A NAS A WEEK - 22 DHUL HIJJAH 1434

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [al-Zumar, 39:53].

A NAS A WEEK - 16 DHUL HIJJAH 1434

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah () said, "Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge. 

[Muslim, Book 13, Hadith 1381].

A NAS A WEEK - 13 DHUL HIJJAH 1434

Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except (according to) what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease [al-Talaaq, 65:7].

CALL FOR PAPERS

 

 
ISDEV will organize The 7th ISDEV International Islamic Development Management Conference (IDMAC 2013) with the theme "Towards Islamic Research Methodology" for 2 days starting from 9 December until 10 December 2013. The conference will be held at Universiti Conference Hall, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

The deadline for the submission of abstract is 7 November 2013. Abstract could be emailed to Shahir Akram Hassan at shahir_isdev@yahoo.com.

Further details of the conference are available at https://idmac7.blogspot.com

ISDEV LECTURE SERIES BY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR TAN SRI DR. MUHAMMAD KAMAL HASAN

 

THE HEART OF THE PROBLEMS VIS-A-VIS THE PROBLEMS OF THE HEART

With great pleasure and reverence, Professor Ulung of the Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Professor Tan Sri Dr. Muhammad Kamal Hasan will be delivering the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) Lecture Series on Monday 21 October, 2013 at 9:00am at the University Conference Hall (DPU) on "The Heart of the Problems vis-a-vis the Problems of the Heart".

A leading scholar who is also the former Rector of IIUM is the expert in the field of Southeast Asia Contemporary Islamic Thoughts, Prof Muhammad Kamal Hassan will be covering on issues related to the heart and qalb (spiritual heart) through the lecture.

All USM fraternity and the public are cordially invited to attend this lecture. Please convey this invitation to all.

OOZING OUT OF ISDEV: THE CALL TO TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE

Taken in Rome - Prof Syukri (centre) with postgraduate
students from Africa and Indonesia (second from left)

7 Oct – The real, actual and absolute knowledge comes from Allah SWT. In fact Allah SWT states in Surah Al-Kahfi, 18:109 and Surah Luqman, 31:27 that even should the seas and the trees (as ink) be dried up and replenished its supply, they would still be exhausted before the Words of Allah SWT would be finished. This was the strong reminder that ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, gave to ISDEV members in the slot known as Tarbiyyah Pengarah ISDEV during the ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision. For this month the programme was held at USM’s University Conference Hall on 27 September 2013 at 9:30am.

Prof. Syukri (standing) in a cheerful mood delivering the Tarbiyyah Pengarah ISDEV

Verily in fortifying and increasing one’s knowledge and propagating the call to Islam, a Muslim is very much encouraged to travel (musafir). ISDEV members need to be instilled with the characteristics of a Messenger who goes about on this world and are able to share knowledge; disseminate knowledge and teach as well as lead. In fact engaging in a travel is of no loss as much can be learned and acquired during the whole travelling period especially if the travels entail a long journey. This is the very attitude that ISDEV tries to instil into each and every member of ISDEV besides focusing solely on their studies.

As a recap to-date for this year alone, ISDEV members have travelled to almost all the continents on this planet earth. First Prof Syukri and Dr Zakaria were off to Istanbul, Turkey. Then ISDEV members flew to Medan, Indonesia. Thereafter Puan Khatijah presented her paper in South Korea. A group of 5 RISDEV students went on a teaching spree for two weeks at Ban Nua in Thailand. ISDEV had Dr. Shukri who presented his paper in a closed-invited session at Ankara, Turkey while Prof Syukri and Dr Zakaria were in Tunisia in North Africa. Again Prof Syukri dan Dr. Zakaria travelled to Bangkok to serve as observers at a closed conference there. Then as facilitators, Prof Syukri dan Dr Shukri were off to Brunei. As presenters, both Prof Syukri and Dr Shukri was then to Rome, Italy.

Prof Syukri (left) with a fellow Muslim brother from Bangladesh
who earns his living and resides in Paris

Closer to home, Dr Shukri with two MISDEV’12 students, Nadia and Syamir presented their papers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Dr Shukri and Puan Khatijah each presented their papers at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) while Dr Zakaria and Dr Zahri went to Kuching to present their papers related to Islam in Borneo. Ustaz Shahir Akram was recently in Terengganu to attend a Seminar on Mantiq at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

A small section of the well attended ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision
held at DPU

There are still more travels to come before 2013 close for the year. ISDEV Alumni member, Dr Wajio went to Vietnam and later will be flying off to Doha. Thereafter it will be Germany for him and Dr. Heri Kusmanto, another ISDEV alumni. In the meantime Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Ustaz Shahir Akram are set to go to Paris in December.

Prof. Syukri reiterated that Muslims in Malaysia, have their strengths and advantages especially abroad. On the whole Muslims are thought off highly due to their high degree of good and noble attitude. As long as ISDEV members carry the image of Islam in their travels, help and assistance is usually only an arm’s length away. Besides gaining new knowledge, these travels could also infuse the spirit of bravery and self-confidence and heavy reliance on Allah SWT as one is far from home and loved ones. Reliance is only to Allah SWT. In meeting this challenge, Prof. Syukri affirmed that ISDEV is dedicated to train and equip its members by organizing a series of conferences, local and abroad, of international standing annually.

A Summary of the Annual Series of Training provided by ISDEV

Hence ISDEV members are encouraged to travel far, wide and beyond as Allah SWT has made this earth expansive indeed and there is knowledge awaiting to be discovered. Thus overcome fear of travel and inculcate the courage to travel alone because the benefits that can be derived is not only to one’s self but to Islam as well.

Dr Fadzila Azni sharing her "Tips on Starting Your Thesis Writing" 

The Monthly Graduate Supervision then continues with a lecture given by Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad. Her topic was on “Tips on Starting Your Thesis Writing” which gave some useful pointers to ISDEV students who are still meandering on their written dissertation or thesis.

A NAS A WEEK - 1 DHUL HIJJAH 1434

Narrated Abu Umamah: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good [Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud, General Behaviour (Kitab al-Adab), In-book reference: Book 43, Hadith 28; English translation: Book 42, Hadith 4782, Hadith Grade: Hasan].

A NAS A WEEK - 26 DHUL QA'IDA 1434

Then, to Allah belongs (all) praise - Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds [al-Jathiyah, 45:36].

COMPLETING A THESIS - SOME USEFUL TIPS

Dr Zahri Hamat giving his comments

30 Sept – “A thesis of its own class with a distinct and unique feature as it was done with a the greatest of effort and perseverance” was the final comment given by Dr. Zahri Hamat towards Raziah Md Tahir’s final draft PhD thesis. Raziah presented her findings during the ISDEV Graduate Discourse held at Ibn Khaldum Meeting Room, Institute of Postgraduate, USM.

Prof Syukri Salleh's (centre - with a white skull cap) sharing the trials and
tribulations of Raziah's (right) PhD journey

Raziah who presented and defended her PhD proposal on 31 December 2009, struggled for more than three years to juggle her responsibilities as a wife, mother to her three children and lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia as well as carrying out her duties as a RISDEV student to complete her PhD thesis within the time frame given. Finally on 26 September 2013, her supervisor, Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, gave her the green light to present her final draft PhD thesis to about 100-strong ISDEV members that attended that day. Her thesis was evaluated by Dr Zahri Hamat.

The stately-looking  Ibnu Khaldun Room at IPS

With the title “Mekanisme Operasi Kredit Mikro Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia: Satu Analisis Daripada Perspektif Islam” (Operations Mechanism of the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia: An Analysis from the Islamic Perspective), Raziah shared with all those present on her trials and tribulations of going through the empirical part of her research. Some tips were also given on the skills to the art of personal communications on how to garner the confidence of respondents to share some confidential information with her. However above all persevere and hold tightly to Allah SWT and never lose hope is a motto that she held dearly throughout her PhD candidacy.

A confident Radieah presenting her final draft PhD thesis

Same goes to the other candidate, Radieah Mohd Nor. Radieah is also a student supervised by Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh. She presented her final PhD draft thesis on “Pengurusan Kemiskinan di Zaman Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz” (Poverty Management During the Time of Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz). Her draft thesis was evaluated by Dr. Mohd. Shukri Hanapi, who was full of praises on her reference materials which included highly respected and acclaimed books in Arabic on Khalifah Umar Abul Aziz. He also gave his positive comments on her standards of writing and thorough research carried out.

Dr. Shukri diligently reviewing Radieah's draft thesis

Besides agreeing with the tips shared by Raziah, Radieah also added that to make one’s academic journey enjoyable at the Master’s level or PhD level, one must be deeply interested with the research that is carried out.

With such an upbeat and constructive feedback received from both evaluators, Raziah and Radieah received a unanimous approval from all ISDEV lecturers that they can submit their PhD thesis, with minor corrections, to IPS.