Curriculum Vitae

ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. MOHD SAIFUL ANWAR BIN MOHD NAWAWI

Associate Professor
  • Department of Fiqh-usul and Applied Sciences
    Academy of Islamic Studies
  • saifulanwar
  • 0379676041

BIOGRAPHY


Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi is an academic in Islamic Studies, trained in both Shariah and Science, and dedicated to using scientific knowledge in service of Shariah and in addressing contemporary societal needs.

He holds a Bachelor of Shariah, a Master of Science, and a PhD from the Universiti Malaya, and has further enriched his expertise through short academic programs at WISE University (Jordan), the Islamic University of Madinah (Saudi Arabia), the University of Cambridge (UK), Sakarya University (Türkiye), and Dar al-Ifta’ (Egypt).

His research addresses pressing issues shaping the Muslim world, focusing on how astronomy serves Islam - including Crescent Moon Visibility, the Hijri Calendar, Fiqh al-Falak, Falak and Sustainable Development, Qibla and Prayer Time.

He has contributed to numerous national and government-supported projects, including studies on moon-sighting criteria, imaging techniques for crescent observation, synchronization of the Hijri calendar, zoning for prayer times, refinement of Subuh  parameters, lunar influences on climate, Shariah-based frameworks for sustainable astronomical practices,  the determination of two marhalah, qaryah, and balad rates from a contemporary fiqh perspective as well as Qibla, and halal compliance.

Many of these initiatives, developed in collaboration with Malaysia’s national agencies and fellow researchers have contributed to shaping national policies, enactments, or guidelines, strengthening the integration of science with Islamic legal practice.

Dr. Saiful and his team publish in Islamic Studies journals, including Jurnal Syariah, Jurnal Fiqh, Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, Jurnal al-Tamaddun, and the Journal of Islamic Marketing.

They also contribute to  scientific journals such as New Astronomy, Astronomy and Computing, ICARUS, and Sains Malaysiana, Malaysian Journal of Science among others. Many of their publications are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.

He currently serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Fiqh & Usul, University of Malaya, President of the Islamic Astronomers Association of Malaysia (Persatuan Jurufalak Syarie), and Deputy President of the Southeast Asia Islamic Astronomy Association (SEAIAA).

He also sits on expert panels for various government agencies related to his field of expertise. Passionate about collaboration, he actively works to connect scholars, scientists, and policymakers worldwide.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION


  • PhD (ISLAMIC ASTRONOMY), (Islamic Astronomy)
    Universiti Malaya (um)
  • MSc., (Science)
    Universiti Malaya (um)
  • BSy, (Syariah)
    Universiti Malaya (um)

AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP


  • Certificate of Excellent Service
    2024, Universiti Malaya
  • Excellence Service Award
    2020, Universiti Malaya
  • UM Excellence Award
    2015, Universiti Malaya

PUBLICATIONS


Books
  1. Faid, M. S. B., Nawawi, M. S. a. M., & Saadon, M. H. M. (2024). Design, development and analysis of Lunar Crescent Visibility Criterion with Python. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003536192
  2. Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi & Mohad Ammar Musa (2016) Hilangnya Sinar Mentari: Antara Peluang dan Harapan. Sebuah Travelog Gerhana Matahari Penuh. Kuala Lumpur: Program Astronomi Islam
Other Publications
  1. Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi (2025) 1 Ramadan: Sabtu atau Ahad?, https://jurufalak.com/1-ramadan-sabtu-atau-ahad/ - Framework
  2. Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi, Bila terbiasa rujuk kalendar kuda, Sinar Harian (Ruangan Perspektif) 09 Mei 2022 - Mass Media(newspaper,radio,tv,popular Magazine)

RESEARCH INTEREST


  • Islamic Studies (Shariah and Science)

RESEARCH PROJECT


National
  1. 2025 - 2027, UNIVERSITI MALAYA RESEARCH EXCELLENCE GRANT (UMREG)
    Preserving Islamic Astronomy in the Era of Light Pollution: Shariah- Based Framework and Legal Policy Proposal for Sustainable Practice ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  2. 2023 - 2026, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    Pembangunan Kerangka Etika-agama Dalam Menangani Impak Kecerdasan Buatan (ai) Terhadap Autonomi Manusia ( Co-Researcher)
  3. 2022 - 2025, Government Agency
    Lunar Influences On Climate Change And Natural Disasters ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  4. 2023 - 2025, Government Agency
    Kajian Teknik Pengimejan Dan Garis Panduan Pengimejan Anak Bulan ( Co-Researcher)
  5. 2024 - 2025, Government Agency
    Kajian Kebolehlaksanaan Zon Waktu Solat Berdasarkan Daerah Di Negeri Selangor ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  6. 2024 - 2025, Government Agency
    Kajian Ketepatan Arah Kiblat Masjid Berusia Di Pulau Pinang ( Co-Researcher)
  7. 2024 - 2025, Government Agency
    Pandangan Ulama Dan Fatwa Mengenai Lsu Hisab Dan Rukyah Hilal ( Co-Researcher)
  8. 2019 - 2024, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-FNW
    Development Of Procedures On The Criteria For Crescent Moon Visibility Based On Al-hisab Method And A Reliable Islamic Calendar In Malaysia ( Co-Researcher)
  9. 2019 - 2024, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-FNW
    Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijrah: Analisis Perbandingan Di Asia Tenggara (determination Of Beginning Of Hijrah Months: Comparison Analysis In Southeast Asia) ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  10. 2023 - 2024, Government Agency
    Ulasan Buku: Takwim Hijriah Khairiah Bagi Tujuan Menerbitkan Semula Karya Haji Md. Khair Haji Md. Taib ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  11. 2023 - 2024, Government Agency
    Cadangan Kaedah Pengesahan Imej Anak Bulan Menggunakan Kaedah Statistik ( Co-Researcher)
  12. 2020 - 2021, Government Agency
    Pengisbatan Anak Bulan Dari Perspektif Syariah Dan Astronomi ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  13. 2019 - 2021, Government Agency
    Penentuan Kadar Dua Marhalah, Qaryah Dan Balad Dari Perspektif Fiqh Semasa ( Co-Researcher)
  14. 2018 - 2020, Government Agency
    Penilaian Semula Nilai Altitud Matahari Di Bawah Ufuk Bagi Penentuan Awal Waktu Solat Subuh Di Malaysia ( Co-Researcher)
  15. 2013 - 2015, Geran Penyelidikan Universiti Malaya (UMRG Programme) - HNE (Humanities & Ethics)
    The Islamisation Of Knowledge And Science In Malaysia And The Malay World ( Co-Researcher)
University
  1. 2022 - 2023, University Grant
    Analysis Tool For Lunar Crescent Visibility Criterion Based On Integrated Lunar Crescent Sighting Database ( Principal Investigator(PI))

TEACHING


Master
  1. (2021) IFGH6322 - Contemporary Islamic Jurisprudence
  2. (2021) IOA7003 - Contemporary Islamic Jurisprudence
Bachelor
  1. (2021) IIH3001 - Science, Technology and Astronomy Development in Islam
  2. (2021) IIP2017 - Islamic Calendar System
  3. (2021) IIX2006 - Current Aplication of Ilmu Falak
  4. (2020) IIP2011 - Fiqh Falak
  5. (2020) IIX2006 - Current Aplication of Ilmu Falak
  6. (2015) SMEH2114 - Islamic Calendar System
  7. (2014) GXEX1417 - Social Enggagement
  8. (2014) IAEH2313 - Fiqh Falak
  9. (2014) SMEH1113 - General Astronomy
  10. (2014) SMEH1312 - History of Astronomy
  11. (2014) SMEH3191 - Industrial Training