A NAS A WEEK - 9 JUMADA AL-AKHIR 1436

"And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein" [Surah Qaf (50:16)].

THE INDUSTRIOUS & ILLUSTRIOUS ISDEV FELLOWS

Based on the wide networking garnered from the ISDEV Research University Team Grant (ISDEV-RUT) which is further catapulted by the recent 5th Workshop on ISDEV-RUT: Islamic Based Development held on 2 - 4 March, 2015, ISDEV is pleased to highlight that most of the appointed ISDEV Associate Fellows as well as ISDEV Honorary Fellows are currently busy initiating further research endeavors in collaboration with ISDEV.

YB Senator Dato' Dr. Ashraf Wajdi Dato' Dusuki -  One of ISDEV Honorary Fellows.

Among them is ISDEV Honorary Fellow, YB Senator Dato' Dr. Ashraf Wajdi Dato' Dusuki, the Yang Dipertua of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM). YB Senator Dato' is currently initiating collaborative research between YADIM-ISDEV on Teens Perception Against Current Issues in Malaysia. The formalities of appointments have already been made on both sides pending the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by both institutions.

Centre - Dr. Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal, Rector of Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam.

Meanwhile, ISDEV Associate Fellow from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal (who is also the Rector of UNISSA) has approved three UNISSA - ISDEV research collaborations related to Negara Zikir, Quality Management, and Istibdal Endowments. These three projects are in progress. The first stage of the findings had already been presented during the 5th Workshop on ISDEV-RUT recently. Two further research collaborations related to Debt Culture and Brunei Vision 2035 Revisited are in the pipeline.

Prof. Syukri facilitating a Research Training Workshop at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam.

Another ISDEV Associate Fellow, Tn Hj Rafee from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) was instrumental in organizing a Public Lecture delivered by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh at UBD. Prof. Syukri gave a talk on "Implikasi Gagasan Negara Zikir Terhadap Strategi Pembangunan Negara Brunei Darussalam" (Implications of the Notion on Dzikir Nation to the Development Strategies of Negara Brunei Darussalam) during one of Prof. Syukri's visit to Brunei Darussalam recently.

Yet another of ISDEV Associate Fellow, this time from Indonesia, Dr. Atih Rohaerti Dariah from Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA) had also taken the opportunity during Prof. Syukri's recent visit to Bandung to convey a Public Lecture on "Posisi Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam" (Islamic-based Development Positions) in UNISBA. With the research collaborations between ISDEV-UNISBA sealed at the end of last year, Dr.Atih, with the cooperation of ISDEV, organised a short training course on Islamic Development Economics in Bandung in with Prof. Syukri and Dr. Zakaria as the main trainers.

ISDEV leaderships at Islamic Development Economics, Bandung, Indonesia. Dr Atih Rohaerti Dariah is the third from the right.

Currently, Dr. Atih is involved with a research on The Index of Islamic-Based Development Actors and is planning to apply for another grant focused on Local Islamic Wisdom for Sustainable Development. In addition, there is also the ISDEV-UNISBA research collaboration under the leadership of Dr. Atih on Sustainable Development From Islamic Perspective financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) which is completed.

In the meantime, Dr Warjio of Universitas Muhammadiyyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) and Dr. Heri Kusmanto of Universitas Medan Area (UMA), both from Medan, are busy making preparations to organize a conference on Sustainable Development. ISDEV Director and Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari, have received invitations to be the main speakers.

 (R)- Dr. Nor Asmat Ismail from Universiti Sains Malaysia and (L)- Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Azrin Adnan from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.

ISDEV Associate Fellow from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Terengganu, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Azrin Adnan did not miss the boat to catch the wave of research euphoria here at ISDEV. He has taken the initiative to gather potential members in UniSZA to establish collaborative activities between ISDEV-UniSZA. He had also come out with the idea on collaborative research proposals between ISDEV-UNISSA on Debt Culture in Brunei Darussalam. He will carry out this proposal with his research partner, who is also an ISDEV Associate Fellow, Dr. Nor Asmat Ismail from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

With the hard work of all researchers, it is hoped that all these researches are conducted successfully and the findings of such studies can contribute substantially to various parties such as the state, nation, the public at large and of course to Islam in particular. ISDEV is indeed honoured and blessed to have diligent ISDEV Fellows who are committed in their cause for Islam through these various research undertakings.

ISDEV RESEARCH DISCOURSE: TALKS ON WAQF MANAGEMENT

Prof.Dato' Dr. Mohammad Haji Alias was glad to be able to share his knowledge on
Waqf Financing: Management and Administration.

ISDEV recently became host to Professor Dato' Dr. Mohammad Haji Alias, Director of Centre for Awqaf Financing Development of Universti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

Professor Dato' took his busy schedule off to share his experience and findings on Waqf Management and Administration: The Role of State Islamic Religious Council Negeri Sembilan. His working paper was presented during the ISDEV Research Discourse on 17 March 2015 at the Conference Room of Social Sciences (C06). The talk was chaired by ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari and was well attended by ISDEV members.

All eyes on the screen to absorb as much as they can the information shared by the speaker.

Professor Dato' Dr. Mohammad started his presentation during the first session of the program. With the prepared slides, he took about an hour and half to explain about his research findings and experience in successfully putting the waqf agenda forward in USIM to the State Religious Council of Negeri Sembilan.

Prof. Dato' Dr Mohammad (centre) flanked by Prof Syukri (right) and Dr Zakaria (left) throughout his talk.

According to Prof. Dato' the impetus to push forward the waqf agenda in USIM was mooted by the the current Director General of Higher Education, Professor Datuk Dr Asma bin Ismail (USIM Vice Chancellor at that time). Taking up the challenge, Prof. Dato' then started to form his team and began a blueprint of the waqf financing agenda for USIM.

About a year later the Centre for Awqaf Financing Development took shape with a few projects identified for implementation. One of such projects was to get the cooperation and commitment from the State Religious Council of Negeri Sembilan (SRCNS) in whom any waqf property registered in the state would be vested in the SRCNS.  However with engagement, persistence and of course Allah SWT help, the legal impediments on the ownership of any waqf  property and its management and financing were smoothly overcame. His team saw the willingness and readiness of the SRCNS to be engaged with the waqf management agenda of USIM. As a result a number of health facilities based on waqf have been able to be offered to USIM staff and the public at large especially in Negeri Sembilan such as a dialysis centre and a mobile eye clinic. A specialists medical centre near the vicinity of USIM is currently in the pipeline.

Prof Syukri posing a question to Prof. Dato' Mohammad.

During the Question & Answer session, ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh took the opportunity to be the first person to pose a question to Prof. Dato' regarding to the waqf management issues faced by his team. The rest of the audience including Dr. Razali Othman, Director of Pusat Islam, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) who came all the way from Serdang, Selangor, also raised his questions and some points of views on the issues. 

Dr.Goh Soo Khoon (left) of CenPRIS and Dr Razali Othman (right) of UPM.

Besides ISDEV members, among those who attended ISDEV Research Discourse were Dr. Goh Soo Khoon from the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) USM and Puan Zainab from the School of Social Sciences. The program ended at 5.30 pm with a simple high tea for everyone who came for the ISDEV Research Discourse.

A NAS A WEEK - 2 JUMADA AL-AKHIR 1436H

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No one who has the weight of a seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” A man said, “Indeed, a man loves to have beautiful clothes and shoes.” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” [Source: Sahih Muslim 91; Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim].

USM INAUGURAL 3MT COMPETITION: RISDEV STUDENT WON 2ND PLACE

Stating her points succinctly  - Shereeza in action

RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research) student, Shereeza Mohamed Saniff recently participated in the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition 2015 organised by the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The 3MT competition was held at Dewan Pembangunan 2, Kompleks Cahaya Siswa, USM on at 10:00 a.m. on Monday 16 March, 2015.

Deputy Dean of Institute of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Dr. Fauziah Ahmad officiated the competition.

The 3MT Competition is the first of such competition organised in USM. It was inaugurated by the Deputy Dean of IPS, Professor  Dr. Fauziah Ahmad. The competition is open to all USM PhD candidates who have been registered as a student of USM for at least two years. Participants from both local and international students were divided into three main categories - the Social Sciences Category, the Engineering Category and the Science & Technology Category.

Shereeza was the third contestant out of the 32 participants to present her winning title on Streamlining the Islamic-based Development Actor for Islamic Asset Management to the judges as well as the audience present that day. As per the requirement of the competition, she managed to present her thesis within three minutes with only one static slide.

Shereeza takes her time to organise her notes and thoughts just before presenting her thesis related to
"Streamlining the Islamic-based Development Actor for Islamic Asset Management".

In her 3-minute presentation, Shereeza managed to present and explain succinctly within four main points. She started of with a factual circumstance of today where man's need of money is now a necessity and that holding to the idea that money is the root of all evil is a fallacy as money can and do calm nerves too. Second she highlighted the lopsidedness in the development paradigms that we are in today, where the dominant conventional development paradigm is at odds with the viewpoint of the Islamic-based development paradigms. These differing viewpoints actually affect the way we interact with the assets we manage.

Her third point stressed about her thesis which goes back to the core - the believing humans as termed in the Qur'an. Based on the four criteria she had set out in her studies, there are five main terms (with three ancillary terms) referring to believing man (in which antagonistic polarities are mentioned) that fits the criteria she had set out. Thus in conclusion, she submitted that with the general attributes and traits derived from these five main terms especially, the identity of the Islamic-based Development Actor, can truly bring about a holistic Islamic Asset Management. With only 2 seconds left to spare, she closed her presentation with an adage she came across a few years' back "When you get the man right, the world will be right".

Shereeza receiving her prize from the Dean of IPS, Prof. Dr. Othman Sulaiman while the
Head Judge, Assoc. Prof. Dr Sundramoorthy (Director of Security USM) looks on.

Shereeza was up against six contenders from the Social Sciences Category. After a brief deliberation by the judges, it was finally announced that Shereeza won second place in Social Sciences Category and deserved a cash prize of RM400. She has indeed made ISDEV proud and hoped that her humble win had contributed in some ways to the glory of Islam as she expressed her optimism that research on Islam can still be found of relevance, importance and of interest even to a non-Islamic based research audience as she encountered that day.

Congratulations Shereeza!

ISDEV- UUM RESEARCHERS MEET UP

A photograph session with ISDEV-UUM Researchers

On 12 March 2015, ISDEV delegates led by ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh went to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Sintok with other ISDEV lecturers, Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS) and RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research) students to attend a meeting with UUM Researchers on common areas of interest for proposed research collaborations endeavours.

The researchers focused during the meeting

With the initiative of ISDEV Associate Fellow Dr. Helmi Hidthiir (UUM), the delegates successfully met up and discussed potential research collaborations. The session was divided into two parts. For the first part, researchers were grouped according to members' interest and expertise. Members were divided into five groups who were all given the time and opportunity to detail the area of each group's research and focus. 

The second part saw the representative from each group presenting a brief research proposal to Professor Syukri who then gave invaluable feedback and comments in which aspects the proposal of the research can be further improved upon.The result from the meeting saw all the five research groups unanimously agreeing to build up the following proposed research topics:-

(1) Pembinaan Instrument Perbelanjaan Isirumah Muslim (Constructing the Muslim Household Expenditure Instrument);

(2) Teknik Motivasi Islam - Penilaian Semula Teknik QSI (Qur'an, Sunnah dan Ilmu) di Negeri Kedah dan Pulau Pinang (Islamic Motivation Technique - A Reassessment of the QSI (Qur'an, Sunnah and Knowledge) Technique in Kedah and Pulau Pinang);

(3) Islamic Code of Ethics for Salespeople;

(4) An Islamic Analysis of the Philosophical Underpinnings of Accounting; and 

(5) Kelestarian Harta Faraid - Pembinaan Garispanduan Berasaskan Syirkah (Sustainability of Faraidh Assets - Developing the Guidelines Based on Syirkah").

Dr. Nasri Naiimi (right) from UUM explains about his research passion "Sustainability of Faraidh Assets based on Syirkah"

By the establishment of these five research groups, researchers from both institutions hope these proposed researches will be able to garner the required research grants from relevant parties. Once approved it is ardently hoped and prayed that the research collaborations will be of great benefit not only to the research members and the two institutions but also the ummah and of course to Islam as well. 

A NAS A WEEK - 25 JUMADA AL-AWWAL 1436

And if you should count the favors of Allah , you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful [al-Nahl, 16:18].

ISDEV RESEARCH DISCOURSE ON WAQF MANAGEMENT

The Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) is organising the ISDEV Research Discourse on "Waqf Management and Administration: The Role of State Islamic Religious Council Negeri Sembilan" by Professor Dato' Dr. Mohammad Haji Alias, Director of Centre for Awqaf Financing Development & Faculty of Economics and Mu'amalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) as given in the details below:-

Date         :   17 March 2015

Time        :   3.00 p.m.

Venue      :   C06, Social Sciences Conference Room

                    School of Social Sciences

The weekly Tuesday's Teachings study session will be replaced with this discourse. As such ISDEV members are cordially invited to attend.

RESEARCHERS FROM THREE COUNTRIES GATHERED FOR THE 5TH ISDEV-RUT WORKSHOP

An academic fulfilling endeavour - the delighted faces of the researchers at the 5th ISDEV-RUT Workshop.

With the cooperation of the ISDEV Research University Team (RUT) secretariats, the 5th ISDEV-RUT Workshop was successfully held. With the theme on Islamic Based Development, the workshop was held for three days from 2 until 4 March 2015 at the School of Social Sciences Conference Room (C06), University Sains Malaysia.

Dr Siti Sara (right - in pink hijab) is the head of the academic delegates from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam, presenting her paper regarding "Strategy on Language and Education of Negara Zikir". 

(Right) Dr. Heri Kusmanto, Deputy Rector of Universitas Medan Area and
(Left) Azrin Ibrahim, ISDEV ASTS presenting their research findings.

A total of 37 papers were presented by the 32-strong RUT team members from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam as well as Fellows of ISDEV Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS). These papers contained the final stages of their researches based on their respective project cluster since the previous RUT Workshop which was held in November 2013.

A serious academic ambiance in full swing as researchers are focused throughout the workshop.

The research on 'Islamic Based Development' led by ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, contained 7 clusters which are ‘Istibdal Waqf', 'Etika dan Sistem Pengawasan dalam Pengurusan Insaniah' (Ethics and Supervisory System in Human Management), 'Pengurusan Kualiti Institusi Pembangunan Islam' (Quality Management of Islamic Development Institutions), 'Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat,' (Corporate Social Responsibility) 'Strategi Politik Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam' (Islamic-based Political Development Strategy), 'Dasar Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam dalam Konteks Negara Zikir di Brunei' (Islamic-based Development Policies in the Context of Zikir Nation in Brunei Darussalam) and 'Tasawur dan Acuan Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam' (Worldview and Mould of Islamic-based Development).

A usual scene of ISDEV programme of which the 5th ISDEV-RUT Workshop is not an exception.

Besides researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia, the research team consists of members from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Universitas Medan Area (UMA) and Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (IAN SU). All in all more than 70 participants, consisting mostly of ISDEV lecturers and students took part in the three-day workshop.

 

Before departing to Brunei, Indonesia and other states in Malaysia, research members took the opportunity
to take a group photo in front of ISDEV office building.

A NAS A WEEK - 17 JUMADA AL-AWWAL 1436H

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Masa that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) deputed any of his Companions on a mission, he would say:Give tidings (to the people); do not create (in their minds) aversion (towards religion) ; show them leniency and do not be hard upon them [Hadith from  the Translation of Sahih Muslim, 1732].

PRAISE IS TO ALLAH SWT: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN JAKARTA & BANDUNG

The three ISDEV Researchers about to embark on their academic mission in Jakarta and Bandung.

ISDEV Researchers, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr. Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi and Dr. Wan Norhaniza Wan Hasan were recently flown to Indonesia to conduct a field work of their research study at the Centre for Islamic Studies in Finance, Economic and Development  (CISFED) in Jakarta as well as Daarut Tauhiid in Bandung and Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA). The trip was from 14 until 18 February 2015.

Focused Group  Discussion with the members of "Perhimpunan Baitulmal Wa Tamwil" (PBMT).

The first day of the trip saw ISDEV Researchers having a Focused Group Discussion with "Perhimpunan Baitulmal Wa Tamwil" (PBMT, Islamic Microfinance) led by Bapak Saat Suharto, President and Director of PBMT Ventura. Bapak Saat Suharto explained to ISDEV Researchers about PBMT programme in helping to improve the local economy through Islamic Microfinance. Moreover ISDEV Researchers also had the opportunity to mingle and meet up with other  members of PBMT.

Prof. Syukri (right) delivering a public lecture at the "Seminar Pembangunan Pendidikan Islam" organized by Insan Cendekia Madani (ICM).

Prof. Syukri's talk was full of vigour and vitality as his talk is on a subject that is very close to his heart.

On the second day, Prof. Syukri was invited by Insan Cendekia Madani (ICM), an elite Islamic Private Boarding School at Bintaro, Jakarta to deliver a public lecture  at "Seminar Pembangunan Pendidikan Islam". Prof. Syukri gave a talk on Strategy for Islamic Education Development. The Seminar was attended by administrative staff and teachers of ICM and was well received by the audience.

Dr. Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi talks on "Thoughts on Islamic Political Economy" at Centre for Islamic Studies in Finance, Economic and Development (CISFED).

Meanwhile in the afternoon session, Dr. Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi took his turn to talk on "Pemikiran Ekonomi Politik Islam" at CISFED, Jakarta. The program was mostly attended by "Alumni Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam" (HMI) who are involved directly and indirectly with CISFED. In this program, ISDEV and CISFED had the opportunity to discuss and exchange views on current Islamic political economic development especially in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Ready to leave for Bandung- Dr. Atih from UNISBA come to fetch ISDEV Researchers in Jakarta.  .

The researchers then departed to Bandung on 16 February and was fetch  by Dr. Atih Rohaeti Dariah (one of ISDEV Co-Researchers in ISDEV Research University Team (RUT)) and Ade Yunita Mafruhat, a MISDEV'14 (Postgraduate by Mixed Mode) student, who hails from Bandung, Indonesia.

ISDEV Researchers collecting data at Daarut Tauhiid.

Part of the field work - Collecting data through an informal interview session  with a student at
Baitul Qur'an, Daarut Tauhiid.

The mission then continued on 17 February with a field work at Daarut Tauhiid - an institution founded by Abdullah Gymnastiar (or popular known as AA Gym). At Daarut Tauhiid, the field work was divided into three parts whereby the researchers conducted their field work at Pejabat Wakaf Daarut Tauhiid, Yayasan Daarut Tauhiid and Pesantren Tahfiz Darut Tauhiid (Baitul Qur'an).

Prof. Syukri delivers a public lecture at UNISBA.

One of the students poses a question to Prof.Syukri.

On the last day of the research trip Prof. Syukri was once again invited to deliver a public lecture on "Polisi Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam" (Islamic-based Development Policy). The public lecture organized by UNISBA was attended by lecturers and students from the Faculty of Economics and Business. A Q& A session took place after Prof. Syukri ended his speech and the audience especially , UNISBA undergraduate students took the opportunity to pose some questions for clearer understanding.

Serious Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with ISDEV Research Collaborators from UNISBA.

A Focus Group Discussion then took place among ISDEV and UNISBA researchers by focusing on "Pelaku Pembangunan Berasaskan Al-Qur'an" (Development Actors Based on Al-Qur'an). Researchers  from both institutions presented their findings of their research which led to the positive progress of the research.

Alhamdulillah - mission accomplished.

Overall the mission to Jakarta and Bandung was accomplished and the researchers were satisfied with the results of their field work. They conclude that besides collecting information for their research, they also had the chance to disseminate ISDEV thoughts as well as learning new ideas from others. From this field work ISDEV researchers had the chance to widen their networking as well as strengthen the ukhuwwah with their counterparts from Indonesia.

A NAS A WEEK - 11 JUMADA AL-AWWAL 1436

They shall not be affected with headache thereby, nor shall they get exhausted,[al-Waqi'ah, 56:19].

ISDEV PRESENTS THE 5TH ISDEV-RUT WORKSHOP: ISLAMIC-BASED DEVELOPMENT

Starting from 2 to 4 March 2015, ISDEV will host the 5th ISDEV-RUT (Research University Team) Workshop at C06, Social Sciences Conference Room, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

40 RUT team members from Malaysia, Indonesia as well as Brunei Darussalam will present a total of 38 papers, from their final stages of their researches based on their respective project cluster.

The research, entitled Islamic-Based Development and led by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, contains 7 clusters viz. ‘Istibdal Waqf', 'Etika dan Sistem Pengawasan dalam Pengurusan Insaniah', 'Pengurusan Kualiti Institusi Pembangunan Islam', 'Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat,' 'Strategi Politik Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam', 'Dasar Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam dalam Konteks Negara Zikir di Brunei' and 'Tasawur dan Acuan Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam'.

The schdule of the workshop can be assessed through http://isdev.usm.my/index.php/publications/downloads and click "ATURCARA BENGKEL ISDEV RUT KE- 5".