The main objectives of this paper are to expound the exegetical methodologies and contributions of Syeikh Abdul Halim Hasan (d. 1969) in enriching the corpus of Quranic exegetical works in the Malay World. In particular, it focuses on his two main exegetical works entitled Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim which he authored with the assistance of his pupils from 1937 until his demise in 1969, and a work on legal verses of the Quran entitled Tafsir al-Ahkam. Due to its nature, appropriate qualitative methods are applied in this study comprising mainly historical, library research and content analysis. The findings highlight some of the salient features of the exegetical methods of the author and its primal role in influencing the style of exegetical composition by succeeding authors. These books also reflect the concern of the local scholars on the needs of the Muslims for credible religious works and references in languages accessible to them, which have also had its impact on the development in the field of Quranic exegesis in the region.

This study aims to analyze the Prophetic traditions or hadiths concerning women found in a Malay work known as Bisyāratul ‘Āmilīn Wa Nadhāratul Ghāfilīn. It was written by Sheikh Ahmad al-Fatani, and its first edition was printed by Matba'ah al-Miriyyah in Mecca in 1887. It was also reprinted several times and was published in both Jawi and Romanized scripts. As an important book that contains religious teachings, there are many hadiths referred to by the author to support his arguments; however, not all hadiths were written in detail by clarifying their level of authenticity. By focusing on one chapter of this book, this study collects all the Prophetic traditions concerning women in that chapter and re-analyzes them based on the method of takhrīj hadith (grading and commentaries of hadith). The research method used is largely qualitative and consists of a textual approach and content analysis. The findings show different statuses of hadiths concerning women found in a chapter of this book. However, it does not indicate that the author has no awareness regarding this matter. The author might have his reason for including many different traditions related to the Prophet in this book.

This study aims to analyze the Prophetic traditions or hadiths concerning women found in a Malay work known as Bisyāratul ‘Āmilīn Wa Nadhāratul Ghāfilīn. It was written by Sheikh Ahmad al-Fatani, and its first edition was printed by Matba'ah al-Miriyyah in Mecca in 1887. It was also reprinted several times and was published in both Jawi and Romanized scripts. As an important book that contains religious teachings, there are many hadiths referred to by the author to support his arguments; however, not all hadiths were written in detail by clarifying their level of authenticity. By focusing on one chapter of this book, this study collects all the Prophetic traditions concerning women in that chapter and re-analyzes them based on the method of takhrīj hadith (grading and commentaries of hadith). The research method used is largely qualitative and consists of a textual approach and content analysis. The findings show different statuses of hadiths concerning women found in a chapter of this book. However, it does not indicate that the author has no awareness regarding this matter. The author might have his reason for including many different traditions related to the Prophet in this book.

The Bahr al-Madhi of Shaykh Muhammad Idris al-Marbawi can be aptly considered as one of the greatest literary masterpiece of Malay Muslim scholarship in the twentieth century. It was composed as a commentary to the Jami' al-Tirmidhi and the only one of its kind to have been written in the Malay language. Perhaps, due to the lack of awareness, the book has not received attention or been the subject of any study or scrutiny by contemporary researchers. It is therefore, the intention of this preliminary exposition on the book in terms of its scope, content and analysis of the methodology of its author to pave the way for further analysis and studies in the future.

This paper is a preliminary study on the concept of Islamic creativity, innovation and its relation with bid'ah. It is undeniable that there is a link between bid'ah and the advancement of Islamic civilization. This paper also aims to reassess the conceptual and understanding of bid 'ah and its role in creating creative and innovative Muslim society. The paper further discusses the necessity of understanding bid 'ah positively as highlighted in the approach of 'duna frat wa la tafrit' in realization of Ummatan Wasatan (a just and balanced Muslim society). The study employs qualitative method with content analysis approach by evaluating the necessary and relevant reports, articles and texts. It is hoped that this preliminary paper will provide a distinctive perspective of bid'ah and its role in creativity and innovation as well as its significance in contemporary Muslim society.

The institution of mosque is the most important institution in Islam, in the development and education of Islam as well as to promote effective communication. Religious studies in mosque institutions play an important role in strengthening the religious understanding of the Muslim community in Malaysia. By adopting a good communication approach, the effort to convey the Islamic message has become more widespread and has seen the Islamic religion become accepted. The effective communication is an essential element of successful mission and goals. As the second most important source of Islam, the Prophet's hadith is also known to have an art in his own communication to Muslims. The effective approaches to deciphering a hadith have been developed and compiled by Islamic scholars to produce an important medium of understanding the textual tradition of the hadith known as the Sharh al-Hadeeth (ISH) Knowledge. Thus, this paper will discuss in a literature approach about the Sharh al-Hadeeth (SH) approach. Among of the discussion are (SH) knowledge, branding, context, approach and model and concept of (SH) that have been introduced by Islamic scholars. An interview approach was also applied to the teachers in this study conducted by several selected mosques in the country. According to the study, important constructs were identified as an option that was seen as more relevant as a medium in providing more accurate understanding. The development of a model in the study of hadith is suggested as an appropriate and relevant framework for the process of study of the hadith.

The acceptance of Islam by the people in the Malay Archipelago has led to the development of a new form of education based on this religion. The Malay scholars played important roles not only in the aspects of education and society but also in the political and administrative arenas. Their thought and ideas in various disciplines marked the composition of the traditional Malay intellectual corpus and are mostly recorded today in the form of manuscripts. Nonetheless, aspects relating to the exposition of the Islamic philosophy of education are rarely addressed by them, albeit only in a few works dedicated to the subject of knowledge and learning. Hence, this article aims to identify and analyse important elements of the Islamic philosophy of education as understood by the Malays based on the manuscript of MSS 2906(A) Bāb al-Adab, held by the National Library of Malaysia. Among the issues discussed include the concept of knowledge, educational purpose, and the manners of teacher student relationship notwithstanding the Codicological analysis of the manuscript concerning its origins, authorship and content. All these are aimed at exposing the roles and contributions of the Malay scholars in shaping the educational philosophy discourse in the region as exemplified by various traditional educational institutions such as pondok, pesantren, dayah, meunasah and so on. The perennial elements of the Islamic philosophy of education are very useful in providing the future direction of the present day Islamic educational institutions in facing future challenges.

Quranic memorization and Qiraat are considered important parts in the fields of Quranic studies. Their importance could be seen in their roles in preserving and ensuring the continuity and authenticity of the Quranic verses from mistakes and errors. As such, many programs are introduced in this field of study at the level of diploma by certified institutions specializing in that field. In the academic planning of 2003, the Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, Islamic University College of Malaysia, planned to offer a bachelor's degree in the field of Tahfiz and Qiraat studies. Therefore, it is the aim of this research to get the opinions of all the parties related to this program such as the students, teachers in the field of Tahfiz and Qiraat, future employers as well as members of society. Issues such as the necessity and suitability of the program, the capability of students in following the curriculum, and its prospects in academic advancement as well as future employment are the main points to be dealt with in this research. The methodologies adopted in this research include the methods of field research such as the use of questionnaires distributed to and interviews with selected respondents in parts of peninsular Malaysia. The findings indicate that the present level of Tahfiz and Qiraat studies at the diploma level is sufficient to cater to the needs of society. In general, the need for it to be offered at the bachelor's degree level is outweighed by the inadequacy of employment opportunities for its graduates in the job market and thus, must heavily rely on the support and assistance of the government.

Zikir merupakan salah satu ibadat yang disyariatkan dalam Islam. Terdapat banyak ayat al-Quran dan Hadith yang menjelaskan tentanggalakan,pelaksanaan dan juga kelebihannya. Makalah ini akan meninjau keperluan zikir dalam pembelajaran berdasarkan manuskrip Melayu, iaitu MSS 2906 (B) kitab Tibyān al-Marām Ṭalibah al-Ṭalabah.Berdasarkan analisis kodikologi, manuskrip ini berasal daripada Acehdan ditulis antaraakhir abad ke-18 dan awal abad ke-19.Manuskrip ini berada dalam koleksi Pusat Kebangsaan Manuskrip Melayu, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia. Ia merupakan sebuahkaryaterjemahandengan huraian ke dalam bahasa Melayu aksaraJawi daripada karya berbahasa Arab bertajuk Ṭalibah al-Ṭalabah fīṬarīq al-‘Ilm li man Ṭalabah tulisan Sadīd al-Dīn Muḥammad al-Kāshgharī (m.705H). Makalah ini mendapati bahawa zikir bukan sahaja dituntut kepada semua umat Islam, malah ia juga menjadi keperluan penting kepada para pelajar semasa proses pembelajaran mereka. Selain itu, manuskrip Tibyān al-Marām juga menjelaskan bahawa zikir memainkan peranan penting kepada pelajar khasnya untuk tujuan menguatkan ingatan dan jugamembawakemurahan rezeki. Beberapa lafaz zikir dan doa juga turut dikemukakan dalam manuskrip ini sebagai panduan kepada para penuntut ilmu. Perbincangan tentang keperluan zikir dalam manuskrip ini adalah selaras dengan karya-karya sebelumnya terutamanya tentang adab penuntut ilmu (adab al-muta‘allim) dalam tradisi pendidikan Islam dan menjelaskan bahawa zikir ini amat penting dalam kehidupan pelajar dalam membentuk diri mereka sehingga menjadi ilmuwan nanti.

As a multiracial country, Malaysia faces pressing trans-religious issues that could lead to tensions and conflicts if not properly managed. While acknowledging the importance of interfaith discourse and interreligious relations, current initiatives taken are yet to achieve its intended aims due to resistance from certain segments of the Muslims that viewed those initiatives as a direct threat to the supremacy of Islam in the country. At the same time, it is found that not much consideration is given to the social and historical experiences of the local populace in this matter, especially in the periods prior to the 20th century. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the nature of historical and social encounters between the Malay-Muslims and European Christians in terms of their perception and attitude towards other religions; identify cases of interfaith discourse and analyse its socio-political settings; and asses the role of the rulers and ulama in influencing the direction of interfaith discourse among the Malays. It is hoped that this historical reconstruction will help enrich our understanding of the nature, issues, and challenges faced today and charting the future direction of the interfaith dialogue in the country.

This study focuses on identifying and analyzing various issues and aspects relating to the principles and methods of Quranic Braille and its implementation in Malaysia. It aims to develop a suitable curriculum of study, which can be used in teaching and learning a new course offered by the Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies entitled "Aplikasi Braille dalam Pengajian Quran dan Sunnah" starting from semester 11, 2007/2008 academic session. Apart from library research, this study adopts various field study methods such as interviews, observation, and opinion survey through the use of survey questionnaires as its main instruments for data collection. This is due to the difficulty in obtaining written materials on Quranic Braille, and most of the information is gathered directly from the experts who are involved with it for a long period of time. The findings indicate that in order for a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter, the proposed study curriculum must reflect all the available methods of Quranic Braille transcription in Malaysia in terms of their usage, strengths, limitations, and so forth. At the same time, contemporary study of Quranic Braille must also benefit from the latest technology, especially through the use of a certain apparatus and computer softwares which are available in the market.

The production of the Islamic religious works in the Malay World prior to the 20th century covers almost all aspects of the religion, although most efforts were mainly concentrated on the fields of creed, jurisprudence and Sufism. Other aspects of the religion were often assimilated contextually through one of these three fields and rarely produced separately. Similarly, in the case of the Prophetic hadith, its utilization as an authoritative and primary source of the religion was mostly integrated through the discourses in the other religious works including Quranic exegesis, creed, jurisprudence, Sufism and others, and not many independent works on hadith as a subject were produced. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the issues and methods of hadith writing and utilization in a work on Quranic exegesis composed by Abdul Aziz Salam (d. 1978) entitled al-Bayan pada Ta’wil Ayat-ayat al-Quran. This qualitative study adopts the historical and textual analysis methods as well as the criteria of hadith appraisal as stipulated in the field of mustalah al-hadith. The findings provide a comprehensive overview on the issues of hadith utilization and selection in the work, and highlight its significance as an important exegetical work produced in the state of Perak, Malaysia in the 20th century. Keywords: Quranic Exegesis, Methodology, Hadith, Perak, Abdul Aziz Salam

Dispute resolution systems are broadly divided into two sides namely Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDRS) and Non-Judicial Dispute Resolution Systems (NJDRS). The first one is more formal, and the latter is informal which is known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) all over the world. Though ADR is claimed to be a great innovation of the West, it is found to be practiced in the Islamic Judicial System from its very inception. ADR was practiced throughout the history of Islamic Judiciary as sulh. However, the use of the word sulh in the meaning of ADR needs to be explained in the present judicial context. Scholars sometimes discussed sulh as a system parallel to ADR and sometimes as a process, which creates confusion in its multiuse. Hence, this study aims at eliminating this confusion on the paradoxical use of the term sulh as a system for dispute resolution as well as a process of that system. At present, hardly any study has precisely differentiated between them. Thus, this qualitative study focuses on discussing it primarily from the perspectives of the Quran, documented sources as well as interviews. The major finding of this study is that sulh, comparing with present day ADR, does not need to be used paradoxically. The main contribution of the study is to propose a clarification of sulh in the line of ADR fruitfully. The findings of this study are not only useful in clarifying the exact meanings of the term as used in different contexts but also applicable to solve problems faced by arbitrators involved in various indigenous traditional dispute resolution systems such as shalish in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

This study focuses on identifying and analyzing issues and aspects relating to the management and development of fatwa and the Mufti institution in Negara Brunei Darussalarn. At the same time, matters relating to the history, organization and administration of fatwa affairs in Brunei h mth e past until the present day will also be discussed for a more comprehensive view and understanding of the subject matter. As such, this research is primarily based on the library research method and observations based on the available documented evidences and works written on the subject. Tbe findings indicate that the commitment and enthusiasm showed by the d e r and people of Brunei to uphold the institution of fatwa and Mufti at the national level has made it as an important entity with influence over the state's national and administrative policies. In addition, the efficiency and systematic administration of the State Mufti Department through the use of the latest technological advancement in telecommunications technology in disseminating fatwa is exemplary for other Muslim countries, especially in matters relating to the management of fatwa affairs.

Mustalah al-hadith ialah cabang ilmu yang menjelaskan kriteria dan ciri-ciri penerimaan dan penolakan sesebuah hadis Nabi SAW daripada kedua-dua aspek salasilah periwayatan (sanad) dan kandungannya (matan). Lantaran kepentingan dan peranannya dalam memelihara integriti dan kredibiliti sesebuah hadis, ilmu ini telah dijadikan sebahagian daripada aspek penting dalam kurikulum pendidikan Islam sejak daripada dahulu lagi yang perlu dikuasai oleh setiap pelajar. Walau bagaimanapun, dalam konteks Alam Melayu, penulisan ilmu Mustalah al-Hadith berkembang dengan agak perlahan. Hanya mulai daripada penghujung abad ke-19 sahaja dapat diperhatikan bibit perkembangannya menerusi penghasilan karya yang khusus oleh para ilmuwan tempatan seumpama Syeikh Nawawi Banten (m. 1897), Syeikh Muhammad Mahfuz al-Tarmasi (m. 1920), Muhammad Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy (m. 1975), Mahmud Yunus (m. 1983) dan sebagainya. Oleh yang demikian, makalah ini bertujuan membincangkan topik ini dengan lebih mendalam. Fokus utama adalah untuk menganalisis peranan dan sumbangan Mahmud Yunus dalam mengembangkan ilmu Mustalah al-Hadith di Alam Melayu berdasarkan karya-karyanya dalam bidang berkenaan. Kajian kualitatif yang berteraskan metode kajian sejarah dan analisis teks ini merangkumi perbincangan metode, kandungan dan stail pengarangan selain biografi pengarangnya. Hasilnya, dapatan kajian menunjukkan, antara lain, kepentingan peranan dan sumbangan yang diberikan oleh tokoh ini terhadap perkembangan ilmu Mustalah al-Hadith di rantau ini secara amnya.

This paper is a preliminary study on the concept of Islamic creative thinking through the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This study is aimed to reassess the creativity of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) specially in political and statesmen point of view. This study also aimed to highlight his creativity in diplomacy, conflict resolution and international affairs. The study employed qualitative method with content analysis approach by evaluating on necessary and relevant reports, articles and texts. It is hoped that this preliminary paper will provide a distinctive perspective on the concept of creativity and innovation and its necessity in contemporary Islamic political approach which should be considered as an important characteristics for both modern Islamic and western worlds.

Background: As an initiative to strengthen the mastery of basic principles of Islam among students at primary school level, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has introduced the j-QAF programme. This programme has been introduced since 2004 which includes aspects of learning Jawi script, reading Quran, learning Arabic and understanding basic skills of Fard „Ayn. Based on these four aspects, the study focus on the aspects of reading Quran in j-QAF programme. This study employs a case study method by focussing at Sekolah Kebangsaan Dato‟ Demang Hussin, Malacca. This paper discusses the relationship between the aspect of fluency and other aspects of quranic reading mastery among Standard Six pupils who are the first generation of student to follow the teaching and learning of the j-QAF programme. In addition, it also describes the differences between the gender of pupils on every aspects in reading the Quran in the j-QAF programme. Quranic reading test was used as an instrument to gain data for the study. This instrument was adopted and adapted from the form published by Majlis Tilawah al-Quran (MTQ). A total of 136 standard six primary school students were randomly chosen from every class with different level of achievement. This research also analyzed the correlation between the aspect of fluency and another aspect of Quranic reading mastery in j-QAF programme. In the inferential analysis, the findings show that there is a significant correlation between the aspect of fluency and the rules of tajwid, punctuation and pronunciation. Meanwhile, there is no significant difference of the level of mastery in reading the Quran among girls and boys in all aspects; fluency, the rules of tajwid, punctuation and pronunciation. This study also propose some recommendations for the future researchers to ensure the successful implementation of the Quranic modules in the j-QAF programme in meeting its intended objectives. Keywords: Quranic Reading, Fluency, Tajwid, Punctuation, Pronunciation