A NAS A WEEK - 7 JAMAD AL-AKHIRAH 1431H

Therefore stand firm (in the straight path) as thou art commanded, thou and those who with thee turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the path); for He seeth well all that ye do [Hud, 11:112].

ISDEV FIRST (MIXED-MODE COURSE) BATCH GRADUATES

Praise is indeed to Allah SWT. After going through the mixed mode programme for 3 semesters, 15 MISDEV ’08 students succeeded to complete their studies. That means 100% of ISDEV pioneering students who are in receipt of their Master in Social Science (Islamic Development Management) degree had made an indelible mark in the history of ISDEV. To commemorate such a feat, a dinner gala was held on 19 March, 2010 at USM Banquet Hall.

The momentous occasion also honoured four MISDEV’08 students who had won the distinctive “Anugerah Disertasi Terbaik ISDEV” which was held for the very first time this year. Besides that, the night also celebrated Pak Sukiman (now Dr Sukiman), ISDEV PhD candidate who had also succeeded to complete his studies at the PhD level.

In all 16 students under the guidance of ISDEV commemorated their accomplishment at the USM 41st Convocation Ceremony held at the Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang the next day.

A NAS A WEEK - 9 JAMAD AL-AKHIRAH 1431H

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: Ten are the acts according to fitra: clipping the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, snuffing water in the nose, cutting the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes and cleaning one's private parts with water. The narrator said: I have forgotten the tenth, but it may have been rinsing the mouth [Hadith form Sahih Muslim, Book 2: The Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah), Chapter 11: Characteristics of Fitra, Hadith No. 0502].

A NAS A WEEK - 2 JAMAD AL-AKHIRAH 1431H

We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur-an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not [Yusuf, 12: 3].

MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

After being in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for about two weeks, the Acting Director of ISDEV Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and Associate Researcher Br. Ahmad Azrin Adnan have finally left for Malaysia this evening.

Dr Sukainah and Br. Azrin with Prof Syukri (middle) at IDB entrance

Their missions at the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) were concluded on Wednesday 12 May 2010 with a presentation at IRTI Staff Seminar. Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad presented a paper on Fundamentals of Islamic Management Methods while Br. Ahmad Azrin Adnan on Theoretical Framework of Islamic Consumer Behaviour.

The IRTI Staff Seminar

Prior to that, Dr Fadzila and Br. Azrin held discourses with prominent Islamic economists Dr Muhammad Umer Chapra and Dr Salman Syed Ali on their respective papers related to the above topics, while simultaneously undertook library research at the IDB library.

Dr Muhammed Umar Chapra commenting on Br. Azrin's paper

In between their missions at IRTI, they also have chances during the weekends to perform umrah in Mekkah and visit Masjid Nabawi in Madinah.

Ready for umrah [at al-Waleed Royal, al-Ghazza, Mekkah]

At Masjid Nabawi, Madinah

To them, their missions at IRTI were indeed very interesting and fruitful. They are hoping to come again to IRTI and stay for a longer period.

A NAS A WEEK - 26 JAMADIL AWWAL 1431H

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Musa Ash'ari that a desert Arab came to the Holy Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) and said: Messenger of Allah, one man fights for the spoils of war; another fights that he may be remembered, and another fights that he may see his (high) position (achieved as a result of his valour in fighting). Which of these is fighting in the cause of God? The Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: Who fights so that the word of Allah is exalted is fighting in the way of Allah [Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 020: Kitab al-Imara, Hadith Number 4684].

DR SUKAINAH & BR. AZRIN CURRENTLY AT IRTI-IDB, JEDDAH

Br. Azrin and wife (left) and Dr Sukainah (right)

with Prof Syukri and wife (middle) at Masjidil Haram, Makkah

Two ISDEV members have been accepted as Visiting Researchers at Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad (a.k.a Dr Sukainah) and Associate Researcher Br. Ahmad Azrin Adnan. They arrived in Jeddah safely on Wednesday 28 April 2010 and went to Makkah the next day for their first umrah. They reported for duty at IRTI on Saturday 1 May 2010 and will InshaAllah be here for about two weeks, until 15 May 2010.

Dr Sukainah & Br. Azrin reported for duty to IRTI Director
General Prof. Dr Bambang P.S. Brodjonegoro

Dr Sukainah is working on Philosophical Underpinnings of Islamic Management Method: Worldview, Epistemology and Ontology, while Br. Azrin is on Islamic Consumer Behaviour: The Need For and Position of Its Theoretical Framework. While here, they will undertake library research at the IDB library, hold discourses with IRTI scholars, especially with the prominent Islamic economists Dr Umer Chapra and Dr Salman Syed Ali, and on Wednesday 12 May 2010, present their research papers at IRTI Internal Seminar .

Introductory meeting with Dr Umer Chapra

We pray that all other ISDEV members too will be given opportunities by Allah swt to be at prominent international institutions such as IRTI-IDB all over the world, InshaAllah. ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh is also currently attached to IRTI-IDB as a Visiting Scholar. He is working on Islamic Management of Poverty.

A NAS A WEEK - 18 JAMADIL AWWAL 1431H

So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of Allah is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith [Al-Ruum, 30: 60].