Ongoing Research

Research Updates - (Sep - Dec 2019)

Professor Kamali finalised reviewer suggested changes on his book, “Lawful and Unlawful in Shariah and The Halal Industry” to be published by Oxford University Press, New York. He wrote two articles: “Haj is No Longer the Same Experience as in Earlier Times,” IAIS Bulletin on Islam and Contemporary Issues No. 51 (July-August 2019) and “Fresh Interpretation Needed,” New Straits Times, 23 December 2019.

He co-authored four IAIS Research Briefs with – 1) Drs Mahbubi Ali and Mohamed Azam, “Toward Islamic Banking Without Tawarruq”, No. 1 - June 2019; 2) Dr Mohamed Azam and Wan Naim. “Child Conversion in Malaysia”, No. 2 - August 2019; 3) Apnizan Abdullah and Dr Mohamed Azam, “Shariah Parameters for the Halal Industry in Malaysia”, No. 3 - November 2019 and 4) Dr Adha Shaleh “Disruptive Trends in Education”, No. 4 - December 2019.

Professor Kamali attended the 1^st International Forum on Islamic Thought: Revitalising Maqasid Shariah Towards a Compassionate Governance, Everly Hotel Putrajaya, 3 September 2019. He participated at the Network of Malaysian Think Tanks Meeting (NMTT), ISIS Malaysia, 17 September 2019.

On 14 October 2019, he gave opening remarks at “The Palestine – Kashmir” Forum, IAIS Malaysia. He attended 5^th Annual Conference: Education and Culture in Promoting Harmony and National Integration, and the IAIS Islamic Finance Talk Series on “Transitioning Islamic Economy via Technology and Innovation”, IAIS Malaysia on 19 October and 4 November 2019, respectively.

He gave Keynote Address on “Freedom of Religion and Apostasy: Issues, Responses and Developments,” at the 7^th International Islam and Liberty Conference, Jakarta, 11-12 November 2019. He attended Roundtable Discussion, “Designing Sadaqah Models for Child Grant Project in Malaysia: Shariah, Legal and Financial Analysis,” IAIS Malaysia, 26 November 2019.

Professor Kamali gave opening remarks at the International Seminar on “Islam and Ecological Sustainability 2019”, IAIS Malaysia, 3 December 2019. He attended the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 19-21 December 2019.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil has published Centralisation of Halal Matters Under the Federal Government in Malaysia: A Legal Perspective (Apnizan Abdullah & Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil), Islam & Civilisational Renewal (ICR) Journal, Vol 10 No 2 (2019): December 2019; Child Conversion in Malaysia (Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil & Wan Naim Wan Mansor), IAIS Research Briefs, No. 2 August 2019; Shari’ah Parameters for The Halal Industry in Malaysia: Issues and Reform Proposals (Apnizan Abdullah, Mohammad Hashim Kamali & Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil), IAIS Research Briefs, No. 3, November 2019; Disruptive Trends in Education: Islamic and Contemporary Perspectives (Muhammad Adha Shaleh, Mohammad Hashim Kamali & Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil), IAIS Research Briefs, No. 4, December 2019; Conversion of Parent to Islam & Its Implication to the Status of Minors (Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil & Rafeah Saidon) in Muallaf - Isu & Cabaran Kontemporari, IKaZ, UiTM Shah Alam, 2019. Rukun Negara: 62 Tahun Merdeka (Part 1), IAIS Bulletin, No. 51 July-August 2019; Rukun Negara: 62 tahun Merdeka (Part 2) IAIS Bulletin, No. 52 Sept-Oct 2019; Participant, 1^st International Forum on Islamic Thought Revitalizing Maqasid Shariah Towards Compassionate Governance, The Everly Hotel, Putrajaya, 3^rd September 2019; Participant, Network of Malaysian Think Tanks Malaysia, ISIS, 17 September 2019; Presenter, Law Symposium, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 7-9 October 2019; Moderator, Forum on Palestine & Kashmir, IAIS, 14 October 2019, Participant, 14^th Southeast Asia Network Forum/5^th International Sustainable Technology, Energy and Civilization Conference, Kyoto Alumni Association Malaysia, Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya, 16 October 2019; Participant, Islam and Identity in Europe and Southeast Asia, ISTAC, 23 October 2019; Moderator, French Talk with Abennour Bidar, co-organised with French Embassy, IAIS Malaysia, 24 October 2019; Participant, Seminar Peranan Zakat Dalam Menangani Kesenjangan Ekonomi, INTEKMA, 30 October 2019; Live Interview, Slot Minda Islam, Islamophobia, Radio IKIM, 15 November 2019; Participant, Syarahan Sultan Nazrin Sempena 50 Tahun MKI, PICC, 7 November 2019; Moderator, 7^th International Islam & Liberty Conference, Jakarta, 11-13 Nov 2019; Presenter, Seminar on Child Rights in International Family Disputes, Amman, Jordan, 18-21 November 2019; Chairman, International Seminar on Islam & Ecological Sustainability 2019, IAIS Malaysia, 3 December 2019; Participant, Human Rights Day 2019, SUHAKAM/UNCT/BHEUU, Sheraton KL, 10 December 2019; Participant, KL Summit 2019, KLCC, 19-21 December 2019.

Alexander Wain recently published two short chapters (‘The Maritime Silk Road’ and ‘The Han Kitab’) in Islam in China: History, Spread and Culture (Islamic Book Trust), and an IAIS Bulletin article (‘Hamka and the True Meaning of Zuhd’). He also gave a presentation entitled ‘Islamic Civilisation in China: Its Influence on the Malay World,’ at the Forum on Islam and Civilisation in China, held at the Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University of Malaysia. Forthcoming publications include an article on the Undang-Undang Melaka for the ICR, a chapter covering Southeast Asia in the Oxford Handbook of Islamic Archaeology (Oxford University Press) and a translation of the Hikayat Raja Pasai’s conversion narrative with an accompanying commentary in A Sourcebook for Pre-Modern Conversion to Islam (University of California Press). Alexander’s ongoing research projects include an Occasional Paper critiquing existing general theories of Islamisation. He is also preparing a monograph on the conversion of the Nusantara to Islam, to be published with a major academic publisher.

Mohammad Mahbubi Ali published viewpoint in ICR (Vol 10 No 2, 2019), called ‘Child Protection and Corporate Zakat’, an article in IAIS Bulletin (No. 51 July-August 2019), titled ‘Islamic Perspective on Shariah Non-Compliant Collateral’, and a paper on Islamic financial inclusion index in Indonesia in the Journal of Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance (Vol. 5 No. 4, 2019). His other two articles on BNM Shariah Governance Policy Document 2019 and Islamic crowdfunding also appeared in New Straits Times (5 October 2019) and Islamic Finance News (9 Oct 2019), respectively. Besides, he—together with other teams—completed the Islamic finance masterplan for the Republic of Kazakhstan. He also presented papers at the Sarajevo Islamic Finance and Economic Conference (SIFEC 2019) on 25 Oct 2019 and the 5th International Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance in on 12-13 November 2019.

Ahmad Badri bin Abdullah published a policy issue paper (PIP) he co-authored with Prof. Mohammad Hashim Kamali entitled ‘Challenges Facing the Halal Vaccine: Issues & Proposed Solutions?’ in November 2019. The policy brief of the same title is finalised and already in the publication pipeline. He also submitted a final version of another PIP entitled ‘Malay Traditional Customs from Shariah Perspective’ as it is ready to be published. His article entitled ‘Catering to All Segments of Society’ discussing on the 2020 National Budget appeared in the News Straits Times on 2nd November. He is currently compiling and editing a book of selected conference papers entitled: ‘Maqasid al-Shari’ah in Governance and Public Policies’. He has also submitted an event report for the December ICR on the 5^th Annual Conference & Workshop: ‘Education and Culture in Promoting Harmony and National Integration’.

Apnizan Abdullah’s short article entitled, “Time for Malaysia to lead Islamic social finance endeavours” was featured in the News Strait Times on 30 November 2019. Another short article she wrote; entitled “Unleashing The Potential of Sadaqah for Islamic Social Finance Instruments in Malaysia” has appeared in the IAIS Bulletin, No. 52, Sept-Oct 2019 issue. Her co-authored journal article under the title, “Centralisation of Halal matters under the Federal Government in Malaysia: A Legal Perspective” will appear soon in the upcoming IAIS journal. She has completed the final draft on “sadaqah as a financial tool for children protection and security programmes” which will be submitted to UNICEF by the end of January 2020.

Shahino Mah Abdullah contributed articles for bulletin no.52 and no.53, namely, “The rights to privacy and protection of data from Artificial Intelligence: An Islamic perspective” and “Debate on electronics personhood: a legal perspective”, respectively. At the same time, he contributed three event reports for bulletin no.52, no.53, and Islam and Civilisational Renewal journal (Vol.10, No.2) namely, “International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2019)”, “International Research Conference and Innovation Exhibition (IRCIE 2019)”, and “International Seminar on Islam and Ecological Sustainability”, respectively. His article on the circular economy in tackling climate change has also published in the newspaper entitled, “Let’s move from 3R to 7R” (New Straits Times, 26^th October 2019). During the ‘International Seminar on Islam and Ecological Sustainability’, the module on “Islam and River Protection” that he co-authored with other IAIS researchers has been launched and published. He was also moderate the third keynote speech entitled, “Sustainability: The Economics of Futility” by Dr Fazlun Khalid during the seminar. In the recent conference & exhibition he participated, ‘International Research Conference and Innovation Exhibition’ (IRCIE 2019) on 25^th – 27^th November 2019 Johor Bahru, he teamed up with researchers from the University of Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology (MITEC), presented an innovation entitled, “Sustainable IoT based Environment and Industrial Monitoring System” and received Gold Award for Higher Education category. For IAIS website content, he has proposed articles written by external writers, in which, within September to December 2019, a total of 27 articles have been accepted and featured online. His OPS, PIP, and Research Brief on AI from Islamic perspectives have been submitted and revised, and will soon be published in early 2020.

Fakhrurrazi co-authored a book on ecological wisdom and environmental activism entitled Laskar Alam: Modul Pembudayaan Kelestarian Alam, a joint effort by IAIS, RIMBA, GRASS Malaysia, SOCA IIUM and COMNET UNISEL. He was invited as a panellist at the 7th Finance, Investment and Accounting Colloquium Series by the Management and Science University (MSU). He is currently working with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) to produce an educational video on environmental conservation and river care from the Islamic perspectives, based on a module that he developed with IAIS and GEC researchers, Modul Islam & Pemeliharaan Sungai under the National River Care Fund. He coordinated a forum, The Impact of Climate Change and Human-Caused Hazards on the Marine Environment in Malaysia with Penang Forum and ABIM. His ongoing research projects include topics on sustainable development, ecological sustainability and waqf development in Malaysia.

Wan Naim Wan Mansor published three event reports for the ICR journal, covering a book discussion, an international forum on Palestine and Kashmir, and public event with French philosopher Abdennour. He co-authored an IAIS research brief with Prof Kamali and Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohamed Azam (“Child Conversion in Malaysia”, No. 2 – August 2019). Also co-authored with Prof Kamali and Dr Azam on a Policy Issue Paper on the death penalty (to be published soon). He represented the Institute and reports on various programmes, among others; a roundtable discussion on aboriginal Islamic outreach (26^th Sept); the G25 Forum on the future of the ummah (28^th Sept); and a meeting with the UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet in Kuala Lumpur (5^th Oct). He is also part of the editorial team of a book tentatively entitled “Maqasid Shariah in Public Policy and Governance”. He is also currently finalising a collaborative journal article (with Dr Ahmad Badri)entitled “The Dialectical Relation of Texts (Nas) and Benefits (Maslahah) in the Light of Systemic Approach”. Wan Naim’s ongoing research projects include topics on Malaysian Political Islam, Shariah-oriented policies (Siyasah Shar’iyyah), and inter-faith engagements.

Sayuti Mansor started his research on Public and Private Sphere in Islamic Law shortly after joining IAIS Malaysia in November 2019. He is currently working on two research articles, namely Moral Policing and The Protection of Private Sphere of Individual: A Case of ‘Operasi Cegah Maksiat’ in Malaysia and The Moral Argument For and Against The Legal Enforcement of Morality in Malaysia as part of his wider research on the public and private sphere in Islamic law.

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Page 5 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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Ongoing Research

Research Updates - (Sep - Dec 2019)