BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, highlighted the importance of religion and repentance in his titah to celebrate the arrival of the new Islamic year Hijrah 1431.

His Majesty expressed hope that the new Islamic year will bring blessings to the country and nation.

His Majesty asked why Muslims, who make up 1.5 billion of the world's total population of seven billion, still experience conflict and chaos.

"They are gripped by the inferno of wars, bloodshed and chaos as well as economic crisis and heavy debt," His Majesty said. "Any man with faith knows there is no running away from seeing that all this happens with the will of Allah (SWT).

"However, as Allah (SWT) said in Surah Ar-Rum, verse 41, man plays a role in creating the crises," said His Majesty.

"We made mistakes. Punishments by Allah (SWT) are to wake us up (from these mistakes)," he said.

"Allah (SWT) is fair to all His followers. He does not choose His followers according to their status. Those who should be punished will be punished, and the innocent will be (free from punishment)," His Majesty added.

The monarch said that the way for Muslims to avoid crises was by repenting.

"Repent to Allah (SWT) from sin and stay away from it knowing that it is hated by Allah (SWT)," His Majesty urged.

Citing as an example, he added, "If the state of disunity is considered sin, then repent to Allah (SWT) by uniting."

"Repentance is the only effective remedy," His Majesty said. "Repentance represents the principles of the noble and the pious.

"Did Allah (SWT) not promise the noble and the pious to free them from difficulties and open doors of opportunities?" His Majesty asked.

In his titah, His Majesty also highlighted the importance of religion.

"Religion is the light that shines our path. Without religion, all will be dark and ruin," His Majesty said.

"A society or nation, no matter how great it looks from the outside, if it does not embrace religion, it would be a society with problems, not great," His Majesty added.

His Majesty hoped that the nation would continue to reflect tranquillity, and be blessed and protected by Allah (SWT) from any crises and problems.

" To achieve this, we must fulfil all that is required, and that is to be forever grateful and to perform our religious duties," His Majesty said.

"InsyaAllah (God willing), with this we can enjoy the continuous blessings of Allah (SWT).

"Hopefully the new year will inject new awareness into Muslims' self-development, not only in Brunei, but all over the world," he said.

The monarch also expressed best wishes for the nation on behalf of the Royal Family for the new Hijrah year and hoped that it would deepen the awareness of servitude to Allah (SWT) in producing benefits to the country.

The Brunei Times