Ongoing Research

Research Updates - (May - Aug 2019)

Mohammad Hashim Kamali’s book, ‘Crime and Punishment in Islamic Law: A Fresh Interpretation’ was published by OUP NY in July 2019. He co-authored with Muhammad Adha Shaleh, “Disruptive Trends in Education: Islamic and Contemporary Perspectives’, Policy Issue Paper No: 9 (May 2019). His other three articles: “Principles and Philosophy of Punishment in Islamic Law with Special Reference to Malaysia,” Islam and Civilisational Renewal (ICR), Vol. 10 No. 1 (June 2019) and “The Higher Purposes (Maqasid) of Shariah: Milestones of Development,” and “A Much-Neglected Aspect of the Theory of Maqasid – the Wasa’il,” IAIS Bulletin (May-June 2019) and (Mar-Apr 2019), respectively. He wrote on “Fighting Official Corruption: An Islamic Perspective,” published in New Straits Times, 25 July 2019.

Professor Kamali attended the Forum, “Kemerdekaan Sempena Bulan Kemerdekaan Malaysia and Indonesia,” and participated at the IAIS Islamic Finance Talk Series on “Bringing Vision & Strategy to Life: Malaysia’s Sustainable & Responsible Investment Growth Story”, IAIS Malaysia, 20 and 26 August 2019 respectively. He gave Introductory remarks at the Inaugural Book Discussion – An Intellectual Discourse on Islamic Law in Malaysia: Issues, Developments and Challenges, IAIS Malaysia, 6 August 2019 of which he is also an editor. He was a discussant at the Monthly Book Discussion, ‘Maqasid al-Shariah: Explorations and Implications’, ISTAC, Kuala Lumpur, 14 May 2019. On 30 April 2019, he gave opening remarks at the Forum ‘Peradaban dan Keamanan Sejagat: Konsep Keamanan & Keadilan Sosial Menurut Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah’, at IAIS Malaysia.

Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil has published Matrikulasi Ikut Maqasid Syariah, Utusan Malaysia, 3 June 2019; Is Unilateral Conversion the Best Solution?, NST, 27 August 2019; Toward Islamic Banking Without Tawarruq (Mohammad Mahbubi Ali, Mohammad Hashim Kamali & Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil), IAIS Research Briefs, No. 1, 2019; and Islamic Law in Malaysia – Issues, Developments and Challenges (Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil & Mohammad Hashim Kamali), Book Discussion Write Up, Bebas News, 9 August 2019. Keynote speaker, Kepimpinan Unggul Pemacu Transformasi, Nadwah Islam Sekolah Berasrama Penuh, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang, 22 July 2019; Participant, Closed-door discussion with Chinese Muslims, ISTAC, 19 June 2019; and Presenter, Malaysia Baharu: Patriotisme Tulen atau Retorik Politik?, Bicara Cendikiawan Mulia, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), 28 August 2019. He moderated programmes organised by IAIS from May – August 2019. He represented IAIS Malaysia in the post-cabinet meetings chaired by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. He also represented IAIS in the Special Committee on Harmony (Dakwah for Non-Muslims) set up by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. He also represented IAIS in a steering committee, Pahang Royal Lecture (August 2019 -).

Alexander Wain recently published an ICR viewpoint (‘Southeast Asia’s Forgotten Female Muslim Rulers’), an IAIS Bulletin article (‘Rethinking the Islamisation of Java’), and a short piece for the NST (‘Could Melaka have got its Name from a Tree?’). Forthcoming publications include 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 article on the Undang-Undang Melaka for the ICR and 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 recently published an IAIS Policy Brief (No. 1 June 2019), entitled Toward Islamic Banking without Tawarruq’ and a viewpoint in the ICR (Vol 10 No 1, June 2019), called ‘Tabung Haji: Public Concern and Future Direction’. He also contributed an article to the Islamic Finance News (22nd May 2019 Issue) on cash waqf model for MSMEs in Indonesia. Mahbubi also presented a paper entitled ‘Penggunaan Dana Zakat dan Dana Wakaf bagi Melangsaikan Hutang Tertunggak (Outstanding Debt) Pelanggan Bank’ at the 13^th Regional Shariah Scholars Dialogue, held in Brunei Darussalam on 23-24 July 2019. On 7^th August, he conducted a one-day seminar on ‘Product Innovation in Islamic Finance’ at DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur. His ongoing research projects include the Islamic finance masterplan for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UNICEF project on the Islamic social finance instruments for children protection system.

Ahmad Badri bin Abdullah submitted a Policy Issue Paper (PIP) entitled ‘Halal Vaccines: Issues and Challenges’ and finalised another one entitled “Malay Traditional and Contemporary Customs From The Shari’ah Perspectives”. He has submitted an OPS entitled “Artificial Intelligence and the Ethical Issues in Human Society: An Islamic Perspective” with Dr. Shahino Mah Abdullah as well a shorter version of it as a PIP with the title: Islamic Ethical Guide in Developing Artificial Intelligence Framework. He has submitted an article entiled: ‘Penggunaan Maqasid Syari’ah dalam Hujah di Mahkamah’ for a book that is going to be published by UiTM Press entitled ‘Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia: Menelusuri Cabaran Melestari Hadapan’. He is also editing and developing an index for the book. He is currently compiling and editing a book of selected conference papers entitled:“Maqasid al-Shari’ah in Governance and Public Policies”. Dr Badri has also involved in a research project with Penang Mufti Department entitled: ‘Kajian Hukum Orang Bukan Islam Turut Merayakan Perayaan Orang Bukan Islam (Tanglung, Tahun Baru Cina, Deepavali, Ponggal, Wesak dan Krismas) and jointly finalised a report for the respective department.

Shahino Mah Abdullah contributed viewpoints for ICR 2019 (first issue) and article for bulletin no.50, namely, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its associated ethical issues” and “Fasting and its potential to increase intelligence”, respectively. He also contributed articles in current bulletin no.51 entitled, “Intelligent adaptive learning to enhance the education system”. His article has also published in the newspaper, namely “Enhancing education with artificial intelligence” (New Strait Times, 1^st May 2019). He presented his work in the Research Fellow Seminar at IAIS Malaysia entitled “Embracing Intelligent Technology the Right Way” on 25^th June 2019. Recently, he participated ‘World Conference and Exhibition on Social Sciences, Science and Technology’ (WoCESST 2019) on 7^th – 8^th August 2019 at Kolej Profesional MARA, Malacca, Malaysia. In this event, he teamed up with researchers from the University of Malaya, presented an innovation entitled “Versatile Solar Energy Module: A Solution Processed Flexible and Lightweight Energy Harvesting Device” and received the Silver Award (Innovation) for Professional Level category. The innovation also featured in the electronic monograph entitled “Humanising Technology: Enable the Disabled” published in conjunction with ‘Melaka International, Intelectual Exposition’ (MIIEx 2019) by Division of Research and Industrial Linkages, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Melaka, Malaysia (ISBN: eISBN 978‑967‑0637‑76‑1). As one of the IAIS website committees, he has been proposing articles written by external writers to be featured on IAIS website, in which, within May to August 2019, a total of 25 articles have been accepted and featured online. Besides, his viewpoints entitled “Social issues of intelligent robots in our society” and article (Occasional Paper Series) entitled “Preserving Human Dignity when Adopting Artificial Intelligence: An Islamic Perspective” have been accepted and processed for publication by IAIS Malaysia. Currently, he is finalising his internal collaboration work, a Policy Issue Paper, entitled “Islamic Ethical Guide to Develop Holistic Artificial Intelligence Framework”.

Apnizan Abdullah has published a short article in the IAIS bulletin No.49 March-April 2019 Issue entitled, “Female Khitan in Malaysia in the Light of Shariah and Human Right. The same theme article was featured in the News Strait Times on August 7, 2019 under the title of “Female Circumcision & Human Rights”. She has also contributed a legal update on the court case entitled “Latest Judgment of JRI Resources Sdn Bhd vs KFH & Anor : Constitutionality of Section 56 & 57 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 Affirmed” published in the subsequent IAIS Bulletin No.50 May-June 2019 Issue. There are one journal article and a short article of hers queuing for publication. The former is “Centralisation of Halal matters under the Federal Government in Malaysia: A Legal Perspective” which will be featured in the next IAIS journal issue and the latter entitled “Unleashing The Potential of Sadaqah for Islamic Social Finance Instruments in Malaysia” in the upcoming IAIS Bulletin. She is in the midst of submitting her final draft on “Sadaqah as A financial Tool for Child Protection and Sensitive Issues”, a project funded by UNICEF.

Wan Naim Wan Mansor published two articles for the NST entitled “Honeybees and Consultative Politics” on June 17th, and “Hope in Mujahid’s Xinjiang Visit” on July 1st. He had published two event reports for the IAIS ICR Journal on the international seminar on ‘The Role of Religion in the Quest for Peaceful Coexistence (January 15^th) and ‘IAIS Forum on Uyhur’s Plight: Countering Extremism or Religious Discrimination (April 2^nd). He is currently working on a Policy Issue Paper (PIP) on the death penalty under Malaysian law and Shariah, in collaboration with three IAIS researchers. He is also working as 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 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.

Tengku Ahmad Hazri continues his research on Islam and constitutionalism, focusing on the conceptual foundations of constitutionalism in Islam, constitutional reforms in the Muslim world and constitutional perspectives on Islamic law in Malaysia. Hazri was a participant at the SOAS Academic Summer School on The Middle East in Global Politics held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, 1-19 July 2019. His article, ‘What is Modern Citizenship?’ appeared in the New Straits Times, and was republished as ‘Identity and the Politics of Citizenship’ in JUST Commentary and IAIS Bulletin. Other works include ‘The Moral Foundations of the Constitution’ (CLJ Bulletin, [2019] LNS (A) xcix), ‘The Kashmir Conflict and Article 370’ (IAIS Bulletin, July-August 2019) and a report on the aforesaid program on the Middle East in Global Politics. Currently, he is completing a paper on ‘The Nation-State in Contemporary Islamic Thought’ as part of his wider research on Islam and constitutionalism.

Adha Shaleh’s recent articles include ‘Disruptive Trends in Education: Islamic and Contemporary Perspectives, and Ibn Battutah (IAIS Bulletin). He attended few events held in IAIS, including a meet up session on the need for fiqh for Muslim minorities in Western Communities & Maqasid Narrative: Development so far; Research fellow Seminar on Embracing intelligent technology the right way; The many challenges to the Halal vaccine, an event with Iranian Delegates (Members of Parliament and Embassy Consular Representatives); intellectual discourse on ‘Islamic Law in Malaysia. Issues, Developments and Challenges. Currently, he is collecting data for his current project on Islamic Education for Muslim minorities.

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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 - (May - Aug 2019)