3 ISDEV MEMBERS AT iECONS 2009

On 15-17 July 2009, three ISDEV members were at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, presenting their respective papers at Islamic Economics System Conference (iECONS 2009).

They were Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) who presented a paper entitled "Ke Manakah Hala Tuju Instrumen Sukuk di Malaysia"; Ahmad Azrin Adnan (below left) who presented a paper entitled "The Shari`ah Deliberation Factor as a Basis for Selecting a Bank: A Discussion of Experts"; and Mohamad Salleh Abdullah (below right) who presented a paper entitled "Eksistensi Wakaf Tunai di Pulau Pinang: Satu Analisis Mengenai Potensi dan Mobilisasi Dana Untuk Pembangunan Ekonomi Umat Islam".

iECONS 2009 was co-organised by Faculty of Economics & Muamalat of the USIM and Islamic Finance & Wealth Management Institute (IFWMI).

A NAS A WEEK - 4 SHA'ABAN 1430H

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) forbade that a man should drink while standing [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 26: Drinks (Kitab al-Ashribah), Hadith No. 3708].

A NAS A WEEK - 27 RAJAB 1430H

Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! [Fussilat, 41: 34].

ISDEV FEAST OF "HELLO" AND "FAREWELL"

On 10th July, 2009, ISDEV proved, yet once again, that the Islamic Development Management Studies beats mere rhetoric and theory. In keeping up with the spirit of Islamic brotherhood, a necessary element in the discipline, ISDEV feasted its members to Penang’s infamous Nasi Dalcha and 3 Celebration Cakes. The 3 Cakes signify the growing members of ISDEV as well as to signify “AH LAN WA SAH LAN” (which means “WELCOME” to ISDEV new batch of Masters in Islamic Development Management (Mix-Mode) students) and a sad yet affectionate “FAREWELL” to ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr Saad Siddiqui whose research tenure ends on 27 July, 2009.

The day started with a heart to heart session between ISDEV existing batch of students and the new students at C06, School of Social Sciences. The session was chaired by ABI’s president, PhD candidate, Brother Mohd Salleh Abdullah. After the introductory session, the floor was open to existing ISDEV students for a “sharing” session as ISDEV lecturers were not present during the session. This session provided the platform for the new students to be prepared mentally, physically and emotionally in their quest for knowledge at ISDEV by first getting to know the “likes” and “dislikes” of all ISDEV lecturers.

Before proceeding to taste the delectable fare prepared, ISDEV Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr Saad Siddiqui, from University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan gave some parting words of advice to members of ISDEV. Dr Siddiqui who is leaving Penang on 25th July, 2009 said that he has mixed emotions on his departure. Joy and sorrow are intermixed as besides going back to his home he was about to leave “Paradise on Earth” which he “agreed 200% with Dr Abdul Hamid Khan Abbasi”. Although he was initially lost for words, Dr Siddiqui continued to say that the first memoirs are the most difficult to forget. This is because it is in ISDEV that besides being blessed with this environment of brotherhood and love his exposure to the English language ISDEV really helped him to complete a short hand book in English on Research Methodologies on Hadith.

He concluded his speech by reminding ISDEV members to always have within them these 4 elements of Iman, Virtuous Deeds, to propagate with Truth and to propagate with Patience as encapsulated in the verses of Surah Al-Asr.

5 ISDEV MEMBERS BACK SAFELY IN PENANG

Five ISDEV members - Professor Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni -who were doing research and participating in an international conference in the United Kingdom have arrived home safely on Sunday 5th July 2009. They left Leicester city for Heathrow airport in the morning of Saturday 4th July 2009. While waiting for the flight to Malaysia scheduled in the evening, they have an opportunity to have a lunch and pray at Malaysia Hall in Bayswater and shopped at Oxford Street, Edgware Road and Paddington in London.

At Heathrow airport with Algerian brother Ameur (centre), the taxi driver cum PhD candidate at Markfield Institute of Higher Education who ferried ISDEV members to Heathrow from Leicester

In front of Malaysia Hall, Bayswater, London
Waiting to fly at Heathrow airport, London
At a park in Leicester after the conference

A NAS A WEEK - 20 RAJAB 1430H

Yahya related to me from Malik that he heard that Luqman al-Hakim made his will and counselled his son, saying, "My son! Sit with the learned men and keep close to them. Allah gives life to the hearts with the light of wisdom as Allah gives life to the dead earth with the abundant rain of the sky" [Hadith from Malik's Muwatta', BookNo. 59: Knowledge, Hadith No. 59.1.1].

A NAS A WEEK - 12 RAJAB 1430H

On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against Faith" [al-Baqarah, 2: 286].

7TH DAY IN UK: 3 OTHER ISDEV MEMBERS PRESENTING PAPERS AT LEICESTER CONFERENCE

On Friday 3rd July 2009, three other members participating in the International Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Management and Finance at Leicester University presented their respective papers. It was began by Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh who presented a paper entitled "Management of Islamic Development Approach: A Critical Analysis of the Management of Islam Hadhari in Malaysia", followed by Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad on "Total Quality Management (TQM) From Islamic Perspective: An Epistemological Analysis", and Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar on "The New Economic Policy as a Mechanism of Islamic Conflict Management in a Multicultural Society: The Case of Malaysia".

The Conference concluded in the evening and all the 5 members of ISDEV will be leaving for Malaysia Saturday 4th July 2009. They are expected to arrive Penang on Sunday 5th July 2005.

6TH DAY IN UK: DR ZAHRI & DR ZAKARIA PRESENTING PAPERS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE

Some of the participants of the Conference

On the 6th day in UK (Thursday 2nd July 2009), the five ISDEV members currently in the country participated in the International Conference on Islamic Perspectives on Management and Finance at Leicester University. The day witnessed Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh chairing a session on "Shariah Parameter on Islamic Swap as Hedging Mechanism in Islamic Finance" by Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dato' Dusuki of International Shari'ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA), Dr Zahri Hamat presenting a paper on "Business Zakat Accounting and Taxation in Malaysia", and Dr Zakaria Bahari presenting a paper on "Change of Product Structure in Islamic Banking: The Case in Malaysia".

Professor Syukri chairing the Session

Dr Zahri (above) and Dr Zakaria (below) presenting their papers

ISDEV'S NEW BATCH OF MASTERS (MIXED MODE) STUDENTS REGISTER AT THE SCHOOL

Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah Che Hamat briefs the new students

On 2nd July, 2009, as part of the Orientation Programme for new postgraduate students at the School of Social Sciences, ISDEV welcomed nineteen new students who have been accepted to pursue their Masters in Islamic Development Management for the academic year 2009/2010. The briefing, held at the meeting room of the school (C06), was led by Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah Che Hamat. In the short time frame allocated for the session, Dr Abdul Fatah managed to give a brief general overview of the structure of ISDEV, the courses to be attended by the students, the activities held by ISDEV and the modus operandi of the class to the new students.

5TH DAY IN UK: RESEARCH AT ISLAMIC FOUNDATION CONCLUDED

After spending the whole two days researching at the Islamic Foundation library, ISDEV members concluded their research this evening, Wednesday 1 July 2009. In between the research they took the opportunity to get to know as many new friends as possible at the Foundation, apart from holding tazkirah after every maghrib and fajr prayers.

The ISDEV members - Professor Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni - will move to Ibis Hotel near the University of Leicester tomorrow morning, Thursday 2 July 2009, to participate in a conference on Islamic Perspective on Management and Finance.

Prof Syukri with Dr Mawil Izzi Dien, Reader in Islamic Studies and Arabic at the University of Wales Lampeter who happened to visit the Foundation

With brother Suleman Khan (centre), the Manager of the Conference Centre of the Foundation

With brother Mohamad Islam Fernandez (centre) who has taken care of the accommodation, meals and welfare of the ISDEV members while at the Foundation

With sister Humeyra (third from right), the Head of the Foundation's library

With brother Abdul Haye, the staff of the Foundation's library

Dr Zahri delivering a tazkirah Research concluded at the Islamic Foundation

MEETING PROFESSOR KHURSHID AHMAD

While researching at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, ISDEV members led by Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh on Tuesday 30th June met well-known Islamic economist Professor Khurshid Ahmad, who is the Chancellor of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE) and Dr Manazir Ahsan, the Rector of MIHE cum the Director General of the Islamic Foundation.

The meeting renewed a 20 years relationship of Professor Syukri with the Foundation. Both Professor Khurshid and Dr Manazir suggested a close collaboration between ISDEV and the MIHE/Islamic Foundation. Among the possible forms of collaboration are Visiting scholars' programme at MIHE/Islamic Foundation for ISDEV members and students and Post-Doctoral Fellowship at ISDEV for MIHE/Islamic Foundation's academic staff.

Prof Syukri and colleagues greeted by Prof Khurshid (2nd from right), witnessed by Dr Manazir (left)

Prof Khurshid and Prof Syukri

4TH DAY IN UK: STARTING RESEARCH WORKS AT THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION