Thematic teaching has been introduced through the Malaysian Preschool Education Curriculum Guidelines (KPM, 1993) since 1993. This research is a preliminary review aimed at looking at the need to conduct further studies on the implementation of thematic teaching and to determine the focus of the research. This research explores the current understanding and practice of eight teachers from eight preschools in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan in implementing thematic teaching. Data collected for this research was based on document analysis, observations, and interviews. Findings of the research show that there were various levels of understanding and methods employed in implementing thematic teaching in the selected preschools. Teachers' understanding is divided into several categories: 1) understanding thematic teaching as curriculum; 2) understanding thematic teaching as an approach; 3) the minimum understanding of thematic teaching; and 4) no understanding of thematic teaching at all. In terms of planning, only two of the teachers integrated thematic teaching in their annual, weekly, and daily lesson plans. The findings on the implementation of thematic teaching also show that teachers: 1) used thematic teaching as the basis of the curriculum; 2) applied thematic teaching as one of the teaching approaches; 3) used thematic teaching based on the requirements of the teaching and learning; and 4) had not used thematic teaching. This finding supports the need for further research on thematic teaching. A detailed research on the implementation of more practical and friendly thematic teaching for teachers that also fulfills the principles of implementation of such teaching and the overall developmental needs of children should be undertaken.

ABSTRAK Makanan dan minuman yang halal dan baik merupakan tuntutan dalam

Islam merupakan satu agama yang menitikberatkan kesihatan manusia termasuklah sistem pencernaan manusia. Najis (tinja) manusia yang dibincangkan dalam kajian ini merupakan hasil buangan manusia yang menjadi salah satu kaedah untuk melihat sudut kesihatan manusia. Objektif penyelidikan ini ialah untuk mengkaji fizikokimia dan ciri-ciri najis serta kegunaannya daripada perspektif sains dan sudut pandangan Islam terutamanya mengenai diet yang diamalkan oleh Rasulullah SAW. Kajian ini dijalankan dengan menggunakan ulasan literatur secara deskriptif. Kajian mendapati bahawa sistem pencernaan merupakan satu sistem yang rumit. Tinja terdiri daripada 75% air dan 25% bahan pepejal serta ciri-ciri tinja seperti bentuk, warna dan bau memberi kesan kepada kesihatan manusia. Daripada sudut Islam warna, bau dan rasa tinja merupakan perkara asas yang dititikberatkan semasa proses pembersihan najis terutamanya bagi memulakan sesuatu ibadah. Selain itu, diet, senaman, umur dan jantina merupakan faktor-faktor yang membezakan jenis tinja bagi setiap individu. Malah, kajian ini juga merungkai beberapa alternatif yang kini diguna pakai bagi mengurus najis-najis manusia dalam menjamin kesihatan dan pemeliharaan alam sekitar. Kajian ini kemudiannya mengupas diet makanan-makanan sunnah yang terdapat di dalam Al-Quran dan hadis yang terbukti kaya dengan serat dan sihat untuk manusia terutamanya bagi sistem pencernaan manusia. Oleh itu, najis (tinja) manusia daripada sudut sains mampu menggambarkan kesihatan seseorang dan amalan diet makanan-makanan sunnah sangat baik dalam memelihara sistem pencernaan manusia. Kata kunci: Al-Quran dan hadis; kegunaan najis; kesihatan manusia; makanan sunnah; najis (tinja) manusia

Islam is a religion that inspires its followers to seek knowledge continually and nurtures innovation, within the realms of Islamic rulings, towards an ameliorated quality of life. Up-to-date biotechnological techniques, specifically animal cloning, are involved in advancing society’s health, social, and economic domains. The goal of animal cloning includes the production of genetically modified animal for human consumption. Therefore, this research endeavoured to study animal cloning’s current scientific findings, examine the by-product of said process, and determine its permissibility in an Islamic context. This study employed descriptive literature reviews. Results concluded that animal cloning, especially in mammals, does not occur naturally as in plants. A broadly trusted and efficient animal cloning method is known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), which includes three principal steps: oocyte enucleation; implantation of donor cells (or nucleus); and the activation of the embryo. Nevertheless, the limitations of SCNT, particularly to the Large Offspring Syndrome (LOS), should be noted. One of the forms of the application of animal cloning is in agriculture. From an Islamic perspective, determining the permissibility of consuming cloned animals as food is essentially based on whether the cloned animal conforms to Islamic law’s principles and criteria. Islam interdicts animal cloning when it is executed without benefiting humans, religion, or society. Nonetheless, if it is done to preserve the livelihood and the needs of a community, then the process is deemed necessary and should be administered following the conditions outlined in Islam. Hence, the Islamic ruling for animal cloning is not rigid and varies proportionately with the current fatwa.

Gifted and talented students are students who possess a high cognitive level. Most preceding researches have concentrated more on analyzing students' cognitive, but the issue of students' socio-emotional well-being is often overlooked. Based on the conclusions of the needs analysis conducted among students and teachers, the principal issue among these students is the issue of social anxiety. This social anxiety issue will hinder students' true potential if one does not address it promptly. The issue of social anxiety occurs due to students' thinking fallacies, social avoidance and stress in themselves and the atmosphere. Hence, to help identify the socio-emotional problems of social anxiety among these gifted and talented students, the researchers proposed the development of the Qalbun Salim Module with the integration of Islamic counselling (Al-Ghazali Psycho-Spiritual Counseling Theory) and western counselling theory (Cognitive Behavioral Theory). This module would be developed through five phases of design and development (Design development research-DDR) using the ADDIE model approach, namely needs analysis, design and development and implementation and evaluation of the module. The development of this module is also a discovery in today's gifted and talented education. The researchers hope that this Qalbun Salim Module would help students and provide guidance to teachers, identify the level of students' socio-emotional well-being, and help establish students' potential to nurture students as Islamic Scholars in the future.