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