Rare Islamic artifacts at expo
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

The soon-to-be-completed State Mufti building.

The 1st Islamic International Exposition, a brainchild of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will be held from August 18 to 31 at the soon-to-be-completed State Mufti building in Jalan Babu Raja, off Jalan Tutong.

According to Dato Paduka Hj Ahmad Bukhari bin PSRK Hj Abu Hanifah, the project is a noble one that comes directly from His Majesty. The expo is to give rise to an Islamic Centre, to collate all Islamic knowledge and spread such knowledge through either the conventional or electronic method.

One of the most exciting features of the exposition will be the display of eight Islamic artifacts in a special corner of His Majesty's gallery.

According to the State Mufti, Pehin Dato Paduka Ustaz Hj Awg Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the chairman of the organising committee, some of the artifacts were obtained from India and Pakistan last year.

"Our delegation had the opportunity to view a permanent exhibition at the Badshashi Mosque in Lahore. There we decided to display some of the materials in the expo this August and the Punjab government has allowed us to do such a thing in principal," said Pehin Dato Paduka Ustaz Hj Awg Abdul Aziz.

The delegation also met an individual in Bahwalpur who also agreed in principal to participate in the expo. Later, the delegation met a Mufti in Karnataka, India who had in his possession another amazing artifact. He also agreed in principal for the artifact to be exhibited.

One of the amazing artifacts is a strand of hair said to be from Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the public will be able to see that the strand of hair has no shadow.

"The hair will be displayed alongside the hair of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jailani, another Muslim scholar and saint. The hair of Sheikh Abdul Qadir will cast a shadow.

"This display will clearly demonstrate the fact that Prophet Muhammad is 'Nur' or light. Light will pass through light thus casting no shadow," said the State Mufti.

Other interesting artifacts to be displayed include the head gear or serban, walking stick, slippers and foot prints of Prophet Muhammad SAW; a sword belonging to Saidina Ali (RA), the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad SAW; a serban belonging to Saidina Hassan (RA), a grandson of Prophet Muhammad SAW and a tasbih belonging to the saint and Muslim scholar, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jailani.

"These artifacts shall be displayed in a special corner at the collection gallery of His Majesty with the consent of His Majesty. The gallery is still under construction by the Ministry of Development," said Pehin Dato Paduka Ustaz Hj Awg Abdul Aziz.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin