Abū Al-Ḥasan Al-Masʻūdī on pre-Islamic Arab religions and belief

This study aims to shed light on one aspect of the contributions of an early Muslim historian of religion, Abū al-Ḥasan al-Masʻūdī. It focuses on al-Masʻūdī’s work on pre-Islamic Arab religions and beliefs. The study is based on textual analysis of al-Masʻūdī’s treatment of the issue in his Murūj (The Meadows), and comparisons are made with al-Masʻūdī’s treatments of the non-Arab religions. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan penerangan tentang satu aspek dalam sumbangan seorang sejarawan Islam awal iaitu Abū al-Ḥasan alMasʻūdī, dengan memfokuskan karya-karya beliau terhadap agama masyarakat Arab pra-Islam. Kajian ini berasaskan analisis teks tentang pengendalian al-Masʻūdī, terhadap isu tersebut dalam karyanya Murūj. Seterusnya ia dibandingkan dengan pengendalian beliau terhadap agama masyarakat bukan Arab

Politico-cultural-religious milieu of Southeast Asia: an examination of pre-Islamic structures of authority and syncretic practices

This paper analyses the structure of authorities and syncretic practices among the people in Southeast Asia before the spread of Islam in the region. The influence of South Asian tradition and culture in Southeast Asia was evident especially in the social and political spheres. Practices of Southeast Asian empires originated from the South Asian continent. In order to understand those influences this study analyses available materials related to the development of socio-political and cultural-religious environment in Southeast Asia prior to the advancement of Islam in the region. This study concludes that early kingdoms in Southeast Asia adopted the doctrines of devaraja and bodhisattva as the model of governance. This doctrine provides the Rulers with everlasting loyalty from their subjects. At the same time, religious life among the people in Southeast Asia highlights a unique practice. The syncretic practices of the people in Southeast Asia at that time prove that they did not follow blindly religious practices presented to them from the South Asian traditions. They adopt and adapt those practices to suit their own needs at that time

The role of mosque committee in empowering mosque’s educational programmes: case study of mosques in Gombak district, Malaysia (peranan ahli jawatankuasa masjid dalam penambahbaikan program pendidikan masjid: kajian kes bagi masjid-masjid di daerah Gombak)

This article analyses the roles of the mosque committee in enhancing the mosque’s educational programmes in Gombak, Selangor. Gombak as an administrative district that is located inside the hectic and modernized area of Klang Valley is prone to foreign ideologies and socio-cultural issues. This study aims to broaden the understanding of how the mosque committee in Gombak could empower the mosque’s educational programmes in addressing these issues. This study also aims to discover creative improvision that the committee could make in making the mosque’s educational programmes attractive to the surrounding community. This study focuses on the role of the mosque committee in improving their mosque’s educational programmes with a specific case study on selected mosques in the Gombak district. It is a qualitative study that utilizes the deductive and inductive methods derived from surveys collected from Focus-group Discussion (FGD) and literature studies. Recordings from the FGD survey and recent literature studies related to this topic are examined and analysed according to its appropriation. The result indicates the importance of the mosque committee and their significant roles in enhancing the mosque’s educational programmes such as adjusting the curriculum to cater the diversity of people and continuously improvising the lesson through feedback taken from the surrounding community

Inaugural edu-action journey with cooperative behavior (Ta’awun) of mKitchen® students in free food for the needy

This book narrates the inaugural edu-action journey with cooperative behaviour (ta’awun) in free food for the needy people at IIUM mKitchen® with Sri Mutiara Teguh Enterprise (cafeteria vendor at Mahallah Aminah IIUM Gombak). The main objective of the project is to transform Mahallah kitchen as a platform to provide free food, to up skill in food-preneurship, to create new employment opportunities, to give empowerment and to nurture entrepreneurship (3Es) among students. Ta’awun refers to cooperative behaviour among the participants, the sponsors, and the beneficiaries in initiating, planning, sponsoring, executing and evaluating the mKitchen® project at Sri Mutiara Teguh Enterprise, Mahallah Aminah. The journey officially started on 1 July 2021 with various student development entities at IIUM. After providing a 4-day online training on business model and plan, financial modelling, and digital marketing, the steering committee has decided to provide the real experience to the students. In conjunction with Malaysia Day on 16 September 2021, the students proposed for cooking and distributing free food to the needy as part of the first proof-of-concept for mKitchen students with the “Keluarga Malaysia” spirit. Nevertheless, the project has to adhere to movement restriction by the authority to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The second proof-of-concept is cooking food based on mKitchen students’ business plan

A Journey of Ta’awun (Cooperative Behaviour) in Edu-Action at IIUM Mkitchen® and Masjid al-Syakirin Gombak (MASG)

This book narrates the journey of ta’awun (cooperative behaviour) at IIUM Mkitchen® project with Masjid Al-Syakirin Gombak (MASG). The main objective of the project is transform the mosque as a platform to provide free food, to up skill in foodpreneurship, to create new employment opportunities, to give empowerment and to nurture entrepreneurship (3Es) for poor and needy people in the surrounding area of it. Ta’awun refers to cooperative behaviour among the participants, the sponsors, and the beneficiaries in initiating, planning, sponsoring, executing and evaluating the Mkitchen® project at Masjid Al-Syakirin Gombak (MASG). The journey officially started on 24th January 2021 through its first meeting among the interested as well as committed members. After executing two events, the project was continued with a full scale project for a month. The project has secured its proof of concept (POC). Nevertheless, the project has been continued with a small scale due to the movement restriction by the authority to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Budiman Mahallah kitchen

This book narrates budiman journey in Mahallah Kitchen. Budiman Mahallah Kitchen who are searching for adab (virtue), budi (kindness) and sejahtera (peace). By doing so, budiman and budiwati will have the capacity of bijak berbudi (wisdom in kindness), berani (brave) and bijaksana (full with wisdom). Budiman and budiwati with these attributes will manifest budi bahasa (rasa), budi pekerti (rupa), and budi bicara (roh). Thus, budiman and budiwati will have sejahtera niat (peaceful intentions), sejahtera keputusan (peaceful decisions), and sejahtera tindakan (peaceful actions). Budiman and budiwati will be continuously making contribution of sejahtera to self and others. The foundation of adab (virtue) is based on formula A-D-A-B. A is amanah (trustworthy), dakar (staunch), akhlak (ethics), and bestari (intelligent)

Al- Mas'udi's methodology in his study of religions other than Islam

The study looks into two aspects of al-Mas'udi’s methodology in dealing with religions other than Islam; first, al-Mas'udi’s method of verifying the “reliability” or otherwise of information he gained on the religions he studied, and second, al-Mas'udi’s method of presenting the teachings of these religions. The study focuses on five of the religions dealt with by al-Mas'udi; Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Sabianism and Hinduism. The method applied in conducting this study is textual analysis of two of al-Mas'udi’s surviving works containing his study of religions other than Islam, the MurËj and the TanbÊh