| Lyna Mohamad |
TWENTY-SEVEN publications in various fields written by local and foreign academicians were launched by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) yesterday during the opening ceremony of the university’s 8th Mahrajan Hafl Al-Takharruj (convocation festival).
The texts, which comprise seven books written in Malay – including a special publication to mark the 10th anniversary of UNISSA’s establishment, four in English, 12 in Arabic, as well as three journals and a monograph, are meant to be knowledged and reference material for students and the general community.
Launching the publications was His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pro-Chancellor of UNISSA.
One of the books, the special edition publication entitled 10 Tahun Kegemilangan UNISSA Mencorak Masa Depan Ummah by Norarfan Zainal and Rose Abdullah, gives an account of the history and the development of UNISSA since its establishment in 2007.
Also discussed are the challenges and obstacles faced by the institution throughout the decade of its existence, and how this has enriched it to continue to strengthen and expand its role in its quest to become an Islamic university of international standing that is progressive and dynamic, and based on Al-Quran and As-Sunnah.
Another publication, UNISSA: Satu Dekad Perkembangan dan Pencapaian, edited by Norarfan Zainal and Rose Abdullah, is a collection of recorded information relating to the historical journey of the establishment of UNISSA and its development and growth within a one-decade period.
The book written by Dato Paduka Dr Haji Muhammad Nur Lubis Abdul Razak Nur, Ciri-Ciri Khusus Penulisan Islami Mengandungi Nilai Ukhrawi, meanwhile contains clarification on the earliest and most widely known writings on in the history of Islam.
Aplikasi Istibdal Wakaf dalam Pembangunan: Kajian Perbandingan Antara Brunei Darussalam dan Malaysia, edited by Zakaria Bahari, Kamaru Salam Yusof and Rose Abdullah, exposes the concept, management, funding and implementation of Istibdal Waqaf in Malaysia and Brunei. The text discusses the Fuqaha views of both the past and present, as well as legal issues relating to Istibdal Waqaf.
Two of the four English texts include Islamic Principles of Human Rights: Reframed by the West written by Nehaluddin Ahmad, and Managing Oil Wealth: Lessons for Brunei to Learn from Norway, written by Khairul Hidayatullah Basir.
The book by Nehaluddin does not dwell on the reasons leading to the widespread misinformation on human rights in Islam, but rather presents its readers with a scientifically structured comparison of selected human rights issues.
Khairul Hidayatullah’s book, meanwhile, is highly relevant in the Bruneian context, with the country striving for sustainable development and bidding to achieve Vision 2035.
The publication lays out an alternative method to managing the revenues from Brunei’s most relied upon natural resource, oil and gas.
Another book is Conversational Arabic for Hajj-Umrah-Ziarah, which is a translation of last year’s publication in Malay.