A NAS A WEEK - 24 RABBI'UL THANNI 1435

 

Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. If anyone makes it easy for the one who is indebted to him (while finding it difficult to repay), Allah will make it easy for him in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, and if anyone conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” [Related by Muslim, 1924] .

ISDEV ADOPTS A DEPARTMENT OF A LOCAL POLYTECHNIC

 A group photo to commemorate the visit

 
On Wednesday 29 January 2014, ISDEV received guests from the Seberang Perai Polytechnic, Pulau Pinang. The representative from the General Studies Department (Jabatan Pengajian Am) was led by Puan Rukaida Baharudin, Head of General Studies Department (GSDSPP), followed by 15 other lecturers from the same department. 

 The Head of General Studies Department, Puan Rukaida Baharudin

 
The delegates from GSDSPP were at ISDEV to explore the possibility of co-organizing academic programmes such as conference or seminar by appointing ISDEV as their mentor and guide. ISDEV Director, Prof. Muhammad syukri Salleh gave the recommendation to appoint the department as ISDEV's "adopted child" to enable them to participate in ISDEV's activities, within or outside the country as well as to learn the ins and outs of ISDEV management both in terms of administration,  academic and non-academic affairs.

 Prof Syukri (left) welcomes the delegates to ISDEV

 

It is hoped that with such steps taken, GSDSPP will be provided with the exposure and opportunities to be independent before the department is able to upgrade to greater heights. Prof Syukri also added that ISDEV is indeed honored to work with the department and would continue to play the role as a "foster father" in the process of guiding them soar to greater heights. 

 Following the sunnah - exchange of gifts between ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh  (right) and the Head of General Studies Department, Puan Rukaida Baharudin (left)

Present in the meeting was Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, Chairperson of the Islamic Development Management Section, School of Social Sciences, who provided information regarding the courses offered in ISDEV. As a result, some of the lecturers from the department present expressed their hopes and intention to resume their studies either at the Master or PhD level with ISDEV. This goal is supported by their head, Puan Rukaida Baharudin.

 

A NAS A WEEK - 17 RABBI'UL THANNI 1435

O you who have believed, when you encounter a company (from the enemy forces), stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful [al-Anfaal, 8:45].

RISDEV SURAYA ISMAIL PASSED HER VIVA

 Suraya (left) while waiting for the examiners' results on her viva voce

RISDEV student (ISDEV PhD candidate) Suraya Ismail had simply aced her viva voce. She had successfully defended her PhD Thesis entitled "Latar Belakang dan Pemikiran Ahli Majlis Penasihat Syariah (MPS) di Malaysia dan Implikasinya ke atas Pembinaan Produk Pembiayaan Perumahan" (Background and the Thoughts of the Syariah Advisory Committee (MPS) Members in Malaysia and Its Implications on the Development of House Financing Products). Her viva voce was held on the afternoon of Monday, 27 January 2014 at the Social Sciences Conference Room, C06, Universiti Sains Malaysia. 

External examiner, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Engku Ahamd Zaki, posing a question to Suraya.

Suraya's main supervisor Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and co-supervisor Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad were present that day. Associate Professor Hj. Mohamad Hj Md Yusoff, from the School of Communications chaired the viva session while Associate Professor Dr. Engku Ahmad Zaki bin Engku Alwi, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) was the external examiner.

Viva voce in session (from right to left), Assoc. Professor Hj. Mohamad Haji Md Yusoff, Dr Zaini Abu Bakar and
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Engku Ahmad Zaki

 The two internal examiners for Suraya's viva voce - Dr Zakaria Bahari (right) and Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi (left)

The viva commenced at 3.30 pm and ended about one and half hour later with high accreditation given to Suraya Ismail for a thesis that was well written. The three examiners unanimously agreed that the thesis ought to be nominated for an award at least that at the university's level. Among the panel of examiners for Suraya's viva was the representative to the Dean of School of Social Sciences, Dr. Zaini Abu Bakar, the Secretary for the examiners Encik Mohd Zaki Talhah, Internal Examiners, Dr. Zakaria Bahari and Dr. Mohd. Shukri Hanapi.

ISDEV sisters were at C06 to witness Suraya's viva voce 

A NAS A WEEK: 10 RABBI'UL AWWAL 1435H

‘Imran b. Husain reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying :the best of my people is the generation in which I have been sent, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. Allah knows best whether he mentioned the third or not. After them will be people who will give testimony without being asked, who will make vows which they do not fulfill, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, among whom fatness will appear [Grade: Sahih, Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud, 4657; In-book Reference: Book 42, Chapter 1686: Excellence of the Companions of the Prophet salallahu 'alaihi wassalam, Hadith 62].

6th Annual Contemporary Lecture Series on Islam

 The Norwegian undergraduates with ISDEV Deputy, Dr Zakaria Bahari (front, third from left)
and Prof. Levi (front, third from right) with other ISDEV members

On 20 January 2014, 40 undergraduate students from Agder University and Bergen University College, Norway, were at USM to participate in the 6th Annual Lecture Series on Contemporary Islam in Malaysia organized by ISDEV. It was an annual occasion resulting from the signing of an MoU between ISDEV and these two universities from Norway sometime in 2007.

 Dr Zakaria Bahari, welcoming the students to USM in general and ISDEV in particular

The event was held at the School of Social Sciences Conference Room, C06, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang. The delegates were led by Professor Dr. Levi Geir Eidhamar of Adger University while ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr. Zakaria Bahari served as chairman of the programme. 

 Shereeza  presenting her lecture on Bumiputera in Malaysia

Taha ( second from right ) presenting his lecture on the 'Word of Allah SWT'

The lecture was divided into two sessions. The first session was a lecture by Shereeza binti Mohamed Saniff on the rights of the Bumiputera in Malaysia with the title “Protecting the Interests of the Sons of the Soil”. The second session saw Taha Omar spoke on contemporary issues pertaining to the kalimah of Allah SWT entitled “The Word of Allah SWT”. 

The Norwegian undergraduate students - attentive and serious throughout the lectures

 
A very lively and engaging questions and answers session took place throughout the two sessions. The information received by the Norwegian undergraduate students is hoped to help them in understanding the rights afforded to the Bumiputera of Malaysia as determined by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia as well as the current stand on the issue of the kalimah of Allah SWT. 

 The crew fron TV Al-Hijrah interviewing ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari

A NAS A WEEK - 3 RABBI'UL THANI 1435

Say, "Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way." [al-Isra', 17:84].