ISDEV ZAKAT RESEARCH TEAM IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

L-R: Dr Zahri Hamat, Prof Syukri and Dr Zakaria Bahari arriving at Brunei International Airport

ISDEV Zakat Research Team, consisting of Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr Zakaria Bahari and Dr Zahri Hamat, was in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from 25th till 29th September 2011. The main aims were to study about zakat accounting in Brunei and establish networking with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UDB) and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

For these purposes, they visited and had discussions with the country's Zakat Section of the Ministry of Islamic Religious Affairs, the Academy of Brunei Studies of the UDB, and the UNISSA. The visit was fruitful and would hopefully entail with academic and research collaborations.

Discussion with officers of Zakat Section, Brunei's Ministry of Religious AffairsDiscussion with the Director, Deputy Director and lecturers of the Academy of Brunei Studies of the Universiti Brunei DarussalamDiscussion with the Dean, Deputy Deans and Directors of Faculties and Research Centres of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif

ISDEV ZAKAT RESEARCH TEAM RETURNED FROM JAKARTA

The research team trio, L-R: Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr Zahri Hamat and Dr Zakaria Bahari

ISDEV zakat research team led by ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh returned from their fieldwork in Jakarta today. Together with team members Dr Zahri Hamat and Dr Zakaria Bahari, Prof Syukri were there for 5 days, beginning from last Sunday, 4th September till today, 8th September 2011. With the main aim to encapsulate their research on Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia, they undertook literature searches at U.D Saudara Islamic Bookshop and Toko Gunung Agong, as well as held discussions with the authorities of Lembaga Amil Zakat Peduli Ummat al-Azhar and Badan Amil Zakat Nasional (BAZNAS).

Literature search at U.D Saudara Islamic Bookshop at Jl. Kramat Raya Gang Buntu, Jakarta

Discussion with Deputy Director Lembaga Amil Zakat Peduli Ummat Sunaryo Adhiatmoko and his General Manager (Kelembagaan) Ibu Ningsihal-Azhar

Discussion with BAZNAS' General Manager Prof Dr KH Didin Hafidzuddin and Executive Director Teten Kustiawanon

5TH DAY IN UK: RESEARCH AT ISLAMIC FOUNDATION CONCLUDED

After spending the whole two days researching at the Islamic Foundation library, ISDEV members concluded their research this evening, Wednesday 1 July 2009. In between the research they took the opportunity to get to know as many new friends as possible at the Foundation, apart from holding tazkirah after every maghrib and fajr prayers.

The ISDEV members - Professor Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni - will move to Ibis Hotel near the University of Leicester tomorrow morning, Thursday 2 July 2009, to participate in a conference on Islamic Perspective on Management and Finance.

Prof Syukri with Dr Mawil Izzi Dien, Reader in Islamic Studies and Arabic at the University of Wales Lampeter who happened to visit the Foundation

With brother Suleman Khan (centre), the Manager of the Conference Centre of the Foundation

With brother Mohamad Islam Fernandez (centre) who has taken care of the accommodation, meals and welfare of the ISDEV members while at the Foundation

With sister Humeyra (third from right), the Head of the Foundation's library

With brother Abdul Haye, the staff of the Foundation's library

Dr Zahri delivering a tazkirah Research concluded at the Islamic Foundation

4TH DAY IN UK: STARTING RESEARCH WORKS AT THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

3RD DAY IN UK: MOVING FROM OXFORD TO LEICESTER

The five ISDEV members who are currently in the United Kingdom have on Monday 29th June moved to Leicester from Oxford, about 80 miles north of the later. They arrived at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, also the campus of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE), at about 12.30 noon.

They will be here until 2nd July, to continuing carrying out their respective researches. Professor Syukri is researching on the foundation of Islamic development, Dr Zakaria on the Islamic capital market, Dr Zaini on Islamic conflict management, Dr Zahri on the zakat accounting and Dr Fadzila Azni on the management of Islamic development institutions. They have had a brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop in late afternoon of the day.

Checking out from the Ethana Guest House in Oxford

In front of the MIHE administrative building

A brief visit to the Islamic Foundation's bookshop

SECOND DAY IN UK - RESEARCH WORKS CONTINUE IN LONDON

On Sunday 28th June, Professor Syukri and his entourage proceeded to London to carry on with their research. They spent the whole day at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Park Road, Book Plus in Edgewear Road, and Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park.

Arriving London from Oxford, at the Marble Arch Underground (Tube) Station
Islamic Cultural Centre
Islamic Cultural Centre
At the Book Plus
Briefing by brother Anas, the owner of the Book Plus

One of Muslims speakers at Speaker's Corner leading solatul-`asar before delivering his speech
Listening to the Muslim speaker
Observing arguments between a Muslim (the man) with a Qadiani's advocate (the woman)

ISDEV MEMBERS ARRIVED SAFELY IN UK AND STARTED THEIR WORKS

The five ISDEV members - Prof Syukri, Dr Zakaria, Dr Zaini, Dr Zahri and Dr Fadzila Azni - had landed at Heathrow and ferried to Oxford safely on Saturday morning, 27th June. After a brief rest at Ethana Guest House in Cowley, Oxford, they started their works by visiting University of Oxford and seeking for latest literatures and publications around the University, especially at the Blackwell at George Street, near the Bodlein Library.

Checking-in at Penang International Airport

Waiting for departure at KLIA

Watching in-flight movie
Safely landed at Heathrow
In-front of one of Oxford's landmark near Bodlein Library of the Oxford University
In front of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Researching on the latest publications at Blackwell
At Oxford University Press
Visited brother Ibrahim Stanton and family at Juxon Street, an old British friend of Prof Syukri

RESEARCH ON ZAKAT ACCOUNTING BRINGS MEMBERS TO SINGAPORE

Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) and Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh (right) glancing through a book at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) bookshop

Little was known that from 31st May, 2009 to 2nd June, 2009 Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Director of ISDEV, Dr Zakaria Bahari and fellow postgraduate of ISDEV Shereeza binti Mohamed Saniff were in Singapore to carry out the field work on part of the research pertaining to Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia.

Although the main focus to collect the data for the said research was at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), nonetheless these researches maximised the time allocated with visits to Wisma Indah (among the first wakaf property to be developed by MUIS), Darul Arqam Singapore (Converts’ Association of Singapore) and the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) which is located next to the National University of Singapore Campus.

The trip was definitely an eye opener for these researchers as they witnessed a number of events during the trip which gave them a glimpse to the broad spectrum of the Malay Muslims life in Singapore. Nonetheless the achievements in management and development of vital infrastructures for the Malay Muslims in Singapore are definitely commendable. The visit to the latest masjid built by MUIS in Singapore, Masjid Al-Mawaddah, in Sengkang leaves one feeling a sense of exhilaration of the achievements made by our brothers and sisters in Singapore even though they constitute the minorities in Singapore.

Dr Zakaria and Prof Syukri with brother Helmy of MUIS at Masjid Al-Mawaddah