A NAS A WEEK - 27 SAFAR 1435

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make witr as your last prayer at night." [Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 998; In-book reference: Book 14, Hadith 9; Web (English) Reference: Vol 2, Book 16, Hadith 112].

A NAS A WEEK - 21 SAFAR 1435

And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the criminals. But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper [al-Furqan, 25:31].

YET ANOTHER 2 RISDEV STUDENTS GET TO PROCEED

 Professor Syurki Salleh addressing ISDEV members during the
Tarbiyah Pengarah ISDEV

28 Nov - Another two ISDEV PhD candidates (or "RISDEV students") get the approval to proceed with their thesis proper. They are Nur Hanani Ismail and Mohd. Rizal Abu Bakar. The PhD proposal presentations were divided into two sessions. It was held on Thursday 28 November, 2013 at C23. The first session was the Tarbiyah Pengarah ISDEV delivered by Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV Director. The second session continued with PhD Thesis Proposal Presentations. Both sessions were well attended as students who were late for the programme had to search for chairs elsewhere.

 The packed Conference Room of C23

For this month’s Tarbiyah Pengarah ISDEV, Prof. Syukri addressed ISDEV members on “Merealisasi Agenda Besar’ (Realising the Big Agenda). The focus of his address was on the reality of ISDEV to be a Centre of Excellence. He recalled the background and journey of ISDEV which started with a seed of an idea. He reminded ISDEV members not to give up with the trials and tribulations that came by. Instead to believe that every difficult ordeal faced will be awarded something that is unexpected.

Nur Hanani (left) listening to the comments given by Dr Zahri (right)

In the second session, Nur Hanani was the first to present her PhD proposal on "Kaedah Naqad Al-Hadith Sebagai Kaedah Penentu Kesahan Data bagi Penyelidikan berkaitan Islam” (The Method of Naqad Al-Hadith as a Method to Determine Validity of Data for Research on Islam). Her proposal was evaluated by Dr. Zahri Hamat. 

 Rizal was seriously focus in his PhD proposal presentation

Thereafter Mohd. Rizal Abu Bakar took his turn to present his PhD proposal on ‘Taksiran Zakat Pertanian Dalam Kalangan Usahawan Padi di Kelantan’ (Agriculture Zakat Assessment Among Paddy Entrepreneurs in Kelantan). Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi, evaluated his proposal.

Professor Muhammad Syukri Salled, ISDEV Director, is supervising Nur Hanani Ismail with Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad acting as her co-supervisor. For Mohd.Rizal Abu Bakar, Dr. Zahri Hamat is his main supervisor. Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad was the chairperson throughout the programme.

 Dr Zakaria (right) added some suggestions to improve the students' proposals

After a detailed evaluation, the two candidates received the good news that their PhD research proposals were accepted. They had been given the endorsement to proceed with their thesis proper under the supervision of their respective supervisors.

A NAS A WEEK - 11 SAFAR 1435

It was narrated that Abu Masud said: "The Messenger of Allah(salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'an, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless he gives you permission."' [Grade: Sahih, Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i: 780, In-book reference: Book 10, Hadith 4 English translation: Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 781].

A NAS A WEEK - 6 SAFAR 1435

And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah) [al-Baqarah, 2:45].

EMPOWERING GRASS ROOT DEVELOPMENT: THE BAN NUA COMMUNITY

A group photo at the steps of Masjid Ban Nua 

In order to realize the aspirations to learn through experience and travels in the pursuit of knowledge just as was practised by leading Islamic figures of the past, ISDEV fraternity visited Ban Nua in Hatyai, Thailand from 8 to 10 November, 2013.

The Ban Nua Project is part of the fulfillment of the coursework for SIW505-Epistemology and Islamic Tasawwur. In addition the project brings along a great mission of strengthening the relationship between ISDEV members with the Muslim community in the village of Ban Nua.

MISDEV'13 Muslimah busy preparing for the trip to Ban Nua 

The Project carried the theme ‘Empowering Grass Root Development: Case of the Ban Nua Community in Thailand’ received a close knit cooperation with three institutions - ISDEV USM, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Brunei Darussalam and Walailak University.

An interview session with Prof. Syukri (right) by the crew of TV Al-Hijrah

The Project was organised by MISDEV’13 students. For the first time since the annual visits to Ban Nua, the crew of TV Al-Hijrah was with them throughout the duration of the project. In fact the project was aired for about 15 minutes on 24 November 2013 at about nine in the morning in the segment of ‘Assalamualaikum : Ban Nua’.

Gotong Royong at the Masjid Ban Nua

Rearranging the books at the mini library

Among the activities held was the sharing of languages, culture, management, health to all participants and the locals of Ban Nua. The activities were in the form of gotong-royong (mutual cooperation) in cleaning the masjid’s surrounding compound, class for basic Thai language, sports and recreation, management and improvement of the mini library, nasyid (Islamic religious songs) practice, Islamic personal grooming for the Muslim ladies and personal hygiene.

A session just for the Muslimah : Islamic Personal Grooming

On the way back to USM, there was a short stopover at the Floating Market to provide opportunities of ISDEV members to buy souvenirs and Thai delicacies to bring home to their loved ones as buah tangan.

With the children of Ban Nua at the Floating Market

The experience of organising and going through Ban Nua Project itself has been valuable indeed. The education imparted on the sense of the real Islamic ukhuwwah between ISDEV and the Ban Nua Community is everlasting. 

A feast - eating in Jemaah at the Masjid Ban Nua

2 MORE RISDEV STUDENTS GET TO PROCEED FURTHER

Ustaz Shahir Akram (standing) in action

Two RISDEV students (Postgraduate students in research mode), Shahir Akram Hassan presented his PhD thesis while Khatijah Othman presented her PhD proposal in front of more than 50 attendees consisting of ISDEV Director and Deputy Director, lecturers as well as students at the Dewan Kuliah A, Universiti Sains Malaysia last 25 October 2013.

Ustaz Shahir Akram (left) attentively taking down notes while Dr Zaini (right)
commented on his completed draft PhD thesis

The first candidate Shahir Akram presented his PhD Thesis on 'Aplikasi Kaedah Penaakulan Mantik dalam Penyelidikan Berkaitan Islam' (Application of Logical Reasoning in Research Related to Islam). He is currently a student under the supervision of Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh while Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad is his co-supervisor. Dr. Zaini Abu Bakar evaluated his PhD thesis and gave his views and comments on how it could further be improved.

Khatijah Othman (standing) confidently presents her PhD Proposal

Dr Zakaria Bahari (right) commenting on Khatijah's proposal 

The second candidate was Khatijah Othman with her PhD proposal on 'Islamic Compliance Quality Management System (ICQMS): Its Implementation and Impact on Organizational Performance'. Dr. Zakaria Bahari evaluated her PhD proposal. Khatijah is currently a student under the supervision of Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad while her co-supervisor is Prof.Muhammad Syukri Salleh.

(Front Row - left) Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh
sitting with ISDEV students and guest from Indonesia

Dr. Zahri Hamat as chairman for the sessions announced that Shahir's PhD Thesis and Khatijah PhD Proposal were accepted. Shahir had been given the mandate to submit his PhD thesis while Khatijah received the endorsement to proceed with her PhD research proper.

A NAS A WEEK - 28 MUHARRAM 1435

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah that: the Messenger of Allah (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: "There are three supplications that will undoubtedly be answered: the supplication of one who has been wronged; the supplication of the traveler; and the supplication of a father for his child." [Hasan; From the Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol 5, Book 34, Number 3862].