3RD DAY IN UK: MOVING FROM OXFORD TO LEICESTER

The five ISDEV members who are currently in the United Kingdom have on Monday 29th June moved to Leicester from Oxford, about 80 miles north of the later. They arrived at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, also the campus of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE), at about 12.30 noon.

They will be here until 2nd July, to continuing carrying out their respective researches. Professor Syukri is researching on the foundation of Islamic development, Dr Zakaria on the Islamic capital market, Dr Zaini on Islamic conflict management, Dr Zahri on the zakat accounting and Dr Fadzila Azni on the management of Islamic development institutions. They have had a brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop in late afternoon of the day.

Checking out from the Ethana Guest House in Oxford

In front of the MIHE administrative building

A brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop

SECOND DAY IN UK - RESEARCH WORKS CONTINUE IN LONDON

On Sunday 28th June, Professor Syukri and his entourage proceeded to London to carry on with their research. They spent the whole day at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Park Road, Book Plus in Edgewear Road, and Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park.

Arriving London from Oxford, at the Marble Arch Underground (Tube) Station
Islamic Cultural Centre
Islamic Cultural Centre
At the Book Plus
Briefing by brother Anas, the owner of the Book Plus

One of Muslims speakers at Speaker's Corner leading solatul-`asar before delivering his speech
Listening to the Muslim speaker
Observing arguments between a Muslim (the man) with a Qadiani's advocate (the woman)

A NAS A WEEK - 5 RAJAB 1430H

Abu Sa'id and abu Huraira reported that they heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Never a believer is stricken with discomfort, hardship or illness, grief or even with mental worry that his sins are not expiated for him [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. 6242].

ISDEV MEMBERS ARRIVED SAFELY IN UK AND STARTED THEIR WORKS

The five ISDEV members - Prof Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni - had landed at Heathrow and ferried to Oxford safely on Saturday morning, 27th June. After a brief rest at Ethana Guest House in Cowley, Oxford, they started their works by visiting University of Oxford and seeking for latest literatures and publications around the University, especially at the Blackwell at George Street, near the Bodlein Library.

Checking-in at Penang International Airport

Waiting for departure at KLIA

Watching in-flight movie
Safely landed at Heathrow
In-front of one of Oxford's landmark near Bodlein Library of the Oxford University
In front of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Researching on the latest publications at Blackwell
At Oxford University Press
Visited brother Ibrahim Stanton and family at Juxon Street, an old British friend of Prof Syukri

ISDEV MEMBERS GO GLOBAL

It’s another milestone for ISDEV this July. Five ISDEV members are scheduled to fly off to United Kingdom to participate at the Two-Day Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Management and Finance organized by the School of Management, University of Leicester, United Kingdom. The conference which will be held on 2nd July 2009 to 3rd July, 2009 will witness five of ISDEV members presenting the following papers:-

Professor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Management of Islamic Development Approach: A Critical Analysis of the Management of Islam Hadhari in Malaysia










Dr Zakaria Bahari, The Changes Of Product Structural In Islamic Banking: Case Study In Malaysia








Dr Mohamad Zaini bin Abu Bakar, The New Economic Policy As A Mechanism Of Islamic Conflict Management In The Multicultural Society: The Case Of Malaysia







Dr Zahri Hamat, Business Zakat Accounting and Taxation in Malaysia










Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, Total Quality Management (TQM) from Islamic Perspective: An Epistemological Analysis

Prior to the Conference, they will be in Oxford and London to carry out research on their respective projects. They are also scheduled to meet Professor Khurshid Ahmad, a well-known Islamic economist and Dr Manazir Ahsan, the Director of the Islamic Foundation in Leicester on 3oth June.

ISDEV PROLIFIC POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW DR ABDUL HAMEED KHAN ABBASI BIDS GOODBYE

A farewell cake for Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi

In a short span of nine months, ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi, a resident from the District Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, bade goodbye to fellow members of ISDEV as his flight home to Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan has been scheduled on 17th June, 2009.

Dr Abdul Fatah delivers his farewell words to Dr Abdul Hameed, witnessed (from left to right) by Ustaz Zul-kifli, Dr Zakaria and Dr Mohamad Zaini

A highly prolific researcher and academician Dr Abbasi, who was awarded the Post Doctoral Fellowship by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, started his post doctoral at ISDEV on 18th September, 2009. Amongst the activities carried out by Dr Abbasi was his Post Doctoral Research work on “Contemporary Methodologies in Tafseer” under the supervision of Professor Dr. Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

Dr Abdul Hameed receiving one of his certificates of achievement at ISDEV from ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh

Regarding the Director of ISDEV as his supervisor, Dr Abdul Hameed mentioned that he was indeed blessed to have the ideal supervisor in the world whom he regarded as a man of wisdom, man of principles and a man of excellent manners. What amazed him was the adaptability of Professor Muhammad Syukri to be a teacher when a teacher is needed, to be a brother and friend when a confidante is needed and a mursyid when guidance is much sought after.

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi felt that “ISDEV was like paradise” to him on earth, affirmed that the research atmosphere provided by ISDEV was very ideal indeed. This was further enhanced by a first-rate Masjid Al-Malik Khalid and first-class library facilities. He further supported this assertion by stating that the people at ISDEV were all very lovely, loving and very cooperative indeed.

Besides being fully engaged in his research, within these nine months at ISDEV, Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi accomplished to produce six research articles in the field of Tafseer and Hadith. Two of these articles have been published whilst the remaining four articles are due for publications in Lahore and India soon.

In addition to these activities, Dr Abdul Hameed also presented a total of 18 seminars on Quranic Arabic which was duly attended by ISDEV members. He also proved to be an attentive and active participant in the seminars organized by ISDEV such as the seminars on Hadith Methodologies and Sciences, Methodologies of Tafseer al-Quran and Reserach Methodology at ISDEV.

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi mentioned that he would definitely miss the chillies which were sweet in Malaysia. He deduced that the reasons behind Malaysians being polite and sweet people could be most likely attributable to the consumption of these sweet tasting chillies.

Before parting and flying back to his hometown, Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi has the following reminders to fellow members of ISDEV as his parting words:-

“Obey Allah, cling strongly to Islamic values, read and follow the Quran, respect others and do not create problems for other people or Allah will create problems for you in this life and in the hereafter. And remember to tawakkal ‘ala Allah!”

Dr Abdul Hameed Khan Abbasi with some of ISDEV members on his last day at USM

A NAS A WEEK - 29 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

O ye who believe! persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper [Aali 'Imraan, 3: 200].

RESEARCH ON ZAKAT ACCOUNTING BRINGS MEMBERS TO SINGAPORE

Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) and Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh (right) glancing through a book at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) bookshop

Little was known that from 31st May, 2009 to 2nd June, 2009 Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Director of ISDEV, Dr Zakaria Bahari and fellow postgraduate of ISDEV Shereeza binti Mohamed Saniff were in Singapore to carry out the field work on part of the research pertaining to Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia.

Although the main focus to collect the data for the said research was at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), nonetheless these researches maximised the time allocated with visits to Wisma Indah (among the first wakaf property to be developed by MUIS), Darul Arqam Singapore (Converts’ Association of Singapore) and the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) which is located next to the National University of Singapore Campus.

The trip was definitely an eye opener for these researchers as they witnessed a number of events during the trip which gave them a glimpse to the broad spectrum of the Malay Muslims life in Singapore. Nonetheless the achievements in management and development of vital infrastructures for the Malay Muslims in Singapore are definitely commendable. The visit to the latest masjid built by MUIS in Singapore, Masjid Al-Mawaddah, in Sengkang leaves one feeling a sense of exhilaration of the achievements made by our brothers and sisters in Singapore even though they constitute the minorities in Singapore.

Dr Zakaria and Prof Syukri with brother Helmy of MUIS at Masjid Al-Mawaddah

SUKIMAN & WARJIO GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED WITH THESIS

The monthly graduate supervision for May, 2009 witnessed the proposal presentation of 2 of ISDEV’s PhD candidates which was held at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia.

Sukiman presented his thesis proposal entitled “Kaedah Pembangunan Aceh Pasca Tsunami: Analysis Ke Arah Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam” whilst Warjio (pic.) presented his theis proposal entitled “Politik Dakwah Di Indonesia: Kajian Kes Ke Atas Parti Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) 1998-2008”.

After receiving feedback from the evaluators of the proposed thesis and fellow members of ISDEV, both candidates received the affirmation to proceed with the thesis proper.

Congratulations and all the best to Sukiman and Warjio!

A NAS A WEEK - 22 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam)) as saying: A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supporting the other [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. 6257].

A NAS A WEEK - 15 JAMADIL AKHIR 1430H

It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them. Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee... [Aali 'Imran, 3: 159].