A NAS A WEEK - 3 RABI'UL AKHIR 1430

Those who witness no falsehood and, if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honourable (avoidance) [al-Furqaan, 25:72].

A NAS A WEEK - 26 RABI'UL AWWAL 1430

Narrated Ibn Abbas: Allah's Apostle used to say at the time of difficulty, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honourable Throne [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 93: Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah(Tawheed), Hadith No. 526].

DR FADZILA AZNI AHMAD WON BEST PHD THESIS AWARD

Dr Fadzila Azni (left) receiving the Award from Prof Roshada Hashim, the Dean of Institute of Graduate Studies

The Malam Persada Kencana organized by the Institute of Graduate Studies, which was held on 19 December, 2008 proved to be yet another milestone for members of ISDEV. On the said historic night, our beloved member, Dr Fadzila Azni binti Ahmad represented postgraduate student at the PhD level for the School of Social Sciences to receive the Best PhD Thesis Award (Anugerah Tesis PhD Terbaik) for the Pure Arts Cluster. In honour of her achievement, Dr Fadzila Azni (or Dr Sukainah as she is affectionately known) was presented with RM1,000 cash, a certificate and a plaque from Universiti Sains Malaysia on that momentous occasion.

The title of Dr Fadzila Azni's thesis is Management Methods of Islamic Development Institutions in Malaysia.

The Plague

The Certificate

The Cheque

The dinner gala held at The Gurney Hotel & Resort, Penang was organized to celebrate and commemorate winners of USM postgraduate students (Masters and PhD Levels) in their various fields of studies. Besides the Best Thesis Award (Anugerah Tesis Terbaik), the night witnessed recipients in the following categories: Best Research Award (Anugerah Penyelidikan Terbaik), Sanggar Sanjung Award - Research Product Category (Anugerah Sanggar Sanjung - Kategori Produk Penyelidikan), Sanggar Sanjung Award - Publication Category (Journal) (Anugerah Sanggar Sanjung - Kategori Penerbitan (Jurnal) and the prestigious Vice-Chancellor Award 2008 (Anugerah Naib Canselor 2008) receiving their awards.

Congratulations Dr Fadzila Azni! May Allah be pleased with her efforts. Ameen.

Dr Fadzila (right) with other winners

A FAREWELL TO ISDEV FIRST POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW DR MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH

A farewell cake for Dr Muhammad Abdullah

March, 2009 represented a sad time for Dr Muhammad Abdullah, who hails from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It signified the end of his one year tenure as the Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at ISDEV. Dr Muhammad Abdullah commenced his Post Doctoral Research Fellowship on 21 March, 2008 at ISDEV under the supervision of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

Dr Muhammad Abdullah assigned topic was on “Hadith Methodology and Sciences” which has immense importance in the field of Islamic Studies. He shared his findings on the said topic with fellow members of ISDEV through a 10 series of monthly seminar. Amongst the papers presented at the monthly seminars were as follows: ”The necessity of Hadith”, “Collection and Compilation of Hadith”, “Classification of Hadith”, “Introduction to Hadith Literature/Traditionists”, and “Authenticity of Hadith”. These papers will be compiled and there are plans to publish these findings in the near future. InshaAllah with the publication of these papers, access to “Hadith Methodology and Sciences” will be easily accessible to all.

Dr Muhammad Abdullah submitted his writitngs on Hadith Methodology and Sciences to his supervisor-cum-ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh

In addition to the above, Dr Abdullah also conducted an introductory research work on the title "The Doubts of Orientalists on the Authenticity of Hadith and Its Impacts on the Movement of Negation of Hadith in the Sub-Continents". It was an infinite work on Hadith scholarship in the Sub-Continent and will take considerable time for its completion.

Besides being a dedicated scholar on his topic of research and an enthusiastic academician, Dr Muhammad Abdullah, who was granted the Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, is also an accomplished poet. He managed to enthrall and emotionally move fellow members of ISDEV with his poetry recital which was passionately recited in the Urdu language.

He will definitely be missed by those who are close and dear to him at ISDEV. To Dr Muhammad Abdullah, “Terima Kasih dan Selamat Jalan”. May we meet again to continue with our cause in increasing our understanding of Islam.

Last memorial photo of some ISDEV members with Dr Abdullah before his departure

A NAS A WEEK - 19 RABI'UL AWWAL 1430H

Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah [al-Ahzaab, 33: 21].

A NAS A WEEK - 12 RABI'UL AWWAL 1430H

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: The Prophet said, "Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence..." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 56: Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions, Hadith No. 667].

ISDEV IN THE NEWS

A NAS A WEEK - 5 RABI'UL AWWAL 1430H

O ye who believe! If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly [Muhammad, 47: 7].

ISDEV INAUGURAL THESIS WRITING WORKSHOP

The presenters (sitting) & participants (standing)

During the weekend of 21 and 22 February 2009, whilst the majority of the USM citizens were taking a break from the hassle and bustle of university life, the postgraduate students of the Islamic Development Management Programme (PPI) were feasted mentally and spiritually with an intensifying yet gratifying input over the two days’ inaugural Thesis Writing Workshop held at C06.

A total number of 15 lectures were presented during the span of the two days’ workshop which started at 8:00am and ended at 5:30pm.

The workshop, which was meant to specially assist Master of Islamic Development Management (Mixed Mode) students of SIW500 (“Dissertation”) under Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah bin Che Hamat and Master and Phd students (Research Mode) under the supervision of ISDEV members, showed the commitment of all 6 ISDEV lecturers as well as 2 other ISDEV members, in sharing their knowledge and wisdom to fellow students of PPI.

The participants of the workshop besides being intellectually fed were also treated with sumptuous cuisine, fully sponsored by ISDEV lecturers and the School of Social Sciences.

A NAS A WEEK - 27 SAFAR 1430H

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 1: Revelation, Hadith No. 1]

A NAS A WEEK - 20 SAFAR 1430H

He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding [al-Baqarah, 2: 269].

A NAS A WEEK - 13 SAFAR 1430H

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 - 6 SAFAR 1430H

Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan? For (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit, and he will have (besides) a liberal reward [al-Hadiid, 57:11].

A NAS A WEEK - 29 MUHARRAM 1430H

Nawwas b. Sim'an al-Ansiri reported: I asked Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) about virtue and vice. He said: Virtue is a kind disposition and vice is what rankles in your heart and that you disapprove that people should come to know of it [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. 6195].

A NAS A WEEK - 22 MUHARRAM 1430H

So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith [Aali 'Imran, 3:139].

A NAS A WEEK - 15 MUHARRAM 1430H

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]

A NAS A WEEK - 8 MUHARRAM 1430H

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way. [al-Baqarah, 2: 186]

A NAS A WEEK - 1 MUHARRAM 1430H

Narrated 'Umar: I heard the Prophet saying, "The reward of deeds depends on the intentions, so whoever emigrated for the worldly benefits or to marry a woman, his emigration was for that for which he emigrated, but whoever emigrated for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle, his emigration is for Allah and His Apostle." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 58: Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar), Hadith No. 238]

A NAS A WEEK - 24 DZULHIJJAH 1429

But verily thy Lord, - to those who leave their homes (Hijrah) after trials and persecutions, and who thereafter strive and fight for the Faith and patiently persevere - thy Lord, after all this is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [an-Nahl, 16:110]

A NAS A WEEK - 17 DZULHIJJAH 1429

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said, "I have heard that by his good character a man can reach the degree of the one who stands in prayer at night and the one who is thirsty from fasting in the heat of the day." [Hadith from Malik's Muwatta', Book No. 47: Good Character, Hadith No. 47.1.6].