Brunei's Symbiosis Of Islamic And Malay Culture
By Finaz Daniel

Bandar Seri Begawan - The interplay between Islam and indigenous cultures and how this newly formed tradition facilitated Brunei and its people to go global was the focus of discussion at the National Training Session on the Use of Information Technologies in the Preservation of Cultural Diversity held recently at Seameo Voctech.

Professor Madya Dr Iik Arifin Mansurnoor, a lecturer at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), explored the development of Islam in Brunei and how the injection of Islamic values and teachings into our culture has facilitated the ongoing outward-looking orientation and global worldview.

In his presentation, the professor discussed the sultanate's experience in upholding Islam while keeping close to its cultural heritage that facilitates its smooth transition forward to take part in a globalised world.

In his examination of the backgrounds to cultural transformation, the professor began from the very beginning as Brunei actively pursued participation in the wider Islamic community in early 1807 when the Sultan of Brunei bought a house in Mecca to accommodate Bruneian pilgrims.

The interplay produced a Malay-Islamic culture and institutions, and an Islamic Malay culture emerged through the long historical process of interaction and maturing.

As time went by, the Malay-Islamic culture and community carried on various facets of lifeways and traditions of the two while absorbing the new Islamic values and principles that came along.

According to the professor, the tolerance and openness of Muslims in implementing Islamic principles at the local level can be seen in the diversity and multiplicity of practices and symbols. With this, the professor gave the assembly a look at how Islam has transformed our culture in the Malay world.

He stated that of the cultural influence that Islam had brought to bear on the Malays, those in the field of literature have been the most profound. As can be seen in the diversity and large numbers of literary works, religious literature at various stages of Islamisation and Islamic deepening has played a major role, the professor went on to say.

Empowered by its religious and cultural legacy, Brunei has actively and optimistically extended its hands to the world. This move was seen as the development of Islam in the country paved the way for an open and positivist approach to' friendship and cooperation.

The active participation, of Brunei in various Islamic organisations at the international and regional levels has many positive impacts upon Muslims in the country, stated the professor.

Brunei's participation in various international Islamic bodies such the Organisation of the Islamic Conferences (OIC) was one of the many examples of these participations.

Through these international bodies, better knowledge and information about Brunei's link with Muslim countries and their affairs made Bruneians more aware about their link to the Muslim world which in turn made them more eager to learn more and develop closer contacts.

In the 1990s, the impact of Islamisation and revivalism was strongly felt in the country and focus came to rest on how to install religious values among all Bruneians, particularly pupils and students, and at the same time move forward as sophisticated citizens in the era of information Communication Technology (ICT).

In this context, explained the professor, higher education remained a pivotal concern and exclusivity in Islamic education slowly gave way, to comprehensiveness.

Over time, debates were conducted, policies made and changes were introduced in making Islamic education more easily accessible.

Despite and because of its manifest claim to Islamic traditionalists, Brunei has joined many international groupings and taken part in many modernisation steps.

It has been argued that Brunei's strength for bargaining with external forces has been derived from its straightforward insistence upon traditional Islam, the professor said.

According to Dr Iik, these were all natural outcomes of the unending search for Brunei's way to live fully Islamic and Bruneian at the same time within the context of undeniable global environment with all its challenges and opportunities.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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