FORGIVE AND FORGIVING

In conjunction with the Eid, the article below by ISDEV ASTS Fellow Mohd Shukri Hanapi would probably relevant to many. The article (in Malay) has just appeared in September's Milenia Muslim last week.

ISDEV EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER 2011

In conjunction with the Graduate Colloqium of the School of Social Sciences, the following events will take place at ISDEV on 14th and 15th September 2011:

1. MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION

14 SEPTEMBER 2011 (WEDNESDAY)
8.30.00 AM - 10.00 AM
CONFERENCE ROOM C06
TOPIC: GRADUATE RESEARCH AT ISDEV

2. GRADUATE DISCOURSE: PHD PROPOSAL PRESENTATION

15 SEPTEMBER 2011 (THURSDAY)
9.00am - 10.30am
CONFERENCE ROOM C06

Candidate: Mohd Saharudin Shakrani

Topic: Pembayaran Zakat Pendapatan dan Cukai: Kesan dan Implikasi ke atas Pilihan Pembiayaan dan Nilai Firma Islam di Bursa Malaysia (Zakat and Tax Payment: Its Impact and Implication on Finance and Values of the Bursa Malaysia's Firms)

Main Supervisor: Dr. Zakaria Bahari
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Zahri Hamat
Assessor: Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Fatah Che Hamat

3. WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR NEW ISDEV STUDENTS

15 SEPTEMBER 2011 (THURSDAY)
10.30.00am - 12.00 PM
CONFERENCE ROOM C06
ORGANISER: ISDEV ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (ABI)

4. 'IDUL FITRI CEREMONY

15 SEPTEMBER 2011 (THURSDAY)

12.30 pm

CONFERENCE ROOM C06

5. INDIVIDUAL GRADUATE SUPERVISION

Date and time fixed by respective supervisors in between 13rd-15th September 2011.

A NAS A WEEK - 29 RAMADHAN 1432H

So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. (Adhere to) the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created (all) people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah . That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know [Al-Ruum, 30:30].

EID MUBARAK

WISHING ALL A HAPPY EID MUBARAK.
May Allah SWT qualifies us to celebrate the Eid.

MORE NEWS ON ISDEV IN MEDAN NEWSPAPERS

Sumut Pos, 4 Ogos 2011

Harian Analisa, Khamis, 4 Ogos 2011

Sumut Pos, Rabu, 3 ogos 2011

Jurnal Medan, Isnin, 1 ogos 2011

Harian Andalas, Sabtu, 30 Julai 2011

Harian Andalas, Khamis, 29 Julai 2011

Harian Orbit, Khamis, 28 Julai 2011

RAMADHAN@ISDEV: THE WEEKLY TUESDAY’S LECTURE

A lecture on tajwid by Ustaz Mohd Shahir Akram Hassan

16 August - This week’s lecture focused on ‘Tajwid’ (rules of Quranic reading) delivered by Ustaz Shahir Akram Hassan while the Tazkirah was given by Ustaz Mohd Syakir. As usual, the lecture started with the solo rendition of the nasyid ‘Sunnah Orang Berjuang’ performed by Ustaz Mohd Syakir.

However this time around Ustaz Syakir took the opportunity to explain the meaning contained in the lyrics of the nasyid. The nasyid reminds its listener that it is part of the way of a Muslim to face the hardest of challenges when earnestly striving for the cause of Allah SWT. It also serves to remind Muslims that they are not allowed to easily give up before achieving the success as there lies within the deep conviction of these Muslims that Allah SWT has promised a precious reward for those who constantly strive for the sake of Allah SWT.

Adding to this, Professor Muhammd Syukri Salleh said that it was not only a matter of striving in Allah’s SWT cause that we cannot give up easily, but includes every deed in our daily lives that must be done with full of sincerity. The spirit to aim for the best and achieve success is also necessary ingredients for those who strive for the sake of Allah SWT. He disclosed the following three steps necessary to achieve success:-

• Discipline
• Procedure
• Quality

The Tazkirah delivered by Ustaz Syakir, thereafter, stressed on the importance of ‘Doa’ (Supplication). A Muslim is obliged to ask help from Allah SWT through doa not only in the most difficult of times but the doa to Allah SWT should ideally be done every minute. There is also the ingrained need to believe that sooner or later that the doa will definitely be answered by Allah SWT (as stated in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:186). However, if one feels that there are certain times that Allah SWT does not seem to hear and answer the doa, Imam Nawawi through his compilation of the 40 Hadith, set out the several reasons for this affliction which amongst others are as follows:-.

• A faithful believer who fails to fulfill the rights of Allah; and
• A faithful believer who believes in the existence of jannah (heavens) and nar (hell) but performs acts which indicates his beliefs as the exact opposite.

The main lecture of the day given by Ustaz Shahir then continued with the main topic on Tajwid. For this lesson, he had dedicated the time given to teach about the rulings on “Mad Badl” and “Mad Shibhi Badal”. The reason for the need to differentiate between these two rulings is because it will affect one’s reading of the Quranic text when faced with them. This is so in the event there is a need to waqf (stop) or to wasl (continue) the reading. However one is to take note that the general ruling for these Mad Badl and Mad Shibhi Badl is of two harakat (length of reading).

The lecture ended at 4.30 pm with the recitation of Tasbih Kiffarah and Surah Al-Asr followed by the congregational ‘Asr prayer.

RAMADHAN@ISDEV: ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION

Tuan Haji Abdul Aziz Tahar delivering a lecture on Preparations for Fieldwork

10 August – This month’s Graduate Supervision was held at the Conference Room C06, School of Social Sciences with more than 30 students attending the programme. The Director of ISDEV, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh attended this supervision whilst the Deputy Director, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and Tuan Hj Abdul Aziz Tahar were the speakers of the day.

The programme started with a Tazkirah delivered by Ustaz Shukri Hanapi who discussed about the contents of Surah As-Saff (61:2-3) and Surah Al-Baqarah (2:64-71). He highlighted that the abomination of Allah to Muslims who do not practice what they preached and the behaviour of the ummah of Prophet Musa when asked to kill the cow. In his reminder, he included several actions that students can practice in order to become a good person such as not to create many excuses in order to avoid doing a task given, not to postpone any work, and not to ask irrelevant questions when receiving any tasks.

The programme then continued with the main objective which is the discussion about students’ thesis focusing on the objective and field of study. Dr Fadzila Azni led this session by answering all questions asked by the students.

An hour later it was Tuan Hj Abdul Aziz Tahar’s turn to share his experience on how to conduct a successful field work for the student’s research. He also gave some useful tips for students in preparing their field work. Students took the chance to ask him several questions and received some ideas pertaining to conducting field work research. It truly was an honour for the students to receive such a useful guideline and explanation by an experienced statistician.

At 1.00 pm, the supervision ended with recitation of Tasbih Kiffarah and Surah Al-Asr followed by a nasyid solo performance from Ustaz Syakir.

Some of ISDEV's graduates attending the Monthly Supervision

A NAS A WEEK - 22 RAMADHAN 1432

Ibn Umar (radhiallahu 'anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) as saying: He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last ten (nights of Ramadhan) [Hadith take from the Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 006: The Book of Fasting: Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith number 2622].

RAMADHAN@ISDEV: ISDEV IFTAR (BREAKING OF FAST) - SIMPLE YET FULL OF THANKS!

ISDEV's fraternity and guests breaking the fast

10 AugustThe calmness of USM Banquet Hall was turned into a remarkable moment when over 100 ISDEV students and guests gathered together to break the fast and performed the Maghrib prayers congregationally.

The event was made more meaningful when the Dean of Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Professor Roshada Hashim and her family members attended as the VIP guests of ISDEV IFTAR. Also in attendance at this event were ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and his family members and Deputy Director Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad.

According to the ISDEV IFTAR Event Director, Ustaz Shukri Hanapi, this event was held not only to break the fast together but to enhance the relationship among ISDEV members and their family as well as to gain blessings from Allah SWT during this Ramadhan month.......ding colour to this event, the guests were served with the delicious kampong style dishes and indulged in the sweetness of the variety of cakes and traditional Indonesian k

After eating the sumptuous spread prepared, ISDEV members and guests then performed the Isya’ and Tarawih prayers congregationally. The event became more remarkable when Ustaz Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi ended it with his solo and live rendition of a nasyid ‘Islam Yang Telah Berkembang’.

Listening to brief welcoming speech by Ustaz Mohd Shukri Hanapi

Listening to Ustaz Shukri Hanapi's brief welcoming speec

RAMADHAN@ISDEV: THE WEEKLY TUESDAY’S LECTURE

9 AUGUST - This week’s lecture was given by Ustaz Yasir at ISDEV Meeting Room C05 with the title ‘Hukum Nikah’ while the Tazkirah was delivered by Ustaz Syahir Akram Hassan who stressed about the importance of benevolent deed throughout this holy month of Ramadhan.

This week’s lecture started atypically then previous lectures because there was a solemn yet powerful rendition of a nasyid titled ‘Sunah Orang Berjuang’ performed solely by Ustaz Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi.

The Tazkirah led this lecture session with the discussion on the importance of benevolent deeds Ramadhan. According to Ustaz Syahir, based on Surah Al-A’raf(Chapter 7), all Muslims are urged to perform benevolent deeds as much as possible and to do so with full of sincerity towards Allah SWT. All these are done to avoid one from being part of the ‘Ashab Al-A’raf’ (they are the people who will sit on a high wall during the Hereafter as they are neither admitted to heaven or hell). There are various opinions from the Muslim scholars as to the characteristics of these ‘Ashab Al-A’raf’ that led them there but the most important is to get the forgiveness from Allah SWT because our final abode as Muslims will be in jannah (heaven). Thus, Ustaz Syahir reminded all students to perform benevolent deeds with full of sincerity and taqwa as much as they can especially in this Ramadhan month.

The session then continue with another topic about Hukum Nikah (Rules of Marriage). Students were very attentive to Ustaz Yasir’s lecture. He explained about the hukum (rulings) one by one and the students seemed to fully grasp the topic discussed.

Q & A session was held at the end of this lecture. Amongst those took part in the Q & A session were the of ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and ISDEV Statistician staff, Tuan Hj Abdul Aziz Tahar. Before the session ended, Professor Syukri also took this opportunity to introduce the School’s Academic staff to ISDEV students. They are Dr. Shariffah Suraya Syed Jamaludin and Dr. Nur Asmat Ismail. The lecture ended at 4.30 pm with the recitation of Tasbih Kiffarah and Surah Al-Asr followed by the congregational ‘Asr prayer.

A NAS A WEEK - 15 RAMADHAN 1432H

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months [al-Qadr, 97:3].

ISDEV WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

With the blessings of this Holy month of Ramadhan, ISDEV welcomes its four new supporting staff. They are Tuan Haji Abd Aziz Tahar (Statistician) (above left), Nor Diana bt Mohamad (Publication Assistant Officer) (above right), Hanim Noor (Administrative Assistant) (below right) and Noor Shazila bt Ishak (Administrative Assistant) (below left).

Tuan Haji Abdul Aziz Tahar is an experienced research practicioner specialising in data collection and data quality control. Previously he worked at the Centre of Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS). The other three staff Hanim, Nor Diana and Noor Shazila replaced respectively, Melyssa Nadiea who was transferred to the School of Housing, Building and Planning, Nor Hidayah Saad who resigned to work in a private company in Sabah and Jawani Abdul Hamid who resigned to work in a government agency in Penang.

With the coming of the four new staff, ISDEV currently has a new batch of supporting staff that is believed to be not only able to continue the excellent work of the previous batch of staff but also to move ISDEV further towards a more rapid progress, InshaAllah.

RAMADHAN@ISDEV: THE WEEKLY TUESDAY’S LECTURE

August – This week’s lecture was given by Ustaz Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi at ISDEV Meeting Room C05 with the title

2 August – This week’s lecture was given by Ustaz Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi at ISDEV Meeting Room C05 with the title Ethics of Study.

In his lecture, Ustaz Syakir stressed on the important role of a teacher and the ways students should respect them. Amongst them are a student:-

· should not walk in front of his teacher,

· should not sit on the place of his teacher,

· should not begin a conversation except with permission,

· should not talk to another during classes,

· should not ask a question unless with permission, and

· must be punctual at any occasion.

All these are done to ensure that the students will gain the pleasure of Allah SWT (mardhatillah) and be successful in his study.

A Q & A session ensued at the end of the lecture. Amongst those who took part in the Q & A session were Director of ISDEV, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and Deputy Director, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad. The lecture ended at 5.00 pm with the recitation of Tasbih Kiffarah and Surah Al-Asr followed by the congregational Asar prayer.