Alternative sweetener from curculigo fruits

This study gives an overview on the advantages of Curculigo Latifolia as an alternative sweetener and a health product. The purpose of this research is to provide another option to the people who suffer from diabetes. In this research, Curculigo Latifolia was chosen, due to its unique properties and widely known species in Malaysia. In order to obtain the sweet protein from the fruit, it must go through a couple of procedures. First we harvested the fruits from the Curculigo trees that grow wildly in the garden. Next, the Curculigo fruits were dried in the oven at 50 0C for 3 days. Finally, the dried fruits were blended in order to get a fine powder. Curculin is a sweet protein with a taste-modifying activity of converting sourness to sweetness. The curculin content from the sample shown are directly proportional to the mass of the Curculigo fine powder. While the FTIR result shows that the sample spectrum at peak 1634 cm–1 contains secondary amines. At peak 3307 cm–1 contains alkynes

The role of ijtihad in expanding zakat distribution

The patterns and stayles of human life today have changed. Current developments from various angles have led to new issues including the distribution of zakat funds. Hence, a comprehensive approach should be taken to address these issues. Ijtihad is seen as one of the most deserving steps to emphasize the problems that arise in the distribution of zakat. Among the zakat distribution issues presented in this study are the issues of non-Muslims as zakat recipients on the ground of da'wah, distribution of zakat through micro-credit and the distribution of zakat through zakat asnaf-riqab (slaves). This qualitative study was conducted by examining the ijtihad implemented by contemporary scholars on the issue of zakat distribution which has no clear law in the Qur'an and Hadith. The results of the study found that the method of ijtihad plays an important role in ensuring that new issues pertaining to the distribution of zakat to be solved. But it is necessary to follow the conditions laid down by the fuqaha so that it does not deviate from the maqasid of distribution of zakat itself