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......