THE OLDER THE BUSIER?

Life at 58 seems to be much busier than before. Since the last post on my 58th birthday, the present is my first post - after almost three months of silence. I was away from office almost every week. At some places, the internet signal was weak or almost none, while at others where there was strong signal, my schedules were tight. The only records that I have are the photos, which hopefully can be downloaded here sometimes, InshaAllah.

MY 58TH BIRTHDAY

Myself today, at the age of 58

Today is my 58th birthday, Alhamdulillah. Amazed at FB for exposing the date, resulting in the pouring of wishes from many corners of the earth - from family members, students, and friends.

The first wish came via sms from Ummu, my youngest daughter, at exactly 0000 hour today, though her bedroom is just beside mine. She has been waiting for that exact moment, I think, as always.

Many thanks to everybody for the wishes, good words, and prayers. I could feel that I am now really a warga emas (gold citizen?). My right knee has been painful while observing terawih prayers. My fasting is also relatively quite a tiring one. But Alhamdulillah, Allah SWT still provide me with an opportunity to serve Him and His religion, the opportunity that I hope would be given till the end, Insha-Allah.

One of the wishes: From my alma mater, the St Cross College, University of Oxford

RETHINKING WEALTH MANAGEMENT

An article of mine entitled "Rethinking Wealth Management: An Islamic Preliminary View" has just appeared in the International Journal of Business and Social Science, Vol.3, No.13, July 2012, p.232-236. It could be accessed via http://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_3_No_13_July_2012/28.pdf 

The article attempts to rethink about the contemporary state of the wealth management by deliberating an Islamic view on the method, the target, and the stance of the wealth management. Specifically, the paper deals with three following questions. Firstly, how is Islamic way of managing wealth? Secondly, what are the target that actually should be managed, the man who is wealthy and who manage the wealth or the wealth itself? And thirdly, are all human beings should be wealthy? The deliberation comes to a conclusion that an Islamic wealth management should emerge from its own distinctive philosophical and epistemological underpinnings; the target should not only the wealth but also, moreover, the actors of the wealth management, that is the wealthy and the managers of the wealth; and wealthiness is indeed involving a selective process - not all human beings should be wealthy, hence the necessity for an identification method in the selection of the wealthy-to-be.

RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH UNISSA AND UBD IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Opening ceremony of the KAIB V Conference by Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Senior Minister at the Prime Minsiter's Department

With Mufti of Perlis, Dr Juanda (left) and Director of Islamic Centre of Universiti Utara Malaysia, Dr Ismail (right) at the Conference

ISDEV delegates with Ustaz Zulkifli of UiTM Puncak Alam (centre)

Alhamdulillah, while in Brunei, after participating in the KAIB V Conference, we have held fruitful discussions on research cooperation between ISDEV and Universiti Islam Sultan Syarif Ali (UNISSA) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

With UNISSA, we came to an agreement in undertaking researches on The Politics of Islamic-Based Development Strategy with Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa and Istibdal for Wakaf Development with the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences. There are also possibilities of academic exchanges between ISDEV and UNISSA, under the UNISSA's Research Fellowship programme. The discussion was chaired by UNISSA Acting Registrar Hajjah Surianah bt Haji Alias, assisted by Dr Abdul Nasir bin Hj Abd Rani, the Director of the Centre for Graduate Studies and Research.

Meeting with UNISSA in progress

ISDEV delegates with UNISSA's colleagues

With Dr Abdul Nasir (left), the UNISSA's Director of the Centre for Graduate Studies and Research

With UBD, in particular with the Academy of Brunei Studies and with the Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS), we came to an agreement in carrying out researches on the following three topics, viz. The Mould and Index of Development in MIB, Ethics and Human Development Management, and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Islamic Banks. Three other potential researches were also discussed. They are Zakat Accounting, Management of Wakaf, and Halal Branding. The discussion was chaired by Deputy Director of the Academy of Brunei Studies, Tuan Haji Mohd Shahrol Amira bin Abdullah.

Meeting at the Academy of Brunei Studies of the UBD

While at UBD, we were also invited for a discussion on ISDEV-UBD collaboration by UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor-cum-Director of the Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS), Dr Azman Ahmad. Apart from the research collaboration, there are also possibilities of academic exchanges as well as opportunities for UBD Scholarship for graduate studies.

Discussion with Dr Azman Ahmad, the UBD Asistant Vice-Chancellor

ISDEV delegates with Dr Azman Ahmad

Lastly, at Brunei International Airport, leaving for home by evening flight on 29th June 2012

7 PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BASED ON MIB

I am honoured to have my article published in The Brunei Times daily today, while I am here in Brunei.

The title of the article is "Seven Principles of Islamic Development Based on Malay Islam Monarchy (MIB)". It expresses my conviction that the Brunei's State Philosophy, the MIB, is a fertile ground for a realization of a holistic Islam, including in development.

But to ensure a more systematic endeavors for this, the long term development planning Brunei Vision 2035 is proposed to have seven Islamic-based principles relating to its mold (Islamic worldview), actor (servants and vicegerent of God), time scale (past, present and forthcoming worlds), framework (fard ain), methodology (ibadah), means (natural resources), and ultimate aim (pleasure of God, mardhatillah).

Similar idea was also presented in my paper at The 5th International Conference on Borneo Islam 2012 today. The title of the paper is "The Principles of Islamic-Based Development: A Theoretical Proposal for Malay Islam Monarchy (MIB) in Brunei Darussalam.

I AM IN BRUNEI

Alhamdulillah, landed at Brunei airport safely this evening, together with three other ISDEV members (Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and husband, Dr Zahri Hamat and Dr Mohd Shukri Hanapi).

The main aim is to participate in The 5th International Conference on Borneo Islam (KAIB V) 2012, co-organized by Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) and Universiti Teknologi MARA Sarawak. Simultaneously, there would also be meetings to establish research networking with Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UDB), and to develop relationship with The Brunei Times.

The first programme tonight was a dinner with Tuan Haji Bujang and Azrina Abdul Karim, the Chief Editor and Managing Editor of The Brunei Times respectively.

Dinner with the Chief Editor and  Managing Editor of The Brunei Times daily, Tuan Haji Bujang (middle) and Azrina Abdul Karim (right) respectively

Delegates from ISDEV with Tuan Haji Bujang and Azrina at our accommodation, Palm Garden Hotel

PHOTOS IN YOGYAKARTA

Book shopping at Social Agency, Jl Kaliurang KM 8.5 No 25 YK

Arriving Yogyakarta airport, received by Pak Fudail (1st left)

With the organizers: Dr Priyonggo Suseno (left) of the Universitas Islam Indonesia and Prof Abdul Ghafar Ismail (right) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Some of the participants

Participants from ISDEV (L-R): Dr Nor Asmat Ismail, myself and Dr Zakaria Bahari

Workshop in progress

Public `newspapers display' at an avenue near our Mutiara Hotel