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 13th Regional Shariah Scholars Dialogue, held in Brunei Darussalam on 23-24 July 2019. On 7th 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, 1st May 2019). He presented his work in the Research Fellow Seminar at IAIS Malaysia entitled “Embracing Intelligent Technology the Right Way” on 25th June 2019. Recently, he participated ‘World Conference and Exhibition on Social Sciences, Science and Technology’ (WoCESST 2019) on 7th – 8th 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 15th) and ‘IAIS Forum on Uyhur’s Plight: Countering Extremism or Religious Discrimination (April 2nd). 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.