BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

UNIVERSITI Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) yesterday began its two-day seminar to discuss the contributions and understandings of Islamic scholars from the Asha’ri and Maturidi schools of thought in strengthening the Islamic faith.

More than 200 people from local and international universities, government and private sector representatives and other education institutions participated in the seminar.

The seminar also aimed at introducing and exploring the ideas of some of the renowned figure in the school of thoughts.

Additionally, the seminar also aimed at compiling working papers related to the ideas and thoughts of Islamic scholars relevant to the discussion.

A total of 38 working papers will be presented for the two-day conference, 26 papers in Arabic, 10 in Malay and two in English.

Two inaugural papers were also presented yesterday by Professor Dato Dr Sayyid Muhammad Aqiel Ali Al-Mahdaly from Insaniah University College, Malaysia and Associate Progessor Dato Dr Mohammad Fakhrudin Abdul Mukti from Universiti Malaya.

In his speech yesterday, Deputy Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Hj Yusoff Haji Ismail stressed the need for Islamic faith to be continuously strengthened to prevent the people from being affected by elements that are deviant to the understandings set by scholars of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.

“Any failure to enhance our faith will result in negative actions and implications that could burden the country with difficulties, and this is apparently seen through the violence and disturbances around the world, especially in other Islamic countries,” he said.

Based on the Quran, the deputy minister said that Muslims will not be able to find any solutions to any kind of crises except by referring back to the real Islamic teachings, which is based by the Quran and As-Sunnah as what has been commanded by Allah SWT.

“Islamic teachings, based on the Quran and As-Sunnah includes matters relative to faith, syariah and morality, and they guarantee happiness and prosperity both in the world and the hereafter,” he said.

“So besides preserving the relationship with human beings, one should also preserve one’s relationship with Allah SWT,” he added.

He said that the country’s aspiration of becoming a Zikir Nation based on the faith and understanding of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah had brought prosperity to the country and ensure its welfare. He also added that Brunei is right on track towards becoming a country that is continuously blessed by Allah SWT through the in-depth understanding of the Malay Muslim Monarch (MIB), balanced understanding of Islamic manuscripts and a healthy mind.

Lauding UNISSA’s effort in organising the seminar, the deputy minister hoped that the resolution made by the end of the conference would allow the university to plan further towards being able to withstand any challenges in disseminating the understanding of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.

A public lecture will be held today, featuring presentations and talks by local Islamic scholars including UNISSA’s rector, Dr Hj Norarfan Haji Zainal.

The Brunei Times