Rokiah Mahmud
An Islamic Economic Forum titled ‘Economic Empowerment of Islamic Country : A Guide to the Management of the National Treasury during the Reign of Caliph ‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Aziz’ was organised by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) through the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIm) at Musyawarah Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas via Zoom yesterday.
The forum, held in conjunction with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2022 (Brunei MYCE 2022), garnered some 300 local and foreign participants.
The event also saw the launch of two FEKIm publications by UNISSA Press entitled Digitalising Islamic Economics and Finance and Islamic Economics (iEco) International Referred Journal.
The books were launched by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Paduka Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin.
In his welcoming remarks, FEKIm Dean Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani as the Chairman of the Working Committee of the Islamic Economic Forum said in realising the importance of building a prosperous Islamic country that is sustainable in all areas, especially in the aspects of economic development and empowerment based on Islamic orientation, the forum shared on treasury management in the era of Ummayyah Empire from 717 to 720 AD, during the reign of Caliph ‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Aziz.
The forum discussed the golden era, history and success of Caliph ‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Aziz in eradicating poverty; to share source of economy during that period to the point where it was regarded as a highly civilised society; flipping back the efforts taken by the Caliph on the prosperous wealth of Baitulmal of which the people during that time lived in prosperity and peace.
The forum also served as a medium to identify the main source of economy during the reign of Caliph ‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Aziz with the potential to be re-introduced, researched, explored and become a role model in Islamic economic management.
The forum featured speakers from UNISSA and foreign institutions – Assistant Senior Professor and Director of Mazhab Shafi’i Research Centre at UNISSA Dr Hajah Mas Nooraini binti Haji Mohiddin; Chief Executive Officer of the Terengganu Islamic Religion and Malay Custom, Terengganu Darul Iman Dr Ahmad Azrin bin Adnan; and Senior Officer of Islamic Economics Finance, from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Fellow of AmBank Group Resident of Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana, Malaysia Dr Abdul Ghafar bin Ismail.
Lecturer and Head of Pre-Graduate Programme of FEKIm at UNISSA Dr Amnisuhailah binti Abarahan moderated the forum.
