A NAS A WEEK - 13 DZULHIJJAH 1430H

Narrated 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "Do not wish to be like anybody except in two cases: The case of a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and that of a man whom Allah has given religious wisdom (i.e., Qur'an and Sunnah) and he gives his verdicts according to it and teaches it." (to others i.e., religious knowledge of Qur'an and Sunnah (Prophet's Traditions))." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92: Holding Fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah, Hadith No. 419].

A NAS A WEEK - 6 DZULHIJJAH 1430H

That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye thereof and feed the distressed ones in want [al-Hajj, 22: 28].

A NAS A WEEK - 28 DZULQA'IDAH 1430H

Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: The day of Arafah, the day of sacrifice, the days of tashriq are (the days of) our festival, O people of Islam. These are the days of eating and drinking [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 13: Fasting (Kitab al-Siyam), Hadith No. 2413].

A NAS A WEEK - 21 DZULQA'IDAH 1430H

Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious [an-Nahl, 16: 125].

AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED EVENT

On 16 October, 2009 proved to be yet another highlight in the annals of ISDEV activities. Two proposal presentations, one by Brother Muhammad Tahir (PhD Candidate) and another by Brother Ekarat Sitisan (Master Candidate – by Research) were successfully granted approval to proceed with the full research.

Brother Muhamad Tahir, ISDEV PhD candidate from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Brother Ekarat Sitisan, ISDEV M.Soc. Sc. candidate from Bangkok, Thailand

Thereafter ISDEV celebrated all newly-weds members in ISDEV with a brotherly advice on marriage from the Director of ISDEV, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh followed by a cake cutting ceremony.

A collective cake cutting ceremony by ISDEV newly-weds members

The wedding cake

Then came the highlight of the day for the first batch of Master in Social Sciences (Islamic Development Management) (or MISDEV ’08) with the “Majlis Restu Ilmu”. The event proved to be an emotionally charged. ISDEV lecturers gave their blessings and permitted (menghalalkan) the knowledge that they have imparted and shared with MISDEV’08. It brought to light the aspects of habl min al nas (relationship between servants of Allah) from mere idealism to actuality.

Some of the MISDEV08 students

Brother Ismail Shafie (left), representing MISDEV08 students, giving a gift to ISDEV via ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh (right)

A special farewell cake for MISDEV08 students

A NAS A WEEK - 14 DZUL QA'IDAH 1430H

Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Apostle (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book No. 2: Belief, Hadith No. 49].