BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

OUR time on earth, regardless of its duration, is a gift from Allah (SWT) and how we use the time given is our own responsibility.

The same goes for our physical being, our knowledge and our riches. Allah (SWT) will ask these questions of us and onto us alone.

"For this reason, in Islam, it is known as ‘Masbuliyyah’ or accountability, is how our lives will be evaluated."

The Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman, raised the subject of individual accountability as he opened the special two-part Aidil Adha sermon just after the Sunat Aidil Adha prayer yesterday.

Accountability for the use of time given by Allah (SWT) ensures that it is used wisely.

"And how we use our time wisely is by Istiqamah," said the minister.

Istiqamah is consistency. "Consistency in performing religious duties and good habits as one will be questioned by Allah SWT in the hereafter of all his deeds done throughout his life is what is sought, said the minister.

"We do not know how much time we have on this earth. How we are brought into life and how we leave in death is unknown to us. What is known to us is that we are still here, able to show our appreciation and our gratefulness for our existence in another day."

The minister ended part one with a reminder that all the joys in life are frivolous gains that are meant to deceive those who allow themselves to be blinded by its presence.

In the second part the minister mentioned how our lives in Brunei continues to enjoy peace and prosperity.

The monarchy system of Brunei Darussalam is our ‘landmark’, together with Islam, in shaping the sovereignty of the Sultanate.

"Governed under Islam, it is on the mould of Islam that we develop ourselves as a Zikir nation whose people and government have Allah constantly in mind."

The minister said, “With the monarchy administration, Brunei is able to maintain its full sovereignty as a sovereign nation as other world’s sovereign states. Hence, Brunei has been able to maintain being an Islamic country as it has been passed down from generation to generation for over 600 years.”

Islam is and will always be upheld in the country as stated in Brunei’s Constitution to be the official religion and proclamation of independence in 1984 to be ‘sovereign, democratic and independent Malay Muslim Monarchy based upon the teachings of Islam, according to Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jamaah’.

He added that with Islam and the supreme exclusive authority of the monarch, Brunei went through modernisation and transformed its politics and social status greatly which enables its people to enjoy a comfortable standard of living.

The sermon also note that the modernisation was also due to the hard work of the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the 28th sultan of Brunei who was recently proclaimed as the pre-eminent figure in Brunei customs and traditions by His Majesty during the launch of Ceremonial Customs Day or Adat Istiadat Day last March.

The sermon went on to remind Muslims that Hari Raya Aidil Adha, which is celebrated every year on 10 Zulhijjah, as well as Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, which is celebrated every first Syawal, is a religious celebration, not a festivity or a cultural-based.

Hence, it must be enlivened with religious activities.

This is because both Hari Raya are related to specific ibadah (act of worship), where Aidil Adha is significant to Korban and Haj, while Aidil Fitri is as a celebration for Muslims after a month-long fast in Ramadhan.

“Started with Takbir and Tahmid (praising of Allah SWT), followed by mass Sunat Hari Raya prayers and giving out of sacrificial meat during Aidil Adha after Korban Sunat (sacrificing of animal), while Aidil Fitri is famous with get-together events to strengthen silaturrahim (relationship) which lasts till a month long. All these activities are within religious rites,” said the minister.

He further added that the two Hari Raya must be preserved with religious values and not be smeared with inappropriate celebrations which are against the teachings of Islam.

Muslims in Brunei should be grateful as Allah SWT has blessed the country with peace, without any serious threats or anything that would compromise public safety.

The Brunei Times