ISDEV News

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur-an, as a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful [al-Baqarah, 2: 185] .

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) as saying: When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained [Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book No. 6: The Book of Fasting (al-Sawm), Chapter 1: Excellence of the Month of Ramadhan, Hadith No. 2361] .

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint [al-Baqarah, 2:183] .

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book no. 31: Fasting, Hadith No. 118] .

Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (in His Cause) and remained steadfast? [Aali 'Imran, 3: 142]

On 15-17 July 2009, three ISDEV members were at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, presenting their respective papers at Islamic Economics System Conference ( i ECONS 2009). They were Dr Zakaria Bahari (left) who presented a paper entitled "Ke Manakah Hala Tuju Instrumen Sukuk di Malaysia"; Ahmad Azrin Adnan (below left) who presented a paper entitled "The Shari`ah Deliberation Factor as a Basis for Selecting a Bank: A Discussion of Experts"; and Mohamad Salleh Abdullah (below right) who presented a paper entitled "Eksistensi Wakaf Tunai di Pulau Pinang: Satu Analisis Mengenai Potensi dan Mobilisasi Dana Untuk Pembangunan Ekonomi Umat Islam". i ECONS 2009 was co-organised by Faculty of Economics & Muamalat of the USIM and Islamic Finance & Wealth Management Institute (IFWMI).

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) forbade that a man should drink while standing [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 26: Drinks (Kitab al-Ashribah), Hadith No. 3708] .