RELIGION , HUMAN NATURE AND ECONOMICS

Dr. Syed Omar bin Syed Agil A1-Attas has been an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Business Administration, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak since 1998. He obtained his Ph.D from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak in 2007, his MA in Economics in 1984 and BSc in Economics and Mathematics in 1982 from Northern Illinois University, USA. His previous positions at University Tun Abdul Razak include Deputy Dean of Faculty of Business Administration, Head of Academic Affiliation and Collaboration Department, Head of Student Affairs Department and Deputy Dean of Graduate School. In addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in economics and business ethics, he is also involved in postgraduate supervision and research. Before joining Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, he had been a lecturer and Assistant Professor from 1985-1992 and Head of Economics Department of Kulliyyah of Economics, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) from 1989-1990, a research fellow of Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), a fellow of Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) and Chief Operation Officer of Institute Perkembangan Mind (INMIND). Dr. Syed Omar has written extensively on Islamic economics, management, finance and the thoughts of Ibn Khaldun. His has authored, co-authored and co-edited 16 books which include Readings in the Concept and Methodology of Islamic Economics, Readings in Microeconomics: Islamic Perspective, An Introduction to Islamic Economics and Finance, Revitalizing People for the Future: The Islamic Way of Achieving Management Excellence, Lessons on Excellence and Successful Management from Islamic History, Wawasan 2020: Moral, Pengindustrian dan Keilmuan, Kemahuan Untuk Berubah: Prasyarat Menuju Malaysia Maju Tahun 2020 and Sistem Akauntabiliti dalam Pengurusan Islam. He has also written 47 articles in Journals and local newspapers and presented 48 papers at local and international seminars and conferences. Some relevant papers include Islamic finance in the economic history of the Malays: A Preliminary study based on the available historical documents, Psychological Behavior and Economics: The Need for New Theories and Redefinition of Basic Concepts in Islamic Economics and Rationality in Economic Theory: A Critical Appraisal. He is also a motivational speaker and has been invited to give motivational speeches to the public and students at all levels. Besides this new book he has also authored Ibn Khaldun’s Theory of Social Science and the Rise and Fall of Nations and presented papers on Man, Society and Leadership in the Prolegomena: Exploring the Thoughts of Ibn Khaldun and Ideas on Education in the Prolegomena of Ibn Khaldun at international conferences.