Bird Flu A Test For Man: Imams
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Imams nationwide said yesterday the bird flu pandemic that has brought uproar to the world nowadays is a test of calamity from Allah to mankind.

In a Friday sermon delivered yesterday, Imams said Allah reminded us in the Holy Quran that life's worldly entertainments lead humans to forget to remember Allah. "As a result of such human attitude, Allah orders the Prophet to remind mankind to do good deeds," the Imams said.

"But there are still humans who ignore such commands from Allah, which leads to the test of calamity, so that mankind is no longer negligent, and so that they repent for what they've done."

"A calamity sent to mankind is not meant to punish cruel people and those who ignore orders from Allah, but to test and as a reminder to the faithful one," the Imams added. "The faithful should be patient."

"Such calamitous tests cone in various sorts such as natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, landslides, and drought or from human acts such as economic crises, fire and the most recent one which brings uproar to the world, which is the bird flu."

"Bird flu can be transmitted to humans and those at high risk are people in direct contact with the infected birds.

Among the steps taken by the authorities in Brunei to prevent bird flu from spreading in this country is the carrying out of monitoring procedures at key entry points in the country including at the border, and inspections at farms," said the Imams.

"To date, Brunei is free from bird flu. However as a precautionary measure, cleanliness is stressed at homes, farms and the environment. Maintaining cleanliness is important in Islam."

Imams said based on the information from the Ministry of Health, the Influenza disease is of various sorts and has caused millions of deaths worldwide.

"Historically, the Spanish flu had caused some 40 to 50 million deaths in 1918, while the Asian flu in 1957 caused deaths of four to five million people and the Hong Kong flu also resulted in deaths of four to five million people in 1968."

"In facing tests of calamity from Allah, we must be patient and pray for protection, especially in the wake of the current bird flu pandemic where we seek for protection by holding the 'Sunat Hajat' prayer against such calamity and the reading of a special 'Doa' after the dusk prayer and prior to the Friday prayer," said the Imams in the nationwide Friday sermon.

"When we are safe from such test, we must be thankful to Allah."  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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