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]