Achievements

Achievements in 2015

IAIS Malaysia’s Achievements in 2015

The year 2015 begins with an interesting Roundtable Discussion on Extremism, Terrorism and Islam: Toward Better Understanding of Issues which was held to consider the root causes of extremisms. The Round Table Discussion featured prominent speakers including Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hashim Kamali, the Founding CEO of IAIS Malaysia, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, the President of the International Movement for a Just World, Prof. Dato’ Paduka Mohamad Abu Bakar from University of Malaya, and Ahmad El-Muhammady, lecturer of International Islamic University Malaysia.

On 30th January 2015, IAIS Malaysia had the honour to host a Public Lecture by the renowned international Muslim public intellectual, Prof. Tariq Ramadan on the topic of Understanding Reform from an Islamic Perspective. He reframed the discourse on reform by emphasizing reform of the self as the prelude and prerequisite to social reform, inspired no less than the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him!) himself, who “prayed at night to transform the world during the day”. This personal reform should culminate in a sense of personal security (salamat al-nafs) in the individual, a state necessary to attain to the Qur’anic ideal of the “tranquil soul” (nafs al-mutma’innah). The event was jointly organized with the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), Akademi Intelektual Muda and WAP TV.
IAIS Malaysia was also invited as a partner organizer for the International Islamic Banking & Finance Law which was organized in early February, by the Malaysia Current Law Journal and the Bar Council Malaysia. The conference was aimed at building up a strong knowledge base for the different industry players, with focus on regulatory requirements and its implications, current industry challenges in shaping a comprehensive and internationally competitive Islamic finance ecosystem, and the mechanics that are required to sustain the dynamics of the environment in the region.

In the same month, IAIS Malaysia with Al-Maghrib Institute organized a Public Lecture featuring Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah on the topic of Logical Progression – Based on al-Sharh al-Mumti’. Another Public Lecture was also organized in March with an interesting topic “Reflections of an English Muslim”. The lecture was presented by Mr Ahmad Keeler, the Visiting Fellow of the Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge. It was an inspiring and visually compelling presentation, where Ahmed Keeler charts his journey and reflects upon the changing cultural worlds of the West and Islam.

The following event was the Public Lecture on “Social Innovation for Peaceful Coexistence: Intercultural Activism from Rumi to Gülen” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz from the Fatih University, Istanbul. The Institute co-organized this event with Malaysian Turkish Dialogue Society (MTDS).

In April, IAIS Malaysia conducteda seminar on Shariah Courts in Malaysia: Major Themes and Development. Two distinguished speakers were invited, namely Professor Dr. Ahmad Hidayat Buang, Lecturer, Department of Shari’ah and Law, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, who talked on “Transformation of Shari’ah Courts in Malaysia: Issues and Developments” and YAA Dato’ Dr. Haji Mohd. Na’im Haji Mokhtar, Chief Judge, Department of Shari’ah Judiciary of Selangor who presented on “Role of Family Support Division in the Enforcement and Execution of Shari’ah Court Maintenance Orders”.

The next programme was a Forum conducted in Bahasa Malaysia, on the topic of Perlaksanaan Hudud di Malaysia: Ideal dan Realiti. Panelists invited were Prof Emeritus Dato’ Paduka Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid from the Department of Fiqh & Usul al-Fiqh, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Associate Professor Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, the Deputy CEO of IAIS Malaysia and Mr. Musa Awang the President of the Syariah Lawyers Association of Malaysia.
In the same month, a Public Lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Humayon Abbas Dar, an Islamic Banking Expert, from United Kingdom. He delivered a presentation on the topic of Need for Quantification of Demand for Islamic Banking and Finance: Evidence from Pakistan and Implications for Malaysia. The programme was followed by another Public Lecture presented by Shaykh Safia Shahid on the topic of Dismantling Terrorism: An Islamic Obligation.

On 5th May 2015, IAIS Malaysia in collaboration with the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) organized a Round Table Discussion on the Future of Muslim Youth. The discussion explored some of the characteristics of contemporary youth and the challenges they face towards making a difference in society. One crucial observation about contemporary youth is, notwithstanding national, cultural and religious differences, youth across the globe appear to exhibit several common features that bind them togetherand leading to the possibility of contemporary youth playing pivotal roles towards bridging cultural divides.

In conjunction with the Enthronement of the Sultan of Perak, a special Banquet & Royal Ulama Lecture was held at the Dewan Banquet SUK, Bangunan Perak in Ipoh, Perak, featuring Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ninowy from Madina Institute, USA. The topic of the lecture was “In the Footsteps of the Khulafa : Role Models of Rulers in Islam”, moderated by Orang Kaya-Kaya Imam Paduka Tuan Shaykh Dato’ Afifi Al-Akiti. This event was jointly organized by IAIS Malaysia, Al Naqiy Islamic Solutions and a few other organizations.

IAIS Malaysia organized two lectures in May. The first was delivered by Mr. Hussein Heiri, a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He shared his lecture on the topic of Investor Protection Rights in Islamic Countries. The second lecture was delivered by another renowned intellectual, Dr Jasser Auda, the Executive Director at the Maqasid Institute based in London. He presented a great lecture entitled Youth and Moderation: Promoting Harmony and Global Peace.

One of the highlights of the year 2015 was the International Conference on the Applications of Maqasid Al-Shariah in Public Policy and Governance which was jointly organized by IAIS Malaysia, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and Razak School of Government and partnered with Al Naqiy Islamic Solutions Sdn Bhd and the Muslim Youth Association of Malaysia (ABIM). The goals for the two-day conference were to advance applicable maqasid-based theories in the form of policies related to good governance on a global scale. Several participants presented, making up seven sessions in total. The guests ranged from fellow academics to government officials, policy consultants and students.

In July, IAIS Malaysia was blessed to again host Dr Jasser Auda on another important topic entitled: Maqasid Al-Shari’ah & The Challenges Facing The Muslim Youth.

In August, IAIS Malaysia and MISG Alumni jointly organized the Book Dissection and Discussion: Prophet Muhammad, The Hallmark of Leadership, which was presented by Dr Azman Hussin from the MISG Alumni and discussed by Dr Maszlee Malik from IIUM.

Then, IAIS Malaysia organized a Round Table Discussion with an interesting topic entitled ‘Islamic Perspectives on Sustainable Development’. The panelists were Professor Mohammad Hashim Kamali (Founding CEO of IAIS Malaysia), Dr. Daud Abdul Fattah Batchelor (IAIS Malaysia), Dr. Chandra Muzaffar (President of International Movement for a Just World), Associate Professor Dr. Azilah Sarkhawi (International Islamic University Malaysia), Professor Gemini Herath (School Business of Monash University, Malaysia), and Mr. Ahmad Shaiful Alwi (on behalf of Dr. Adi Setia Md. Dom, IIUM). The objective of the discussion is to bring– focus the attention of leaders, stakeholders and scholars on critical issues related to sustainable development from the regulatory, industry, NGO, and educational viewpoints.

IAIS Malaysia was also invited as co-organiser in the World Islamic Countries University Leaders Summit (WICULS 2015). The event was held at Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya and officiated by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan. WICULS attempts to mainstream a worldview with emphasis on 3 main pillars: Access and Equity in education, the relevance of culture, wisdom and ethics and the articulation of education for sustainable development in Muslim universities and the ummah worldwide.

The world is facing various imperative issues related to sustainability that demand concentrated efforts including the climate change, pollution of the atmosphere, global warming, sea level rise and land degradation. The International Conference on Islam, Science and Sustainable Development: Maqasid al-Shari’ah and Humanity’s Well Being was held in October to seek for a collective resolution by bringing together academics, experts, policy makers and activists to integrate the efforts for achievement of our sustainable development goals. It was launched by YB Senator Dato’ Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Deputy Minister (Religion Affairs) Prime Minister Department. Other eminent speakers included Prof. Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Prof. Datin Azizan Baharuddin, Prof. Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and Prof. Mohamed Aslam Haneef. Throughout the conference, several key Islamic concepts were repeatedly highlighted; namely the ‘Oneness of Being’ from the core Islamic principle of Tawhid, the divinely-ordained responsibility as trustees and vicegerents encapsulated in the principle of Khilafa, and lastly, the aiming towards ‘optimal balance’ guided by Mizan and Wasatiyyah.

The Malaysian Legal and Corporate Conference 2015 (MLCC): The Corporate Perspective was jointly organized by IAIS Malaysia, Malaysian Current Law Journal (CLJ) and Bar Council Malaysia. This event, themed 'Changes & Challenges: The Corporate Perspective', brings to the fore recent legal and corporate developments within the region and explores the effect of these on both sides of the divide. The MLCC provides a dynamic and provocative platform for discourse on emerging issues that are dominating current events, and offers the perfect opportunity for all stakeholders to hear from thought-leaders in the industry.

The introduction of Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) 2013 in June 2013 has affected the Islamic banking and finance landscape in Malaysia and the understanding of its salient features and the changes it introduces is very crucial. . Therefore, IAIS Malaysia organized the Training Programme on Regulatory and Compliance Framework in Islamic Finance Under IFSA 2013. The two-day training programme was conducted by our own expert course instructors, Dr Hakimah Yaacob and Sis. Apnizan Abdullah. The objectives of the training were to expose the participants to the regulatory framework of Islamic Finance in Malaysia with special reference to Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) 2013 and to equip the participants with an understanding of the application of laws, rules and standards governing the Islamic Finance industry in Malaysia and internationally. By the end of the training, the participants had a clear understanding on the regulatory framework of Islamic Finance, the applicable laws, rules and standards in Islamic Finance, the dispute resolution mechanism in Islamic Finance and many more. The programme received positive feedbacks from the academias, policy makers, regulators and key players of Islamic finance and banking industry in Malaysia.

Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) together with IAIS Malaysia, Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and Foreign Policy Study Group (FPSG); had organized a Distinguished Lecture by Prof Emeritus Alex P. Schmid, the Director of Terrorism Research Initiative on the topic “Counter- and Alternative Narratives as Part of a Comprehensive Strategy to Combat ISIS”. Schmid in his presentation, proposed several strategies for combating ISIS. Centring himself on the need to limit ISIS’s ability to disseminate their ideology, Schmid first suggested (perhaps rather contentiously) government censorship of the public media in order to end the destructive ISIS-journalist relationship. Secondly, and closely tied to this he suggested responsible media self-censorship (inclusive of social media). He reasoned that ISIS could only be defeated in the long-term by a Muslim-led counter-narrative that would both invalidate and degrade ISIS ideology.

In November, IAIS Malaysia was graced by the willingness of His Royal Highness, Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak to officiate the event, Book Launch: The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam, a great work written by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Founding CEO of IAIS Malaysia. The event was jointly organized with Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) and it was attended by ambassadors, respected personnels from various bodies and organizations.

By the end of 2015, IAIS Malaysia was invited as a partner for the 12th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2015 from 1st to 3rd December 2015. And the final event was the Expert Discussion on “TPPA: The Positive & Negative Impacts on Malaysia”. The presentation was given by Dr. Haniff Ahamat from International Islamic University Malaysia.

Prepared by:
Ahmad Syarief bin Fadhli
Conference Unit

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Page 7 of 8

Sadly, not a day passes that we do not hear of acts of violence, conflict, kidnapping, terrorist attacks, killings and destruction, it is horrible that at times, to justify such barbarism, the name of a religion or the name of God himself is invoked. – Pope Francis addressed the representatives of different religions at Vatican City, November 2016

The sage is self-effacing and scanty of words. When the task is accomplished and things have been completed, all the people say, "We ourselves have achieved it!" – Chinese Text, Tao Te Jing

Food is the chief of all medicines. – Indian Text, Upanishads

One on tip-toe cannot stand. One who parades his own success will not endure. – Chinese Text, Tao Te Jing

It is the fate of every truth to be the object of ridicule when it is first acclaimed. It was once considered foolish to suppose that black men were really human beings and ought to be treated as such. – Albert Schweitzer

I asked the tree to speak to me about God, and it blossomed. – Rabindranath Tagore

There is a variety of gifts, but it is always the same Spirit. There are all sorts of services to be done, but always to the same Lord, working in all sorts of different ways in different people. It is the same God working in all of them. – Paul in 1 Corinthians (12:4-6)

The Native American Cree people say, "Only when the last tree has been cut, the last river poisoned, and the last fish caught, only then will you realize that one cannot eat money. – Thomas Menamparampil

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. – Albert Einstein (d. 1955)

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence. – Xenocrates (d. 314 BC)

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. – Sir Winston Churchill (d. 1965)

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. - Thomas Aquinas

He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals. - Benjamin Franklin

The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel. - George Bernard Shaw

Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. - William Shakespeare

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Dao de Ching by Lao Tzu

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. – Dao de Ching by Lao Tzu

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained. – Dao de Ching by Lao Tzu

People are qualified for civil liberty, in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains on their own appetites. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters. – Edmund Burke

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. – Jawaharlal Nehru (d. 1964)

Religion is never more tested than when our emotions are ablaze. At such a time, the timeless grandeur of the Law and its ethics stand at our mercy.– Timothy J. Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad)

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. – Mother Theresa

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Do not resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. – Lao Tzu

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King Jr. (d. 1968)

You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. – Ayn Rand, Russian novelist (d. 1982)

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. – Samuel Johnson, English writer (d. 1784)

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. – Dwight D. Eisenhower (d. 1969)

Justice, mercy, wisdom, righteousness and common good are the basics of Islam. Whatever gets out of justice to injustice is not from Islam. Whatever gets out of mercy to violence is not from Islam. Whatever deviates from common good to harm is not from Islam, and whatever dissents from wisdom to imprudence is not from Islam. – Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifah was passing through the bazar and a small amount of mud fell on his clothes. He went to the local river and washed it. Someone asked him, "O Imam, you say a certain amount of dirt is exonerated and yet you are washing a little mud!" The imam replied, "Yes that was fatwa and this is taqwa." – Fariduddin Attar

For every sin but the killing of Time there is forgiveness. – Essential Sufism

Enlightenment must come little by little, otherwise it would overwhelm. – Idries Shah

To let go of attachments and belongings doesn’t mean you should own nothing. It means nothing should own you. – Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

Hearts are vessels of God on earth. And the most beloved heart to Him is the one most clean, pure and pristine. – Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Knowledge is not what is memorised. Knowledge is what benefits. – Imam Shafi’i

Learn to be quiet just as you learn to talk, because if talking guides you, being quiet protects you. By being quiet, you attain two characteristics: you are able to take knowledge from those more knowledgeable than you and you are able to repel the ignorance of those more ignorant than you. – Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

If words come out of the heart, they will enter the heart, but if they come from the tongue, they will not pass beyond the ears. – Al-Suhrawardi (Essential Sufism)

Shall I tell you who is kept away from Hell?...Everyone who is gentle and kindly, approachable and of an easy disposition. – Hadith

God is merciful to those who show mercy to others. – Hadith

A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves a thousand moments of regrets. – Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

Lead such a life that, when you die, the people may mourn you, and while you are alive they long for your company. – Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. – Jalaluddin Rumi

Power consists not in being able to strike another, but in being able to control oneself when anger arises. - Hadith

The highest status amongst the forgiving is of that person who has all the power to avenge, yet chooses to forgive. – Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

Hearts are vessels of God on earth. And the most beloved heart to Him is the one most clean, pure and pristine. – Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

To get what you love, you must first be patient with what you hate. – Imam al-Ghazali

To be humble is to accept the truth and submit to it even when you heard it from the tongue of a child, an educated one, or an ignorant person. – Fudhayl ibn Iyadh

Some people have passed away but their characters keep them alive. Others are alive but their character have killed them. – Imam Shafi’i

And still, after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, "Earth! You owe me". Look at the love like that. It illuminates the whole sky. – Hafez

As the very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake, we Muslims and Christians should let the unpleasantness between us become a thing of the past. - The Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb's speech in Abu Dhabi

Declare your jihad on twelve enemies you cannot see _ egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be ready to fight the enemy you can see. – Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you will become happy. And if you get a bad one, you will become a philosopher. – Socrates

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. – Wernher Von Braun (d. 1977)

Buzi, a native of Zhengxian, asked his wife to make him a new pair of trousers. When asked the style of the new trousers, Buzi said: “Just like my old trousers.” His wife put a few holes in them so they would resemble the old pair.

A man was trapped by a tiger. In an attempt to save him, the man’s son took a cutlass and rushed towards the wild beast. At this juncture, the man shouted at the top of his lungs, “My dear son! My dear son! Attack its feet, not its skin, which is worth its weight in silver!”

At an art gallery, a woman and her ten-year-old son were having a tough time choosing between one of my paintings and another artist's work. They finally went with mine. "I guess you decided you prefer an autumn scene to a floral, " I said. "No," said the boy. "Your painting is wider, so it'll cover three holes in our wall."

I once gave my husband the silent treatment for an entire week, at the end of which he declared, “Hey, we’re getting along pretty great lately!”

They say we learn from our mistakes. That’s why I am making as many as possible. I will soon be a genius!

A men fell on the ground, and soon after fell down again. He said to himself: "Had I known I was going to fall a second time, I would have not gotten up so soon."

A government office issued an urgent document to be distributed among its subsidiaries. To ensure that it would be delivered in time, the messenger was provided with a horse. Running behing the horse, the messenger whipped the horse until it was galloping at full speed. Someone asked him in amazement: "If it's such an urgent mission why don't you ride the horse?" The messenger asnwered: "Running on six legs is certainly quicker than on four, isn't it?"

Hija purchased a sack of flour and hired a labourer to carry it. The labourer ran off with the whole sack. On seeing the labourer after a few days, Hija hid from him. "Why are you hiding from him?" the people asked. He replied, "I fear that he may ask for his wage."

The Ameer of the town appealed for funds to build a wall around the graveyard. Mulla Nasruddin, who was also present, got up and responded: "There is absolutely no need for any wall around the graveyard!"

A Mullah's friend asked the mulla how old are you? Forty replied the mullah. The friend said but you said the same thing two years ago! Yes, replied the mullah, I always stand by my word.

Young man: Ya Shaykh, I have repented, Alhamdulillah, but I cannot forget the woman I love. Shaykh: Pray to Allah using various supplications Young man: Please tell me some that I may use Shaykh: Oh Allah, put Iman in my heart, in my hearing, in my sight and in my path The young man interrupted and said, "Ya Shaykh, the woman that I love is called Iman."

Three people were praying salat in congregation. A man walks by and without knowing they are in salat says, "Assalamu Alaykum". One man in salat says "Waalaykum Assalam". The second person angrily says, "Astaghfirullah, you are not supposed to talk in salat." The third person praying says "Alhamdulillah, I didn't talk."

Here is the story of an Imam who got up after Friday prayers and announced to the people: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building programme. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets".

During a Q&A session, a scholar was asked, "Will we get cigarettes in Jannah?" to which he replied, "Maybe, but you'd have to go to Jahannam to light it".

A man who was an adherent of the Magian religion died and left behind a huge debt. Some of his creditors said to his son, "Sell the house and pay off your father's debt." The son said, "If I sell the house and pay off his debt, will he enter paradise?" They said, "No". He said, "Then leave him wherever he is and leave me in the house."

Hasan bin Sahl asked Dinar bin 'Abdullah,: "What is your religion?" He said, "I never thought that anyone alive would have to answer this question, for it is the question the angels of death, Nakir and Munkar, ask the dead."

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Achievements

Achievements in 2015