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The paper aims to explore the role and the involvement of local community within the context of Malaysian early childhood centers (nursery and kindergarten).

The research used a mixed method with a questionnaire survey in the first phase and qualitative interviews in the second phase. Quantitative data were obtained from a survey completed by 3,519 staffs from nursery and kindergarten all over Malaysia. Qualitative data were collected from individual and focus group semistructured interviews conducted with 140 participants of the Malaysian public and private internal and external stakeholders ranging from the relevant personnel of the early childhood care and education (ECCE) centers (administrators, teachers and practitioners), academic experts, regulatory agencies and parents.

Survey results indicate that the parents and community involvement with ECCE centers from the perspective of the management and practitioners is in the medium category. A total of three overarching themes were identified from the interviews, namely expertise collaboration, resource sharing and operation monitoring. There exists diversity in terms of community engagement and cooperation with ECCE centers.

The findings are expected to provide valuable guidelines to ECCE centers' management and leadership in the aspect of community involvement where it could help to enhance their efforts of providing quality learning experiences for young children attending their centers.

This study is part of a larger longitudinal and mixed methods project examining the quality practices in setting the standards in the Malaysian National Quality ECCE framework. These findings contribute to the understanding of community involvement with ECCE centers in the Malaysian context.

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the amount of profits gained from musharakah mutanaqisah model using coupon rate of 4.5 per cent, price at par and tenure of five years was greater than using ijarah principle where the price is at a discount. Also to compute and compare the profits obtained from sukuk investment in ijarah and musharakah mutanaqisah for 3.5 per cent coupon rate and price at par for a sukuk with tenure of 12.5, 15, 17.5 and 19 years.

In total, two models were used to calculate profit. These models are based on ijarah and musharakah mutanaqisah principles. Formulas are derived from ijarah and musharakah and mutanaqisah principles used in sukuk.

Sukuk investment using ijarah principle is found to be a better investment alternative than musharakah mutanaqisah principle, regardless of the number of years of the sukuk, as long as it is a long‐term tenure. However, for short‐term tenure, the latter is preferred based on the amount of profits generated.

The formulas and results shown in this research are just one of the mathematical approaches that can be used for decision making in sukuk investment. There are other approaches which may deemed to be more effective in decision making. This research was applied only to ijarah and musharakah mutanaqisah types of investment.

The results in the research will assist in making a quick decision on what type of sukuk investment for the investors and issuers and which will be suitable given the amount of financial resources and duration of the investment period.

Many researchers have attempted to study the implications of using mathematical formulas to guide decision making on the choice of sukuk investment and this research has, to a certain extent, concurred with and complemented the works of past researchers. Additionally it will create awareness and provide more information to potential investors on better sukuk investment alternative principles from a mathematical point of view.

Islamic finance and Halal product sectors are thriving successfully. This chapter is a general review of the perception of Asian consumers on Islamic finance and Halal sectors in the global Halal economy.

The first section will briefly describe the Halal concept in both Islamic finance and Halal industries, and the growth of both sectors in Asian countries. The second part highlights the review of Asian consumers’ perception towards Islamic finance products and Halal products.

The review found that the consumers’ perception towards the Islamic finance products and Halal products is distinctive. This is due to the diversity of Asian countries in terms of geography, religion, culture, ethnic, school of thoughts (madzahib), income per capita and government’s involvement.

The third part of the chapter concentrates on planning towards Halal marketing, which involves the move and future challenges in different layers of industries to gear up and strengthen the Halal economy.

Zakah is an important ethico‐economic institution in the Islamic code of life. It provides a mandatory mechanism for sharing societal resources in a Muslim community. It redistributes income and wealth, plays an important role in poverty alleviation, and thus can contribute to grassroot development. This paper analyzes Zakah's role in this context, and suggests how this institution can be made an instrument of self‐reliance and sustainable development of those who live below poverty line.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the content of bioactive pigments in coloured callus of Azadirachta indica and to understand the correlation between the callus colours with their bioactive constituents, antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity. These assessments will yield valuable insight into the use of in vitro-derived pigments for possible use as functional natural colourants.

In this study, the authors have successfully developed a protocol to produce leaf-derived callus of various colours with enhanced content of bioactive pigments in A. indica through plant tissue culture. Comparative analysis of the pigments content (chlorophyll, carotenoid, phenolics and anthocyanins) in the coloured callus was conducted, followed by evaluation of its bioactive properties. The antioxidant properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant power and cytotox activities of the coloured callus extracts were also reported.

Callus of various colours were successfully produced in A. indica through plant tissue culture, and their valuable pigment content and bioactivity were evaluated. The green callus contained the highest amount of anthocyanin, followed by brown and cream callus. The total anthocyanin contents in both the green and brown callus was more than two-fold higher than that in cream callus. Contrasting observation was obtained for total phenolic content (TPC), where the TPC of cream callus was significantly higher than that in brown callus. Nevertheless, the green callus also exhibited the highest TPC. Green callus also contained the highest amount of total chlorophyll and carotenoid, as well as exhibited the highest antioxidant potential, and was found to be the only extract with active cytotox activity against SKOV-3 cells. Correlation analysis revealed that the excellent bioactivity exhibited by the coloured extracts was strongly correlated with the bioactive pigments present in the callus.

The major bioactive compounds identified in the methanolic extracts of A. indica coloured callus are anthocyanins, phenolics, chlorophylls and carotenoids. Future research work should include improvements in the extraction and identification methods, which may lead to detection and determination of other compounds that could attribute to its bioactivity, to complement the findings of the current study.

This analysis provides valuable information on the application of plant tissue culture as an alternative source for sustainable production of major pigments with medicinal benefits in A. indica for possible use as functional natural colourants.

A comparative study on bioactive pigment production in coloured callus from A. indica leaves and its antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity is original. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report detailing a comparative evaluation on the production of coloured callus in A. indica and its relative biochemical composition and bioactive properties.

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of salting duration and salt concentration on the physicochemical, colour, texture and sensory attributes of buffalo meatballs.

Minced buffalo meat was mixed with salt at 1 or 2% concentration and stored for 0 h, 24 h or 48 h during the preparation of meatballs. The developed meatballs were analysed for moisture content, water holding capacity (WHC), pH, cooking yield, shrinkage, colour, texture profile analysis, gelling properties and sensory attributes.

The salting durations of 24 and 48 h had significant (p < 0.05) effects on the WHC and colour attributes of the buffalo meatballs. A 2% salt addition in meatballs significantly (p < 0.05) affected pH and cooking yield. Salting for 24 h with 2% salt concentration significantly (p < 0.05) increased the hardness, chewiness and gel strength of the meatballs. Thus, salting for 24 h with a 2% salt concentration improved the physicochemical, textural and sensory attributes of buffalo meatballs.

The study highlighted the importance of salting treatment during the preparation of meat products. For example, salting buffalo meatballs with a 2% salt concentration for 24 h could improve their functional and sensory attributes.

Studies on salting durations at different salt concentrations in buffalo meat are very limited. An optimized combination of salting duration and salt concentration during the preparation of buffalo meatballs could improve the quality attributes and acceptability of these products.

This paper aims to investigate the relationships between key mediators, namely, Muslim-friendly context and the intention of tourists to revisit edu-tourism destinations in Terengganu.

The study engages tourists and visitors who have explored seven distinct edu-tourism destinations, with a total sample size of 384 participants. Data analysis is conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Analysis of Moment Structures for structural equation modeling.

Findings indicate that Muslim-friendly does not mediate the relationship between tourism operators, events and investment concerning tourists revisiting Terengganu. However, it plays a significant mediating role between local communities, educational institutions and tourism organizations.

Despite valuable insights, limitations arose due to a lack of Terengganu-specific literature on Muslim-friendliness in edu-tourism, leading to reliance on studies about Sharia-compliant hotels, the broader tourism industry and Islamic tourism.

The thriving halal tourism industry’s growth has heightened awareness of Muslim-friendly destinations, like Terengganu. The state actively promotes diverse halal services for Muslim travelers, encouraging operators to prioritize Sharia-compliant facilities. Strategic marketing and government support for Sharia-compliant edu-tourism investments aim at fostering economic growth and ensuring sustainability.

Social implications stress the need for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in Terengganu’s tourism. Prioritizing Muslim-friendly services not only boosts economic growth but also fosters an inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse travelers. Government support for Sharia-compliant edu-tourism investments aligns development with cultural and religious values, promoting a harmonious and inclusive society.

This research explores Terengganu’s innovative edu-tourism approach, prioritizing Muslim-friendly services for diverse travelers. By emphasizing Sharia-compliant facilities and investments, the region aims to foster economic growth and create an inclusive cultural environment.

The purpose of this paper is to build a relationship between the quantitative and structural indicators of maqashid sharia studies produced from bibliometric analysis and the conceptual discussion developed through a thorough review of selected key literature.

The study uses bibliometric analysis, collecting information drawn from 219 articles published in 68 journals during the period of 2006–2022. This study uses VOSviewer, RStudio, Microsoft Excel, and an examination of research time periods using the Scopus database to illustrate the citation analysis and keyword map. It is also strengthened by content analysis of selected studies.

The main research theme found in this study is the application of maqashid sharia in Islamic banks, with Islamic banks and Islamic finance among the most frequently used keywords. Meanwhile, the geographical spread of maqashid sharia research has reflected its universal acceptance, as it has spread across both Muslim-dominant and non-Muslim-dominant countries. Besides, maqashid sharia is found to be an extremely important subject for ensuring the ethical dimension of Islamic finance products and services, a more inclusive human development index, and contributing to the international agenda of Sustainable Development Goals. Lastly, future research is expected to broaden it into a multi-dimensional horizon, with several recommendations offered to enrich the understanding of maqashid sharia.

The findings of this study can be beneficial to multiple stakeholders in Islamic finance industry, including the management of Islamic banks, who can enhance the values of maqashid sharia in designing their products/services, and the regulators, who can formulate regulatory frameworks which are reflective of maqashid sharia principles.

This study will assist future scholars in this field to formulate and design exciting research ideas and models to address the deficiencies found in the current implementation of maqashid sharia within Islamic finance industry.

The primary contribution of this study is to provide comprehensive review and discussion of selected significant literature on maqashid sharia and give direction for future research. In addition, this study also extends and incorporates the results of bibliometrics using the recent maqashid sharia studies published at the end of 2022.