BANDUNG TRIP 19-23 AUGUST 2014

The participants

After 3 days coming home from Aceh, I flew to Bandung on August 19 for another occasion.

This time is to fulfill an invitation from Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA) to talk on "The Principles of Islamic-Based" at The Training of Islamic Development Economics. Together with me was ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Zakaria Bahari.

Apart from participating in the Training, we had also a chance to have a meeting on an Islamic Development Bank research project on Islamic Sustainable Development, attended a dinner hosted by UNISBA's Rector at his residence, visited Darut Tauhid which is famous of its Heart (Qolbu) Management approach that led to a successful business achievements, and met Erin Ramadhan, my former student who is now a successful businesss man, especially as a t-shirt supplier.

Delivering the talk

The IDB project team (from right): Dr Hakimi of Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia and Dr Atih Rohaeti Dariah of UNISBA (leader) after the meeting at Wisma Dago. Present also was Dr Zakaria Bahari

Dinner hosted by UNISBA's Rector Prof Dr dr Taufiq M. Boesoiri (right) and his wife (left) at their residence at Jalan Setra Murni 4, Sukasari - Sarijadi, Bandung

Discussion with AA Gym, the founder-leader of the Darut Tauhid

With Erin Ramadhan (left) at his t-shirt printing gallery

Flying home on August 23, 2014

ACEH - FIRST OVERSEA TRIP AS A CONTRACT PROFESSOR

Arrived home safely from Aceh Friday August, 15, Alhamdulillah. This was my first trip abroad after retirement and being a contract Professor beginning August, 1.

Together with me were ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Zakaria Bahari and ISDEV Senior Fellow Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah Che Hamat. We were there since August 11 to participate in Konferensi Internasional Tentang Zakat Di Dalam Masyarakat Islam - Optimalisasi Zakat Sebagai Pilar Peradaban Islam, organised by Journal of Media Syariah, Acheh Baitul Mal, and Faculty of Shariah and Islamic Economics of  Universiti Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry. We also took the opportunity to supervise ISDEV part-time students residing in Acheh.

Paper presentation in progress

Interviewed by media after the presentation

I presented a solicited paper entitled Mengurus Kemiskinan Melalui Zakat: Tiga Realiti Semasa (Managing Poverty via Zakat: Three Contemporary Realities), while Dr Zakaria's entitled Peranan Zakat Dalam Pembangunan Pendidikan Masyarakat: Kajian Kes Zakat Pulau Pinang (The Role of Zakat in Society's Educational Development: The Case of Zakat Pulau Pinang), and Dr Fatah's Transforming Zakat as a Means to Alleviate Poverty: Some Issues and Reflections.

With Aceh Governor dr Zaini Abdullah (on my left with black songkok) after dinner at his Istana Pendopo

For two consecutive nights, we had dinners hosted by Acheh Governor dr Zaini Abdullah and Acheh Mayor Ibu Walikota Eliza Saaduddin Jamal at their respective Pendopo (official residences). We were also treated by ISDEV students with breakfasts at traditional coffee shops with the famous Acheh coffee.

With Ibu Walikota Eliza Saaduddin Jamal and her daughter before dinner at her official residence

60TH BIRTHDAY DOA

I am 60 years old today - embarking into a life of a warga emas ("gold citizen"). As usual, I am showered with wishes and doa (prayers) since 1200 am last night, from family members, alma mater, superiors, subordinates, students, peers, and friends.

A wish from my alma mater, St Cross College of Oxford University

Unlike previous years, the wishes and doa this year come with four greetings at once, that is Happy 60th Birthday, Happy Eid Mubarak, Happy Retirement, and Happy Contract Professor. Yes, today is my 60th birthday, and also the 5th day of Eid-ul-Fitr as well as my first day of retirement and my first day as a Contract Professor (for the coming three years) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, my lifetime university.

Retirement wish from eldest daughter, A'firah

Of all the wishes and doa, one has really touched my heart. It comes from my former student who is now a successful academic at a local university in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. His wish and doa are as follows (in Malay):

Bersempena hari ulangtahun kelahiran Prof pada hari yang mulia ini, hari Jumaat penghulu segala hari, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memanjatkan doa berikut:

Ya Allah Ya Maha Mulia. Muliakanlah guruku Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh di dunia dan di akhirat. Amat besar jasa guruku dalam mendidikku dan teman-temanku sekalian untuk berhati lurus memperjuangkan kemuliaan Islam. Hindarilah guruku dari segala bahaya. Anugerahilah guruku segala kemudahan jasmani dan rohani untuk melaksanakan usaha dakwah. Panjangkanlah usia guruku diiringi kesihatan tubuh badan buat bekal berjuang di jalan-Mu. Ampunilah segala kesalahan dan kekhilafan guruku. Amal baikku sebagaimana didikan guruku mudah-mudahan mengalirlah jua manfaat buat guruku yang tersayang. Duhai Ilahi dengarlah rintihanku......

RAMADHAN GIFTS

Ramadhan has passed and I am thankful to Allah SWT for granting ISDEV in general, and me in particular, with happy gifts.

Three of my PhD students - Wan Norhaniza Wan Hassan, Shahir Akram Hassan, and Razali Othman - in last three consecutive weeks of Ramadhan - have passed their doctorate with flying colours (Scale 1 and nominated by their Board of Examiners for excellent thesis award). They maintained the similar success of their seven predecessors - all of whom also were granted with such a flying colour, totalling 10 altogther to date this year, Alhamdulillah.

Wan Norhaniza was working on Islamic-Based Development Index, while Shahir Akram on Mantiq for Islamic Research Methodology and Razali on The Use of Cash in Waqf.

TWO DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE: ISDEV VS NON-ISDEV VIVAS

I involved in two vivas today. The first, in the morning, as an internal examiner of a PhD student outside ISDEV. The second, in the afternoon, as a main supervisor of a PhD student of ISDEV. In these two occasions, I experienced two different atmospheres.

In the morning, the student came alone with lonely face. Nobody accompanied him. The viva was held in a small room, enough for seven persons (the Board of Examiners) plus the student. The student passed, but with Scale 2, with a quite number of corrections and additions to be made.

In the afternoon, the student was accompanied by more than 30 people, consisting of not only ISDEV students, but also ISDEV lecturers. The viva was held in a big conference room to accommodate them, and the student passed with flying colours (Scale 1 and the thesis was agreed by the Board of Examiners to be nominated for Awards), with only minor correction.

I realised then that the atmosphere of the viva of an ISDEV student is different from the others. It is more merriful, more lively, more confident, and apparently more successful, Alhamdulillah. Prior to the viva, ISDEV members perform solat-ul hajat for the student, and if it is not in Ramadhan, they will hold thankful feast after the viva. That is one of the uniquenesses of ISDEV.

This year - up to the most recent viva this afternoon alone - ISDEV has produced eight PhD students, all passed with Scale 1 and nominated for Award. Two more are waiting for the viva which will be held at any time now, while at least another two are submitting their theses. All in all, this year ISDEV will InshaAllah produce 12 PhD students - an average of one per month - plus 36 Master Mixed Mode students, totalling 48 students alltogether, Alhamdulillah.

ISDEV WON BEST MASTER THESIS AWARD AGAIN

Nurul Izzah receiving the Award from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin on 26th June 2014

So thankful to Allah SWT that this year, ISDEV won the Yayasan Nurul Yaqeen Best Master Thesis Award again. ISDEV Master student Nurul Izzah Md Rodzi has made ISDEV proud this time around, Alhamdulillah.

Since the Award was introduced (previously named Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin Best Thesis Award), ISDEV students made it for almost every year. It started with Best PhD Thesis Award won by Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad in 2010, followed by Best Master Thesis Award won by Radieah Mohd Nor in 2011, then again the Best PhD Thesis Award won by Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan in 2012, and back to the Best Master Thesis Award won by Nurul Izzah Md Rodzi this year, 2014.

In 2013, although ISDEV student did not made it for an Award, but ISDEV PhD student Dr Mohd Shukri Hanapi has been chosen as one of the finalists. This year too, ISDEV PhD student Suraya Ismail has also became as one of the PhD finalists, Alhamdulillah.

Thank you to all ISDEV lecturers and supporting staff for working very hard in producing excellent and successful students. The results of ISDEV PhD students this year -all of whom have passed with flying colours (Scale 1 and nominated for Award by their respective Board of Examiners) - are self-explanatory and indeed a satisfaction to all ISDEV members, Alhamdulillah.

RAMADHAN AND UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE

My recent activity in Ramadhan, speaking on 2nd July at Intellectual Discussion on Ramadhan and University Excellence, together with USM Vice-Chancellor Pof Dato' Omar Osman, USM Human Transformation Centre Dato' al-Ustaz Ellias Zakaria, and School of Humanities lecturer Associate Professor Dr Nor Shakirah Mat Akhir.

I spoke on the dynamics of Taqwa in accomplishing excellence based on ISDEV experience.