BRUNEI-MUARA

CIVIL servants should not complain about working overtime as having a job is a blessing from Allah (SWT), a religious officer from the Islamic Da’wah Centre told Ministry of Development employees yesterday.

Ustaz Hj Badaruddin Hj Basar urged civil servants to sacrifice their time and work overtime by following the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim on his son Prophet Ismail, which can be regarded as a lesson to always practise sacrifices as part of life.

“When we sacrifice our time, mind and energy to our work, InsyaAllah we will get the rewards from Allah SWT because making sacrifices are encouraged in Islam,” he said.

Ustaz Hj Badaruddin was an invited speaker at the Ministry of Development’s Hari Raya Aidil Adha celebrations.

He noted that some government employees complained about working overtime or having to travel long distances as part of their duties.

“We should not complain. We should take work as part of our sacrifices bestowed by Allah SWT,” he added.

Ustaz Hj Badaruddin also touched on the importance of applying the religious lesson of Prophet Ibrahim in work because sacrifices are part of life.

Sacrificing part of our wealth by contributing a goat that costs around $300 can help underprivileged people and victims of natural disaster (flood and fire), added the religious officer.

“By taking part in the sacrificial rites, we show our appreciation to Allah SWT for the job and peace we have right now,” the religious officer said.

Present as guest of honour at the celebrations was Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education employees listened to a talk on sacrificial rites in a separate Aidil Adha event at Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre.

Hj Mail Besar, a former employee of Islamic Da’wah Centre, said sacrificial meat can only be distributed and donated to Muslims.

However, he said this should not stop a generous person from donating to non-Muslims.

“Instead of giving the korban (sacrificial) meat, they can buy meat from shops to give to non-Muslims,” the lecturer said, adding that Islam encourages friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

The speaker also told a story about the plight of the poor, especially how some of them felt disadvantaged because they do not have the resources to perform good deeds.

However, he said the poor are given three benefits by Allah SWT that the rich can never get.

Hj Mail said Allah SWT will grant the poor more blessings for the same action or good deed performed, and they will also be given priority over the rich to enter heaven.

He added that in heaven, the less fortunate will be given a better place to stay compared to the priviledged, provided that they are patient and have faith.

The Brunei Times