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The process of istiḥālah is applied widely in multiple halal industries. However, Muslim jurist have different opinions about the ruling of istiḥālah process. Hence, this paper purports to look into the perspective of Shari'ah about some contemporary istiḥālah issues in the halal industry and its application in Malaysia. Qualitative methodology was adopted by collecting and analyzing the opinions of Islamic jurists relating to the process of istiḥālah and issues related. The study finds that the opinions by Muslim jurists regarding an istiḥālah process that is applied holistically and scientifically can significantly impact the halal status of a product being studied. Keywords: Istiḥālah; Halal Industry; Halal Issues eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI6.3037

There is a recent demand for halal certification from another healthcare sector which is medical devices, which cover all types of medical equipment used in hospitals from simple equipment such as bandages to complex equipment such as ventilators. This matter has been raised by the industry as halal labelling is a requirement to penetrate the market of Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. Even it seems critical to proving halal status for the medical devices that incorporate animal tissues, in contact with or invasive to the body, and produce a reaction to the body, this does not deny the demand for other types of devices. This study will focus on the halal issues related to medical devices which are widely used to stitch and close the wounds of patients after surgery or injury, namely sutures. This study seeks to identify the status of suture usage from the perspective of Islamic ruling. To achieve this objective, a qualitative research method through library research, as well as field studies involving in-depth interviews with the industry players, both medical device and religious authorities, Islamic scholars, and medical practitioners. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, coded, and reconciled with the aid of Atlas.ti software (version 7) to identify themes and subthemes for this study. The results show that with regard to the status of resources and processes, and the application of al-darurah (necessity) concept.

Summative assessment is a type of assessment that is commonly used in the teaching and learning process of an academic course. Nevertheless, the variety of summative assessment methods prevalently exhibits different levels of achievement. The objective of this study was to compare academic achievement scores involving summative assessment in halal nutrition courses. The study involved final year students of a halal nutrition course at the diploma level (n = 65) at Universiti Teknologi MARA. Statistical comparisons through t-test was made using IBM SPSS Statistics software. The results of the analysis showed significant differences in the Written Report (M = 24.02, SD = 2.32) compared to the Written Test (M = 23.22, SD = 2.53) with; t(64) = 1.999, ρ = 0.05. In conclusion, this study suggests that the achievement of the Written Report is higher than the Written Test is due to the support of ICT as an online learning facility.

The entry of imported food products into Malaysia is on an increasing trend. However, the halal monitoring and enforcement system's weakness has given room to irresponsible entrepreneurs not conforming to the manual procedure for Malaysia's halal certification. This weakness gives rise to various malpractices, including the smuggling activities, forgery of international halal logo and certificate, and attempts of contaminating with nonhalal ingredients in the food processor. The management of the halal assurance system on imported food products in Malaysia is carried out by JAKIM and other government agencies such as the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs (KPDNHEP), Ministry of Health (MOH), Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (FOSIM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and Local Authority. The monitoring and enforcement are based on Manual Procedure for Malaysian Halal Certification (MPPHM), Malaysian Standard (MS), Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (TDA 2011), and other related directives. Therefore, despite many agencies contributing to this matter, an analysis of Halal Assurance Management on Imported Food Products in Malaysia is crucially needed to manage halal monitoring and enforcement. This study may contribute to halal management in Malaysia to develop a systematic halal assurance management system, particularly for imported food products. This study can provide a guideline for imported food product entrepreneurs in conforming to the act, regulations, procedure, and standard specified by the authorities. The implication of this study also benefits the consumers. They will become more confident in the halal status of imported food products and entrust the Malaysian management of halal assurance in the monitoring and enforcement system.

ICT is an important factor in supporting e-learning, especially in the post-pandemic period. However, ICT has also been found to have limitations in supporting e-learning. This study focuses on identifying the limitations of ICT support in pursuing e-learning and methods to address it at the higher education level. The final year student of Islamic studies at the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam was involved as a respondent (n=87) after screening. The online questionnaire is used as an instrument of data collection as e-learning is still applied. The data is analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics computer software. Friedman’s test results found a significant difference in the variable “Unsatisfactory internet access and coverage” (mean rank: 2.75) with χ2(3)=12.507, ρ=.006, and on the variable “Working in part-time jobs to accommodate the needs” (mean rank: 2.83) with χ2(3)=24.788, ρ=.000. This study suggests unsatisfactory internet access and coverage as a major factor in ICT limitations that is common in pursuing online learning among higher education students in UiTM Shah Alam. The students also had to work part-time jobs to accommodate this need. A qualitative approach, especially ethnography is recommended to be adapted to deepen the real situation based on the current reality of higher education students for future studies.

This study discusses halal issue in medical device industry that has yet to be included in halal certification scheme through the focus on the application ofsurgical sutures. Surgical sutures constitute the largest groups among biomaterials used as implants for wound closure in various surgical procedure. This paper will discuss halal authentication method for surgical suture application. Hence, this study attempts to identify issues on the application of surgical sutures that contribute to the requirements of developing halal medical device ecosystem, especially on catgut suture as it is animal-based material. In achieving these objectives, the methods used in this study involves method of data collection through library research and field study involving in-depth interview methods and data analysis of inductive and deductive analysis. From the study, there are few essential aspects such as sources, processes, reactions and also the safety effects of the sutures that shall be taken into considerations in developing halal medical devices guidelines.

Halal awareness is not only focused on the food industry but is also present in the cosmetics industry, consumables and pharmaceuticals. In 2013, there was a demand for halal certification from the medical device industry that covers a wide range of medical equipment available at the hospital from a simple tool such as plaster to a complex tool such as CT scanners machine. Halal label on medical device products is not only seen as an added value to the product but is also a requirement to market the products in Islamic countries. However, without the existence of halal standards and guidelines that are specific to medical device products, it is impossible to implement halal certification for medical devices. Therefore, this study aims to identify halal critical points in the medical device supply chain, hence suggesting a number of components for the development of halal medical device guideline. To achieve these objectives, this study used the method of data collection through library research and field study involving in-depth interviews. These guidelines combine elements of halal and safety. Results of the study found that there are several components such as sources, processes, reactions and also the effects of the use of a device which can be taken into considerations in the development of halal medical devices guidelines.

Surgical sutures constitute the largest group among all medical devices applied as implants in the human body with a huge market share exceeding USD1.3 billion annually. Catgut suture is the most widely used material in wound closure and has been in use for many centuries in a surgical procedure. Catgut, made from twisted intestines of herbivorous animals, is still used in modern surgery. Collagen consists of tertiary, secondary, and primary structures. The composition of collagen encompasses all 20 amino acids. We believe that the term of Istihlak, alongside the term of Istihalah, will bring forward a new point of view with regard to determination and evaluation of halal catgut sutures, especially in terms of collagen used in suture. In the discussion of fiqh perspective, there are several legal mechanisms to determine the use of catgut suture in the medical field. There are instruments that can be used as a support to identify the proper determination of law, for example Istihalah, Istihlak, Inqilab, Intiqal, and Tab‘iyyat. For the purpose of this research, authors are focusing on the application of Istihlak.