ISDEV News

Graduate students and interested parties who are interested in lectures pertaining to graduate research and thesis writing could now get them in DVD from ISDEV. These DVDs, based on lectures delivered at ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision (all in Malay), have been produced by ISDEV Media Unit and sold at a very low cost of RM5 each (excluding of postage). To date, the titles that are available are as follows: 1. Fieldwork by Dr. Azlinda Azman 2. Constructing Research Proposal by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Fatah Che Hamat 3. Research Objectives, Questions & Hypotheses by Dr Zulkarnain A. Hatta 4. Past Research by Dr. Lilis Surienty Abd Talib 5. Literature Review by Dr. Nor Malina Malik Those interested to have the DVDs as references or personal collection could now make an order from Sukainah at suekainah@yahoo.com or +6-04-653 4601 (office phone) or +6-04-653 2124 (fax). Availability of new titles will be announced from time to time via ISDEV NEWS at http://isdevnews07.blogspot.com/

[32] Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace. [Faatir,35:32]

Announcing ISDEV Nearest Events Event: Graduate Monthly Supervision Topic: Research Scope, Limitation and Significance Speaker: Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar Date: 2 November 2007 (Friday) Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences Event: In-House Seminar Topic: An Islamic Analysis of Research Problems Speaker: Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi Date: 16 November 2007 (Friday) Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences Event: In-House Seminar Topic: Observation Techniques - An Islamic Perspective Speaker: Dr Fatan Hamamah Yahaya Date: 23 November 2007 (Friday) Time: 9.30am - 12.00pm Venue: ISDEV, School of Social Sciences All are cordially invited

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 2: Belief, Hadith No: 12]

Former ISDEV Research Associate Dr Zahri Hamat has been appointed as a contract lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia for two years beginning 1 September 2007. He is attached to Development Planning and Management Programme at the School, teaching Economics for Development. Simultaneously, he continues to help School of Distance Learning to teach courses in Management Studies. Dr Zahri also co-supervises Ekarat Sitisan, a Master student working on Potentials for the Establishment of Zakat Fund in Bangkok, Thailand . A couple more PhD candidates from Malaysia and Indonesia who will be working on Zakat are also expected to be co-supervised by Dr Zahri soon. Currently, Dr Zahri also chairs the Organizing Committee of ISDEV Graduate Workshop III. The Workshop is an ISDEV annual occasion and specially organized for graduates working on Islam related research in universities worldwide. It will be held on 12-13 December 2007. In this Workshop, ISDEV Best Master

ISDEV Research Associate Nor Azzah Kamri has submitted her PhD thesis. The title is Implementation of Islamic Code of Ethics in Islamic Development Organization: A Case Study of Lembaga Urusan Tabung Haji Malaysia . She has been working with ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and ISDEV Management Committee Member Dr Zakaria Bahari. Viva voce for the thesis is expected to be held sometime in November 2007. When the exact date is confirmed, a mock viva will be held at ISDEV to familiarize and train her to face the real viva voce . After passing her PhD, Nor Azzah Kamri will return to and teach at Akademi Islam, University of Malaya.

[149] Whether ye publish a good deed or conceal it or cover evil with pardon, verily Allah doth blot out (sins) and hath power (in the judgment of values). [an-Nisaa', 4:149]

Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan" [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 32: 'Praying at Night in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)', Hadith No: 237]

It was realized at the ISDEV In-House Seminar on 28 September that in Islamic Research Methodology, objectivity must be limited to `moralisitic objectivity' or `ethical objectivity' rather than `plain or absolute objectivity' as advocated and used by conventional research methodology. Moralisitic or ethical objectivity here means an objectivity that protects respondents' dignity and self-respect, based on Shari`ah. That was one of the main discourses articulated during the presentation on "An Analysis of Research Ethics in Conventional Research Methodology" by Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar at the Seminar. Other discourses also include scrutinization on other research ethics proposed by the American Psychological Association (APA), such as limitation of capability and skills, protection of respondents' rights and dignity, avoidance of danger on respondents, protection and avoidance of abusement of respondents' secrecy, honest and unmanipulated presentation

[3] The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. [al-Qadr, 97: 3]