Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi in Ankara, Turkey

Opening Paper by Prof. Andrew Rippin: 
"On Contemporary Scholarly Reading of the Qur'an"

28 July - ISDEV lecturer, Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi was given a great opportunity, to be among famous academicians of the world, as one of the presenters at the 1st International Symposium on Rethinking the Qur'an. With the theme on Quranic Worldview, the symposium was held at Gur Kent Hotel, Ankara, Turkey from 2 until 8 May 2013. The symposium was organized by the Research Institute for Philosophical Foundation of Disciplines.

At the Research Institute for Philosophical Foundation of Disciplines

The Research Institute for Philosophical Foundation of Disciplines set the main objective of the symposium to establish that whatever is termed as tasawwur (or worldview) must be built from the ultimate main source that is the Qur'an. First it is not right that a tasawwur is said to be an Islamic tasawwur if it is based on the mind and logic alone; second “Quranic Worldview” is a new field which is not found in any symposium or conference that discusses about it; and third, the need to expose to the Muslim community in Turkey about this Quranic worldview. It is hoped that this Quranic worldview can become the mould to shape their lives.

Lunchtime: Dr Shukri (left) with Prof. Oliver Leaman (right) from  
University of Kentucky 

The participants of this symposium were academicians came from all parts of the world. Among them were from Lebanon, Egypt, Gambia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia (Mecca & Medinah), Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Canada, USA, Australia, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Holland, Algeria, Scotland and Malaysia.

With Prof. Werner G. Jeanrond (right) from the University of Oxford, 
an expert in the field of Theological Hermeneutics

This symposium was also attended by a number of world renowned academicians such as Prof. Andrew Rippin from the University of Victoria, Canada; Prof. Ziauddin Sardar from London and Prof. Oliver Leaman from the University of Kentucky, USA. 

A picture for keeps - with the Mayor of Ankara (third from right), Kamil Kilic

A NAS A WEEK - 20 RAMADHAN 1434H

Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it [Hadith from the Translation of Sahih Muslim Book 042: Piety and Softening Of Hearts, Hadith Number: 7138].

THE 8TH ISDEV INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE WORKSHOP 2013: CALL FOR PAPERS

ISDEV  will organize The 8th ISDEV International Graduate Workshop (INGRAW 2013) for 2 days starting from 30 October until 31 October 2013. The workshop will be held at Universiti Sains Malaysia Conference Hall, USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

The deadline for the submission of abstract is 30th August 2013. Abstract could be emailed to Azreen Hamiza Abdul Aziz at azreenhamiza@yahoo.com

Further details of the Workshop are available at ingraw-2013.blogspot.com

A NAS A WEEK - 12 RAMADHAN 1434

And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station [al-Isra', 17:79].

ISDEV DELEGATES FACILITATE WORKSHOP IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Dr Hajah Masnon, Ra'es KUPU SB, presenting a gift to Prof. Syukri at the Worskhop's Dinner

16 July - ISDEV Director, Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh and ISDEV lecturer, Ustaz Dr. Mohd. Shukri Hanapi were recently invited by the Kolej Universiti Perguruan Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), Brunei Darussalam in the capacity as facilitators for a workshop on Quality Assurance of Academic Management.

A presentation simply from the heart by Prof Syukri

The workshop was held at Mangrove Paradise Resort, Bandar Seri Begawan for three days from 4, 6 and 7 July 2013. The main objective of this workshop was to improve the understanding and management of the administration and management of KUPU SB highest academic administrators workforce so as to ensure quality and high standards of teaching and learning at KUPU SB simultaneously positioning KUPU SB as a more competitive educational institution globally in preparation of facing intense competition of the regional and international challenges of higher education.

Ustaz Dr Shukri presenting his paper

ISDEV delegates who acted as the facilitators helped the highest management of KUPU SB (Ra'es, Deputy Ra'es, Assistant Ra'es, Deans, Directors and Heads of Administrators) to revise and strategize its strategic plan, particularly in its academic quality. Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh delivered a talk on  Falsafah dan Pelan Tindakan Kualiti dalam Pengurusan Akademik di IPT (The Philosophy and Quality Action Plan in Academic Management of Public Higher Education Institution) as well as facilitating on Penambahbaikan Rancangan Strategik KUPU SB 2015-2019 (Improving the KUPU SB Strategic Plan 2015-2019). In the meantime, Ustaz Dr. Mohd. Shukri Hanapi delivered a talk on Tasawur Kualiti Akademik (The Worldview of Academic Quality).

Participants of the workshop including Prof. Syukri (seated second from the left)
and Ustaz Dr. Mohd Shukri (seated first from the left)

ISDEV too brought Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad bin Hj Mohammad, Director of Quality Centre USM, who delivered two introductory talks at the Workshop, that is on Kepentingan Jaminan Kualiti Akademik di IPT (The Importance of Academic Quality Assurance in Higher Education Institutions) and Amalan Jaminan Kualiti Akademik di IPT: Kriteria dan Standard Malaysia (Practices of Academic Quality Assurance in Higher Education Institutions: Criteria and Standards in Malaysia).

A NAS A WEEK - 6 RAMADHAN 1434H

Ibn Umar (radhiAllahu 'anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) as saying: Seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) in the last (ten nights). If one among you shows slackness and weakness (in the earlier part of Ramadan), it should not be allowed to prevail upon him in the last week [Hadith from the Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 6: Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith Number 2621].

ISDEV DELEGATES IN TUNISIA

Academic networking - Prof Syukri exchanging
contact information with Zeineb Zouari from Sousse University (left) and Assoc. Prof Dr Thouraya Haj Amor from Monastir University (right), Tunisia

12 July - ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari were on a 26 hour flight to Sfax, Tunisia to participate in the 2nd Sfax International Forum on Islamic Conference. They were there from 25th June till 2nd July 2013. The conference was organized by the University of Sfax and Tunisian Association of Zakat, with the cooperation of IRTI of the Islamic Development Bank.

Prof. Syukri (right) presenting his paper, chaired by Prof Dr Dhafer Saidane from Skema Business School, France (fourth from right)

The theme of the conference was on the Alleviation of Poverty Through Zakat, Waqf and Microfinance. Prof. Muhammad Syukri presented his paper on “Contemporary Vision of Poverty and Islamic Strategies for Poverty Alleviation”. His paper was meant to revisit the understanding of the so-called Islamic concept and strategies of poverty. Prof Syukri felt the need to emphasize on a true understanding of poverty as there seems to be numerous talks on Islamic institutions such as zakat and waqf to alleviate poverty, yet leaving the very meaning of the poverty undefined.

No time was spared - two postgraduate students from Sfax University seeking Dr. Zakaria's (right)
viewpoint during the break

Dr. Zakaria Bahari presented his paper on “From Subsistence to Productive Zakat : A Way for Poverty Alleviation of the Zakat Centre in Penang, Malaysia.” In the same line as Prof Syukri, Dr Zakaria pointed out that the various means and approaches currently undertaken in alleviating poverty is mainly through the western ethno-centric definition of poverty which are measured by ethno-centric indicators as carried out by the Islamic institutions such as zakat and waqf. This has led to the inability to tackle poverty alleviation holistically from the Islamic viewpoint as the instruments and tools used are based on the ethno-centric indicators. These tools have shown to be insufficient tools of analysis when solving matters related to Islam. This definitely has to be corrected.

A NAS A WEEK - 29 SHA'BAN 1434

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful (al-Baqarah, 2: 185).

ISDEV MONTHLY GRADUATE SUPERVISION

The Tazkirah : The Method of Seeking Knowledge based on Tauhiid

1 July - The ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision for June 2013 was held at the University Conference Hall (DPU) of Universiti Sains Malaysia on Friday 28 June, 2013. The program started at 9.30am with a brief Tazkirah delivered by Ustaz Dr. Mohd. Shukri Hanapi who emphasized on “The Method of Seeking Knowledge Based on Tauhid” (Kaedah Menuntut Ilmu Berasaskan Tauhid).

A serious Dr. Shukri delivering the Tazkirah

Dr. Shukri used Surah Al–‘Alaq as a template to explain that in whatever one does the dependence of hope on Allah SWT should at all times be present. However the scope of his Tazkirah, by making reference to Surah Al–‘Alaq, was about seeking knowledge. He stressed that one must have belief that Allah SWT is the absolute owner of knowledge and when one has learned to have self-discipline, pray, strive and place reliance on Allah SWT in seeking knowledge then the knowledge sought will be given blessings and mercy and thus brings success.

This Tazkirah session of the “Tarbiyah Perngarah” which was customarily delivered by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh during ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision was adjourned to the next month. Prof Syukri and his Deputy, Dr. Zakaria Bahari were in Tunisia, representing USM and ISDEV, to present their papers at the 2nd Sfax International Forum on Islamic Conference.

Dr Fadzila Azni lectured on Operational Definitions

The next session then continued with Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad delivering her lecture on “Operational Definitions”. A few students were asked to answer several questions based on their thesis and dissertation for a much better and in-depth understanding. A Q & A session also arose after her lecture. The supervision ended at 12.30 pm.

Ustaz Syakir (front-right) answering a question posed by Dr Fadzila Azni