CALL FOR PAPERS : THE 3RD ISDEV INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE : ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKET, 28-29 OCTOBER 2009

DR MASAKAREE ARDAE: ISDEV NEW POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW & NEW LECTURE SERIES ON KITAB UUM AL-BARAHIN

This April 2009, ISDEV new Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr Maskaree Ardee @ Nik Muhammad Syukri Nik Wan (pic.) will hold a discussion on the aspects of ilmu Tauhid based on Kitab Uum al-Barahin. This discussion has been scheduled to be held on every 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Kitab Uum al-Barahin is a scholarly work of Imam al-Sanusi.

Dr Ardee who is from Pattani, Thailand is proficient in the field of Usuluddin. He had obtained the Bachelor of Arts in Usuluddin (Doctrine & Philosophy) from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and his Masters degree from College of Islamic Studies (Usuluddin) from Prince of Songkla, University Pattani, Thailand. He was conferred the PhD degree in Islamic Civilisation from the School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia with his thesis which reads “Pengaruh dan kesan penulisan al-Imam al-Sanusi terhadap ilmu tauhid di Selatan Thailand”.

Dr Ardee is very articulate in his native Thai language and the Arabic language. However he also speaks fluent Bahasa Malaysia. Dr Ardee’s official appointment as ISDEV post doctoral fellow began on 19 April, 2009 and insya Allah he will be with ISDEV for a year. Ah lan wa sahlan to ISDEV Dr Ardee!

ISDEV SABBATICAL SCHOLAR RETURNS TO IRAN

Dr Shahrokh Mohammad Beygi (pic. above), ISDEV’s Sabbatical Scholar is returning to the Islamic Republic of Iran when his sabbatical at Universiti Sains Malaysia ends on 24 April, 2009. Dr Shahrokh who is from the Department of Persian Language & Literature, Shiraz University Iran was with ISDEV from 28 October, 2008. He was working on An Analysis of Tafseer Books Available in the Library of Universiti Sains Malaysia under the supervision of ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

An unassuming man of benevolence character he never fails to present gifts from Iran such as hand crafted gifts, handmade delicacies of Iran and dates from his own garden, to members of ISDEV. Undoubtedly Dr Shahrokh has forged a strong bond between Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Shiraz University Iran. It is hoped that with his return to his homeland, the bond of Islamic ukhuwwah between Malaysia and the Republic of Iran can be further strengthened. Ameen.

A farewell lunch for Dr Shahrokh was held at ISDEV on Friday 17 April 2009.

Dr Shahrokh (right) with Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh

Dr. Shahrokh with members of ISDEV during his farewell gathering

A NAS A WEEK - 2 JAMADIL AWWAL 1430H

And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; but if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." [Ibrahim, 14: 7].

A NAS A WEEK - 24 RABI'UL AKHIR 1430H

Narrated Wahshi ibn Harb: The Companions of the Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: Apostle of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam), we eat but we are not satisfied. He said: Perhaps you eat separately. They replied: Yes. He said: If you gather together at your food and mention Allah's name, you will be blessed in it [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 27: Kitab al-Atimah, Hadith No. 3755].

A NAS A WEEK - 17 RABI'UL AKHIR 1430

Verily, with every difficulty there is relief [al-Syarh, 94: 6]

ADIEU...AZIZAH

Azizah receiving a farewell gift from Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, representing ISDEV

It came as a surprise. Little did we know that 3rd April, 2009 signified the last day that Azizah Abu Hasan will be part of ISDEV. Commencing 9th April, 2009 our beloved sister Azizah is to start to report for duty at the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (Academic Division), situated at Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang which is situated close to her hometown at Tasek Gelugor.

Azizah, or Kak Azizah, as some of the ISDEV members affectionately call her, has been with ISDEV as its first supporting staff since 2006. Her line of service at USM actually dates back 20 years ago. She had started her career as a Junior Assistant Administrative Personnel at the School of Distance Education. Upon her promotion to Assistant Administrative Personnel (N17) in 2006, she had been assigned to ISDEV, where she began to be one of the most important back-bones in the daily functioning and running of ISDEV.

A brief farewell gathering for Azizah was held at ISDEV on 8th April, 2009. Indeed it is a sad occasion for members of ISDEV. We will definitely miss her all too obliging and yet affable personality.

Azizah besides her ISDEV's work station

A NAS A WEEK - 10 RABI'UL AKHIR 1430H

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) has been reported by Anas b. Malik to have said: Show leniency; do not be hard; give solace and do not create aversion [Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 19: The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wal-Siyar), Hadith No. 4300].

ISDEV POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

With reference to Associated Press of Pakistan dated 14th February 2009, Dr. Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi (pic), ISDEV Post-Doctoral Fellow has been conferred the prestigious Presidential Award for Academic Distinction named Izaz-i-fazeelat for the year 2008 by the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Jan 27, 2009.

The award was conferred on Dr. Abdul Hameed for his outstanding contribution in producing most excellent quality text-books. His text-books have been recognized as the Best Text-Books on the national level in Pakistan. Dr Abdul Hameed Khan (Abbasi) is an Assistant Professor (BPS-19) at the Department of Quran & Tafseer, Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies, at the Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

These eight award-winning text-books, all written in Urdu, have the following titles:

1. Talkees-w-Tasheel Alfauz Alkabeer Fi Usul Altafseer
2. Principles and History of Tafseer
3. Research Methodology
4. Sciences of Tafseer and its Evaluation
5. Textual Study of the Holy Quran
6. Study of Quran-e-Hakeem (Surah Ibraheem, Surah Yousuf and Surah Rahad)
7. Study of Quran-e-Hakeedm (Surah Younas, Surah Hood, Surah Yousuf, Surah Rahad and Surah Ibraheem)
8. Study of Quran-e-Hakeedm (30th part of Quran)

Dr. Abdul Hameed started his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at ISDEV on 18th September 2008. He is currently busy with his Post-Doctoral Fellow research on “Contemporary Methodologies in Tafseer” under the supervision of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

Within this span of time, Dr. Abdul Hameed has produced three articles as follows:

1. Mowatta Imam Malik an Muwatta Imam Muhammad: Introduction and Methodology (in Urdu)
2. Tafseer: Its Origin, Importance and Sources (in English)
3. The Method of Al-Quran Al-Hakeem in the Solution of Conflicts between Husband and Wife (in Arabic)

He also presents regular seminar series on Quranic Arabic for the benefit of university community besides attending the other seminars series and programs of ISDEV regularly.

Congratulations Dr. Abdul Hameed! May Allah be pleased with your efforts. Ameen.