levi (left) presenting his view point during the Q&A session

In response, Shereeza with the help of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh disagreed with Prof. Levi's arguments based also on three reasons. Firstly, the non-Muslims in Egypt have been using the term Allah for mere linguistic purpose only, not in term of the conceptual meaning of God that is based on religious epistemological and philosophical underpinnings. Secondly, in understanding the sunnah of Rasulullah SAW, one has to equip himself with tools of knowledge especially usul-giqh, that enables him to understand what is obligatory (wajib), prohibited (haram), encouraged (nawafil/sunat), discouraged (makruh) and optional (jaiz) in relations to the deeds of Rasulullah SAW. No direct prohibition does not necessarily mean it is encouraged; it could also mean optional. Thirdly, one has to also master the knowledge on maslahah (common good) and the al-thabat wa al-murunah (fixed and flexibility) concept in applying the laws of Islam in accordance to the suitability of place and time for the maximum benefit of the ummah. The prohibition on the use of the term Allah in Malaysia should be seen from the perspective of maslahah, for the sake of unity of the Malaysian multi-religious society.

A NAS A WEEK - 22 RABBI'UL AWWAL 1434

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me [al-Baqarah, 2:152].

A NAS A WEEK - 15 RABBI'UL AWWAL 1434

Abu Wa'il said, "'Abdullah used to remind the people every Thursday. Once a man said to him, 'Abu 'Abdu'r-Rahman! I wish you would remind us every day!' He said, 'That which prevents me from doing that is that I do not want to bore you and I pay particular care and attention to using admonition as did the Prophet out of the fear that we might become bored.'" [Hadith from The Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Chapter 3: The Book of Knowledge (XII: On the one who appointed fixed days for the people desiring knowledge), Hadith Number 70].

ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION - JANUARY 2013

The turnout at the University Conference Hall (or DPU) of Universiti Sains Malaysia

9 Jan - The first ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision in 2013 proved to be unique indeed. As a start the venue for ISDEV members to congregate was at the momentous University Conference Hall (or DPU) of Universiti Sains Malaysia instead of the usual C06 or C23. Not surprisingly the stately looking hall was quickly filled up by RISDEV, MISDEV' 11 and MISDEV'12 students as well as the amiable lecturers of ISDEV. Among those present were Dr Zahari Hamat, Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad (Chairperson of the Islamic Development Management Section of the School of Social Sciences). Dr.Mohd Shukri Hanapi chaired the session.

ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh stressing a point during his
tazkirah while ISDEV Deputy  Director Dr Zakaria Bahari looks on

Post Tazkirah  session - Prof. Syukri  flanked by Dr Mohd Shukri on the right
and Dr Zakaria on the left

At 9.30 am sharp the graduate supervision started with the recitation of the ummul kitab Al-Fatihah and the recitation in one voice of asma ul husna. ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh delivered the  tazkirah which is the third in series of the Tarbiyyah Pengarah ISDEV . This time, Prof Syukri presented on the topic of '3 strengths in ISDEV' which are core to ISDEV strength and existence. They are faith (iman), brotherhood(silaturahim) and consistency of common comprehension, thought and action (fikrah). However for this session the focus was only on the first that is 'Teras kekuatan ISDEV- Iman'.

On a serious note - Dr Zakaria Bahari, ISDEV Deputy Director
delivering his lecture on a serious  topic "Problem Statement"

The supervision then continued with ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari's lecture on "Problem Statement". The lecture with the Q&A session took almost 2 hours. Dr. Zakaria presented a general guideline on how to write a written proposal and thereafter focused on how one needs to tackle the 'Problem Statement'. In his lecture he reminded students about the strong relationship between the 'Background' with the 'Problem Statement'. Some students were asked to share on how they had approach writing their 'Problem  Statement' while a few were tested on the strength of their proposed 'Problem Statement'. The Q&A session which ensued provided the opportunity which was well utilized by the students. Useful information as well as detailed instructions were passed on that day to help students in writing their "Problem Statement" in particular and their thesis as a whole in general.

Some of the beautiful sisters present for the
ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision

The program ended that day with the recitation of surah al-asr and tasbih kaffarah and closed at 1.30pm.

A NAS A WEEK - 9 RABBI'UL AWWAL

Your companion (Muhammad) has not strayed, nor has he erred [al-Najmu, 53:2].

ISDEV MEMBERS IN BRUNEI

A Confident Dr. Zakaria Bahari presenting his paper:
"Teaching of Islamic Economics: An Analysis of Tawhidic Paradigm"

7 Jan - 4 ISDEV members consisting of ISDEV Director, Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr. Zakaria Bahari together with Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi and Wan Norhaniza Wan Hasan were in Brunei from the 3rd until the 9th of November 2012. The delegates were there to present their research papers at The 2nd International Conference Sultan Omar' Ali Saifuddin Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

ISDEV Director, Prof. Mohummad Syukri Salleh with his paper
"Human Account in Development Studies: An Islamic Analysis"

Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi presenting his paper : "From Ignorance to Islamic 
Worldview: In Search of an Islamic Philosophical Construct"

Wan Norhaniza Wan Hasan presenting her findings through her paper work:
 "Education Indicators in Development Index: An Analysis
from the Perspectives of Islamic-based Development"

The International Conference was also participated by well-known academicians. They are Distinguished Professor Tan Sri Muhammad Kamal Hassan of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Professor Datuk Osman Bakar (who is also the organizer) of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Professor Yasushi Kosugi of Kyoto University, Japan, Professor Abdul Fadl Mohseen Ebrahim of University of KwaZuluNatal, South Africa, Professor Jamil Lee Hee Soo of Hanyang University Seoul, South Korea, Associate Professor Yusuf Ma Zhan Ming of Ningxia University, People's Republic of China, Dr. Alim Fadil Achmat Salie of University of Detroit Mercy, USA, Professor Dato' Md Salleh yaapar of Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Professor Datin Azizan Baharuddin of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia.

Among the conference presenters that were present

In addition the delegates from ISDEV took the opportunity to discuss on the prospects of an academic joint venture with the three main universities in Brunei Darussalam. The three universities are Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) dan Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB). This academic joint venture in the form of research collaborations are nearly realised.

(Right to Left) Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh in discussion with Professor Datuk Dr Osman Bakar , Chair Professor of SOASCIS while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azman Ahmad, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam looks on

Among the suggested fields of joint research are Hisbah and Ethics in Islamic-based Development (ISDEV-USM with SOASCIS_UBD); the Islamic-based Development Politics in Brunei and Malaysia (ISDEV-USM with UNISSA) and Waqf Development Through Istibdal in Brunei and Malaysia : A Futuristic Study (ISDEV-USM with UNISSA).

At the end of the discussion session with UNISSA representatives

An informal discussion with Deputy Rais KUPU-SB (on the extreme left)

A NAS A WEEK - 2 RABBI'UL AWWAL 1434

 'Ata' ibn Abi Rabah related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah has not sent down an illness without sending down a cure for it." [Hadith from Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Chapter 79: The Book of Medicine, Hadith Number 5354].

MISDEV'11 PRESENT FINAL DRAFT DISSERTATIONS

One the slides prepared by a MISDEV'11 student

7 Jan - A total of 18 MISDEV'11 students have successfully presented the final draft of their dissertations before they completed their tenure as postgraduate students of ISDEV. The presentations which took place for two days on 26 November 2012 and on 29 November 2012 were held at the Conference Rooms of C06 and C23 respectively of the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

A serene Sister Yusra after presenting her final dissertation

No seat was spared in C23

ISDEV students were all required to attend the presentations for both days to participate and engage in the academic exercise in accordance with the spirit of al-birr (helping one another for betterment) and al-taqwa (piety). ISDEV members provided additional inputs through opinions and comments on how the students in the MISDEV'11 cohort can best improve their dissertations. Simultaneously the sessions exposed MISDEV'11 students to a near real situation of a viva voce as well as provided the platform for them to hone their public speaking skills.

Some of the lecturers (left to right):
 Dr Mohd Shukri Hanapi, Dr Zakaria Bahari and Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh

In a serious mood - ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari (centre)
stressing a point

ISDEV lectures including ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari, and ISDEV lecturers Dr. Zaini Abu Bakar, Dr. Zahri Hamat as well as Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi attended the sessions and collectively evaluated each student's dissertation. They provided key inputs to MISDEV'11 students' dissertations which were definitely useful to streamline and improve the contents of their researches  before finally submitting the final copies for examiners' review.

A NAS A WEEK - 24 SAFAR 1434

O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means (of nearness) to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed [al-Maidah, 5:35].

MISDEV'12 ACADEMIC CUM FRIENDSHIP VISIT TO BAN NUA, THAILAND

Picture For Keeps - the lovable children of Ban Nua

18 Dis - MISDEV'12 successfully  organized an academic cum friendship trip to Ban Nua, Thailand from the  7th until 9th December, 2012. 40 delegates from ISDEV consisting of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, lectures as well as students joined in this programme. This academic visit also serves as cordial gesture of a return visit of the 90 delegates strong entourage from Ban Nua Thailand, led by Dr Tobrani,  who visited ISDEV on the 23rd October 2012.

Officiating the Programme - Dr Tobrani welcoming ISDEV delegates 

Officiating the Programme - the affable Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh 

As a request from Dr. Tobrani, the programme was packed with useful activities such as a "Cleanliness Campaign" among Ban Nua school children, a nasyeed teaching session focused on Asma Ul Husna and Salawat, reorganizing the Mini Library of the Ban Nua community as well as an IT session with focus on "Excel" dedicated for the Ban Nua's zakat managers.

Part of the cleanliness program - teeth brushing sessions

Reorganizing the mini library

Teaching session of the nasyeed on Asma ul Husna  

An Excel Workshop in session 

There was also a friendly football match between ISDEV brothers with Wailalak University students as one team playing against the Ban Nua community team. The ISDEV-Wailalak University team won the match on penalties after extra time. 

Ustz Shahir (ISDEV) seconds before scoring the goal for the ISDEV-Walailak Team

A Great Game - The football team from ISDEV with Walailak University and Ban Nua  players

There was a distinct uniqueness in Ban Nua. First ISDEV delegates learned from the trip hands-on on what  Islamic development from the grassroots is in reality. Second they also learned what is meant by knowledge management by upholding the simple rule of "Perform the solat and pay the zakat”. Third the importance of the masjid  as a centre of administration. Fourth was on how zakat is effectively used to help the poor and fifth was the sacrifice made by the villagers of Ban Nua in building the masjid.

At the Floating Market

The self-sustaining Ban Nua community living amid a non-Muslim majority country is a true walk-the-talk inspiration to all ISDEV members.

A NAS A WEEK - 11 SAFAR 1434

Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it [Hadith from the Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 42: Kitab Al-Zuhd Wa Al-Raqa'iq (Book Pertaining To Piety And Softening Of Hearts), Chapter 14: Every Act Of A Believer Is A Blessing For Him, Number 7138].  

   

A NAS A WEEK - 3 SAFAR 1434

And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers [al-Shu'ara', 26:215].

ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION - NOVEMBER 2012

A cross sectional view of  ISDEV fraternity at C06

28 Nov - This month's ISDEV Monthly Supervision was held at the School of Social Sciences Conference Room (C06), USM. The room was packed with more than 70 students, which included RISDEV, MISDEV '11 and  MISDEV'12 as well as ISDEV lecturers attending the supervision.

ISDEV Director, Professor Muhamamd Syukri Salleh (right)
delivering his Tazkirah

The opening slide to Prof. Syukri's Tazkirah

The program started off with the customary Tazkirah session which is a continuity on the series of 'The ISDEV Director Tazkirah' given by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh. The Tazkirah is the second in series in which Prof. Syukri reminded ISDEV fraternity this time about the tribulations that ISDEV had to overcome for the present Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) to be established.

A prospective student of ISDEV (centre):  Experiencing life as a student 

The second session then continued with a lecture by Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi on "Sumber Penyelidikan Daripada Al-Qur'an dan Hadith: Kaedah Pencarian, Penggunaan dan Rujukan" (Research Sources from The Qur'an and the Hadith: Research, Usage and Reference Methods).

Ustaz Dr Shukri (left) stressing a point during his lecture

Dr. Shukri 's lecture consisted of three main matters but due to time constraints only two matters were covered that day.The first was a general guide on the authentic books and websites used in searching for verses from the Qur'an and Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. The second was on the usage of the verse from the Quran and Hadith as a point to support one's statement or discussion in one's research.

Online Books on Quran and Hadith that can be referred to by ISDEV students

The third which was on how to refer to the verses of the Qur'an and Hadith and the style of referencing of the verses of the Qur'an and Hadith used will be covered in the next monthly graduate supervision.

As usual ISDEV members took the opportunity to clarify their doubts on the topic and checked with Dr.Shukri on how to ensure the verses and hadith they had identified could help them in their researches.