Mohd Yakub Zulkifli Bin Mohd Yusoff

Developing the novel Quran and Hadith authentication system

It is a challenge to identify who actually holds the valid copy of the holy Quran, or whether one digital copy is tampered or not. In fact, previous literature has shown that most of people were not aware of the distribution of fake copies of Quran online. Majority of them have raised the importance of having a central Islamic body to control and determine the authenticity of the holy Quran. We therefore, propose to develop and evaluate the Quran authentication system. The aims are to provide reliable and intuitive system to assist both the central body and end users to assess the authenticity of the digital Quran applications, before using them. It can be used as a tool/mechanism to improve the digital Quran publishing laws and users confidence towards digital Quran applications.

Jawi Character Speech-to-Text Engine Using Linear Predictive and Neural Network for Effective Reading

Jawi is an old version of Malay Language Writing that need to be preserved. Therefore, it is important to develop tools for teaching kids about Jawi characters and Speech-To-Text (STT) application can serve this purpose well. Unlike English, Jawi uses special characters similar to Arabic Characters. However, its pronunciations are in Malay Language. This uniqueness makes STT development a challenging task. In this paper, we investigate the applicability of Linear Predictive Coding to extract important features from voice signal and Neural Network with Backpropagation to classify and recognize spoken words into Jawi Characters. A total of 225 samples of words in Jawi Characters are recorded from speakers with over 95% accuracy. Jawi Characters Speech-To-Text Engine aims to help students to read Jawi document accurately and independently without the need for close monitoring from parents or teachers.

An authoring toolkit design for educational game content

A new way of teaching using multimedia presentations or game-based technologies are urgently needed in order to engage and sustain students’ learning interests in their learning materials. To achieve that, teachers should be able to produce interactive multimedia learning materials (e.g. educational games) themselves. However, current authoring tools such as Adobe Flash and Macromedia Director are too complex to use by teachers with no computing backgrounds. We would like to address this issue by proposing a simple to use authoring toolkit that will enable teachers to create their own educational game contents. The proposed toolkit operates by using games templates i.e. akin to producing presentation slides using Microsoft Power Point. In this paper, we present the framework in designing such toolkit. Based on this framework, an authoring tool will be developed to enable teachers in Malaysia to author educational game content for teaching basic Jawi words for the primary school children.

Management and supervisory support as a moderator of work–family demands and women’s well-being: A case study of Muslim female academicians in Malaysia

Purpose n n n n nThis study aims to examine the relationship of work–family demands with employees’ well-being, and the role of management/supervisory support in this relationship. The following hypotheses were proposed: work–family demands would be negatively related to employees’ well-being; management/supervisory support would moderate the relationship of work–family demands with employees’ well-being. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThe researchers used 250 working female academicians as respondents, working in the research universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 30 to 60 years. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThe findings of the present study proved that the work–family demands were negatively associated with employees’ well-being. Results also revealed that management and supervisory support strengthens the relationship between work–family demands and employees’ well-being. Thus, management and supervisory support plays an important role in balancing work demands and family roles and also in increasing working female academicians’ well-being. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nIn this study, management and supervisory support was found to be directly related to well-being, including life satisfaction, job satisfaction and family satisfaction. However, the direct relationship between management/supervisory support and well-being was positive and significant. This study also found that management/supervisor support reduced work–family conflict and work–family demands. Also, supervisory and management support was found to have a significant and positive relationship with well-being. Given these findings, supervisory and management support plays a very important role as a moderator of work–family demands and in developing and improving well-being in working women.

History, problems, and prospects of Islamic insurance (Takaful) in Bangladesh

This study explains the history, current problems, and future possibilities of Islamic insurance (takaful) in Bangladesh. To articulate these issues, the researcher has adopted the qualitative method, and data has been collected through secondary sources i.e. articles, books, and online resources. The study reveals that Islamic insurance in Bangladesh is regulated by the Insurance Act 2010 which is contradictory with Islamic insurance causing numerous problems for Islamic insurance. This study also points out that Islamic insurance is a fast growing industry with huge prospects in Bangladesh. The government should introduce separate regulations for both Islamic and conventional insurance. The research concludes with suggestions for the further development of Islamic insurance in Bangladesh.

Review of hardware implementation of Speech-To-Text Engine for Jawi Character

Jawi is a Malay writing script based on the Arabic script which adds six extra characters to accommodate Malay vocal sounds. Real-Time Speech-To-Text Engine for Jawi Character aims to help students to read Jawi more effectively. In this paper, we investigate the suitable method and device that best for speech-to-text hardware implementation. A complete set of Jawi Speech-To-Text tools will be implements by integrating the hardware with a microphone and Jawi word processor. The speech recognition will use Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) as feature extraction and Neural Network (NN) with Backpropagation will be use as a pattern classification. The implementation of this system will be tested using Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) board.

Impact of Quran in Treatment of the Psychological Disorder and Spiritual Illness

This paper studies the effect of Quranic therapy on psychological diseases and spiritual diseases. The experiments have been conducted on a random sample with 121 patients from both genders. The procedures that have been followed were different sessions with the patients, who were given some verses from the Holy Quran to listen within a specific period of time. After that, each patient was given a remedy program. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness and responsiveness of patients to receive treatment through Quran. This study highlighted the employment of a quantitative research, which achieved its objective through validity and reliability. The results of the effectiveness factor came after ability and willingness and gave a result of 92.6% for those who support the contention that the Quran has a significant healing influence. Also, some of the patients who regularly attended Quranic therapy sessions have been successfully cured, 81.8% of the sample believe that Quranic therapy sessions support their health needs. This study has empirically proved that the sound of the Holy Quran is an effective treatment for those who suffer from spiritual and psychological issues. Folk medicine and other traditional methods of treatment are important field of study that require further investigation. The study also illustrates that it’s highly important for patient to have confidence in his doctor or healer. Furthermore, our results show that the ability and willingness positively and significantly are related to the effectiveness and responsiveness, also effectiveness positively and significantly related to the responsiveness. Therefore, the patients satisfied to receive treatment through Quran and they have the ability and willingness to do so as they believe that Quran is an essential part of their life.

The right of women in property sharing in Bangladesh: Can the islamic inheritance system eliminate discrimination?

This study seeks to discover the best solution for women’s property sharing between Islamic and current social practices in Bangladesh. A qualitative method has been adopted to achieve this goal. It is found that the majority of the women are marginalised from their property in the social practice. On the other hand, in the Islamic solution, the property is fixed for all classes of women and is based on a property sharing system called fara’id that takes into account the roles and responsibilities of man and woman in the society. Men are responsible for providing maintenance to their wives and children. Men in Islamic society should bear expenditure related to marriage. The research concludes that the Islamic solution is fair and ensures just property sharing rights for women. It suggests that the Islamic solution for property sharing should be implemented to empower women in Bangladesh.

Shari'ah Views on Adjusting the Repayment Amount of Loans and Debts According to a Price Index

This paper investigates the views of Sunni and Shi‘a jurisprudents on adjusting the repayment amount of loans (qard, pl. qurud) and debts (dayn, pl. duyun) in accordance with a price index. Classical and contemporary Islamic jurists fall into two groups regarding this matter. The first group argues that loans and debts should be adjusted according to the customary value of a currency in accordance with the Qur’anic verse saying to give full measure when selling. However, the second group rejects the idea of adjusting the repayment amount of debts and loans with a price index; instead, they emphasize that Islamic law requires loans and debts to be paid in their exact, original amounts, and any excess in repayment would be seen as interest, which is strictly prohibited in Islamic law. After examining both sides of this debate, the authors conclude that the preferable shari‘ah view is that correlating loans and debts with a price index should not be allowed. However, debts and loans may be repaid according to the value of the currency in cases where payment of indemnity is necessitated.