Islamic Educational System in Kelantan, Malaysia: Traditional and Modern Approaches

Abstract: Islamic Education in Malaysia began as an informal institution in its early days. This is because of the nature of development during those times, where some places such as surau, mosque and madrasah became centre for teaching the aspects of the religion. The system develops gradually, from informal to a formal system which has changed the style of learning. Nevertheless, the informal system is still existed even until today, along with the formal educational system. This is especially in Kelantan, where it becomes clear that both institutions are still running concurrently. In this paper, the authors aim to examine and analyse the Islamic Educational system in Kelantan as it is a unique experience for such a state to keep traditional institution running in this day. This paper will also discuss the development of the formal system that is established for educating the religion to the people

Gaya bahasa Jinas dalam kitab al-Hikam al-'Ata'iyyah

Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada penggunaan gaya bahasa jinās yang terkandung di dalam kitab al-Ḥikam al-‘Aṭā’iyyah karya Syeikh Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Sakandari. Kitab tersebut dilihat sebagai sebuah hasil penulisan dakwah yang mempunyai seni dan kreativiti menerusi penggunaan gaya bahasa jinās yang ketara di samping elemen ilmu balaghah yang lain. Penggunaan gaya bahasa jinās dalam hikmah tersebut telah memanifestasikan satu kekuatan yang mampu menyingkap makna yang tersirat dan telah menghasilkan satu pembentangan yang unik terhadap maknanya. Oleh sebab itu, pendekatan dakwah Sheikh Ibn ‘Aṭā’illah al-Sakandarῑ iaitu dengan memasukkan elemen gaya bahasa jinās adalah satu pendekatan yang perlu dikaji dan diteliti. Justeru, objektif yang disasarkan menerusi kajian ini adalah untuk mengklasifikasikan kategori jinās, menghuraikan kategori jinās dan menjelaskan nilai estetika jinās dalam kitab al-Ḥikam al-‘Aṭā’iyyah. Dalam menelusuri kajian ini, kaedah yang digunakan adalah bersifat deskriptif kualitatif (manhaj dirāsah waṣfiyyah) dan dianalisis berpandukan kepada pendekatan Ali al-Jundi menerusi kitabnya Fann al-Jinās. Daripada sepuluh kategori jinās Ali al-Jundi, hanya sembilan kategori jinās yang akan dibincangkan. Pengkaji mendapati penggunaan jinās dalam kitab al-Ḥikam al- ‘Aṭā’iyyah melibatkan 125 hikmah daripada 264 hikmah keseluruhannya. Namun, terdapat juga penggunaan lebih daripada satu jinās dalam satu hikmah. Maka, keseluruhan jinās dalam kitab al-Ḥikam al-‘Aṭā’iyyah diklasifikasikan kategorinya dalam bentuk jadual, seterusnya dihuraikan mengikut kategori, dan dijelaskan nilai estetika jinās dengan membawa sampel hikmah yang diperlukan untuk tujuan perbincangan. Hasil kajian membuktikan bahawa kitab al-Ḥikam al-‘Aṭā’iyyah banyak dipengaruhi oleh kesenian balaghah Arab yang amat tinggi

Language, communication and intercultural understanding in peacekeeping operations

The deployment of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) in the various operations since 1960 has clearly attained international recognition. However, the successful cases of Malaysian peacekeepers, specifically from the multidimensional perspective, have not been explored much even though their achievements are significant. This paper attempts to discuss the language and communication among Malaysian peacekeepers deployed in Congo and Somalia. The researchers analyse the intercultural understanding of Malaysian peacekeepers to attain the required mandate as stipulated in the United Nation Security Council. This is a multiple case study comprising of a series of interviews with selected participants deployed in Congo and Somalia. The data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. This study highlights the importance of using appropriate ways of communication while dealing with the locals and peacekeepers. The peacekeeping operations with cultural identity factors made positive contributions to durable peace and stability under certain conditions. A number of recommendations are highlighted and it is hoped to assist the concerned parties in developing a concrete strategy