KUALA TERENGGANU

Safely landed Kuala Terengganu and checked-in at TH Hotel and Conventional Centre, Gong Badak, without anymore delay at KLIA, Alhamdulillah. I even have the time to enjoy ICT (ikan celup tepung) at the ICT Haji Pak Long (Seafood) at Telaga Batin, not far from the hotel. ISDEV PhD students who are teaching at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) brought me there, after fetching me from the airport and checking-in at the hotel.

Interestingly, when arriving at the hotel, I was told that this is the hotel where swearing by al-Qur'an in front of the Chief Minister of Terengganu was held few days ago. It was done to prove that Terengganu football team, the T-Team, was innocent in a clashing incident with Johor football team during their football match not long ago. I am amazed at the Malays who could do so just for the sake of football!

There is also another interesting thing here. In front of the TH Hotel is the stadium known for its controversial fallen roof. It is now opened, so I was told, but naked, without the roof anymore! Audiences of any games held here are risked with sun and rain.

MAS AGAIN

The problem seems to have not been settled as yet. MAS flyers face delays continuosly.

Last night on my way home from a talk at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS), I was delayed at KLIA for about half an hour.

And right now, again I am stucked at Penang International Airport. My MAS flight to KLIA is announced to be delayed for 40 minutes.

I anticipate a sort of running, or at least jogging, at KLIA later on to catch my 1450 connecting flight to Kuala Terengganu.

May Allah protect me from missing the KL-Kuala Terengganu flight, or else I would be delaying in attending the Workshop on Haj Research there.

MAS oh MAS. Previously adverse weather and late arrival of aircrafts from other sectors became your excuses. Now weather is good, what else is your excuse? The late arrival of aircrafts from other sectors? Ha ha.

RESUMING BLOGGING

Time is running fast indeed. Just realised it has been about four months since I last wrote in this blog.

Recalling and analysing activities undertaken in such a long time is definitely impossible. Too many to recall and too much to analyse.

Ones that I could remember clearly are my trip to Rome and Paris, frequent visits to Brunei, upgrading process of ISDEV to a Centre of Excellence (CoE), and the design of ISDEV Complex, first near the Co-Curriculum Centre and later beside the Harapan Lake in USM Penang campus.

All relates very much to endeavours in exhibiting the beauty of Islam and the dynamics of its systems.

I talked about the need of an Islamic Research Methodology in Rome, strengthening Islamic networkings in Brunei, intensifying Islamic excellence via the upgrading of ISDEV to a CoE in USM, and realising the dynamics of waqf via the construction of ISDEV Complex beside the Lake.

May Allah SWT bless and help us all, Insha-Allah.

THE 7TH ISDEV IDMAC 2013 IS AROUND THE CORNER

Glad to be able to extend this Call for Papers for ISDEV's another annual IDMAC, the 7th one. All are cordially invited to join us at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia, to enjoy a discourse on a relatively rare theme, the Islamic Research Methodology.

CALL FOR PAPERS
THE 7^th ISDEV INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE (IDMAC 2013):TOWARDS ISLAMIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

9^th – 10^thDecember 2013

University Conference Hall, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

Organized by:

Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV)

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Objective

To gather papers and minds in formulating an Islamic Research Methodology, with a view to replace the conventional research methodology, especially in undertaking researches on Islam and Muslims.

Suggested Sub-themes (relating to Islamic Research Methodology)

1. Philosophy of Islamic Research Methodology
2. Concept of Islamic Research Methodology
3. Islamic Research Methodology in Al-Qur’an and Sunnah
4. Usul Fiqh and Fiqhiyyah Methods for Islamic Research Methodology
5. Qualitative And Quantitative Research Based on Islamic Doctrines
6. The Islamic Ethics of Interviews, Observation and Participant Observation
7. Formulation of Questionnaires from Islamic Perspective
8. Formulation and Development of Islamic Theory
9. The Arts of Reasoning (Mantik) for Islamic Research Methodology
10. Application of Fatwa Development Process on Islamic Research Methodology
11. Reliability and Validity of Data in Islamic Research Methodology
12. The Need and Limitation of Scientific Approach in Islamic Research Methodology
13. The Role and Use of Intangible Elements (Spirituality) in Islamic Research Methodology
14. The Questions of Objectivity in Islamic Research Methodology
15. Islamic Research Ethics
16. Islamic Research Methodology for Social Sciences Research
17. Other related sub-themes

Important Dates

Submission of Abstract: 7th November 2013

Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 8^th November 2013

Submission of Full Paper: 25^th November 2013

Submission of Registration Fee: 25^th November 2013

Release of Conference Programs: 27^th November 2013

Language

Malay, Arab, or English

Communication

Abstract & Working Papers: Shahir Akram Hassan, E-mail: shahir_isdev@yahoo.com, Tel: 04-653 2661

Registration & Fee: Puan Siti Eshah Waris, Email: sewusm@gmail.com, Tel : 04-653 3422 or Cik Lenny A/k Luat, Email :lennykristinie@yahoo.com.my, Tel : 04-653 4606

Details in Conference website: http://idmac7.blogspot.com

THE HEART OF THE PROBLEMS VIS-A-VIS THE PROBLEMS OF THE HEART

ISDEV LECTURE SERIES BY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR TAN SRI DR. MUHAMMAD KAMAL HASAN

With great pleasure and reverence, Professor Ulung of the Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Professor Tan Sri Dr. Muhammad Kamal Hasan will be delivering the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) Lecture Series on Monday 21 October, 2013 at 9:00am at the University Conference Hall (DPU) on "The Heart of the Problems vis-a-vis the Problems of the Heart".

A leading scholar who is also the former Rector of IIUM is the expert in the field of Southeast Asia Contemporary Islamic Thoughts, Prof Muhammad Kamal Hassan will be covering on issues related to the heart and qalb (spiritual heart) through the lecture.

All USM fraternity and the public are cordially invited to attend this lecture. Please convey this invitation to all.

IN EUROPE

For the past 6 days, I am in Europe. The first  4 nights were spent in Rome, while since yesterday, I am in Paris. At the moment I am in the Air France Premeire Lounge at the Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport, waiting to board for MAS flight back to Malaysia.

A lot of experience have been collected in both countries. It is too many to note them now here, but suffice to jote down a few. First, Rome is an historical city with historic building, hence becoming a tourist city. Except at the Termini Statioze (Bus Station), you do not really feel alien as they are a lot of foreign tourists from all over the world there. Second, there are a lot of Malay speaking Bangladeshi (who have been working in Malaysia, Singapore or Brunei before) selling tourist items. Thirdly, there is a big mosque in Rome but seems to be under-utilized and not well-kept. Fourthly, the organiser of the 3rd International Conference on Human and Social Sciences which I participated is relatively not too efficient as there were only a handful of them in-charged of the whole Conference. The themes of the Conference were also so vast and diversed, difficult for you to choose the papers you want to really hear. The participants however came from all over the globe, from Europe to Africa and Asia. Fifthly, the cost of living is so high. A plate of beryani rice costs you €6 (about RM30).

Enough for now. I am boarding now. Will continue later, InshaAllah.

IT HAPPENED AGAIN

Yes, it happened again. There seemed to be no improvement, except the length of the duration.

My Penang-Kuala Lumpur flight with MAS on the 10th of September was delayed again. This time for half an hour. So was the Kuala Lumpur-Penang on the 13th September on my way home. It was also half an hour delayed.

The reason for the former was the weather while the reason for the later was the delay of the plane from earlier sector. The same reasons as previous delays.

Fortunately, it did not affect my connecting flight to and from Brunei, and gave me much time to engage conversations with USM Vice-Chancellor in the lounge. We were together on a trip to Brunei Darussalam.

However, for those who have to catch for appointment, the delay could become a hectic one. We met at the satellite terminal a friend from Oxford who was rushing for a meeting. His flight was delayed for four hours at Heathrow!