Deputy Minister Of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Badaruddin Delivering The Sermon.

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bruneians have been called on to support the national aspirations of an independent and sovereign nation.

In a sermon delivered by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman during the Aidil Adha (Celebration of Sacrifice) prayers yesterday, whatever the situation, citizens of Brunei are obliged to defend the interests of the country as laid out in the country's Declaration of Independence.

'As outlined in the proclamation of independence, we will work tirelessly for peace and safety, welfare and happiness of the people," he said.

In delivering the sermon, he went on to stress that "at the same time, international and diplomatic ties are to be preserved on the basis of mutual respect of independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity between countries free from foreign intervention." "This is our national aspiration as an independent and sovereign nation," he read, adding that placing great emphasis on the national interest must be strengthened and achieved in its entirety.

"This will be further bolstered by basing the underlying principles of Syariah agama Allah (God's law), which holds five main objectives," he added.

The five principles are the preservation of religion; life; ability to think and reason; preserving one's lineage and property. "These are all covered in our national primary objecfive and achieving it through governing agencies and structure."

In a response to a recent report about Brunei and the freedom to practise other religious beliefs, the sermon drew attention to the country's Constitution, which defends the right to practice religions other than Islam in Brunei.

While the sermon acknowledged that Brunei has a strict policy regarding the spread of other religions, it also said, "Brunei has justification in doing so. Firstly, it wants to strengthen its Islamic faith and, secondly, it has prohibited the spread and propagation of other faiths since 1578."

The specific reference to 1578 was to the Castille War, in which Brunei fought for its sovereignty and Islamic faith against Spanish invaders who intended to colonise the Sultanate. The sermon said that efforts to sway Brunei from Islam took place almost 500 years ago, and that those efforts were not instigated by the non-Muslim citizens and residents of the country.

The sermon also highlighted that Islam became the religion of the country after it had been accepted and practised by the nation's rulers and the majority of its people for hundreds of years "It is not new, not one or two generations, not one or two decades, but centuries," read the sermon.

The sermon underlined that for more than 500 years, Islam has been practised by Bruneians and its residents, all the while respected by those who do not observe Islam but also live in Brunei. "Within those 500 years of rule under a Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), the citizens of Brunei and its residents, both Muslim and non-Muslims, lived in peace and harmony, respectfully understanding (each other) until the present day," the sermon added. The sermon also urged Bruneians to inculcate the youth with Islamic akidah (beliefs) and Syari'ah (Islamic law). In particular, the sermon made reference to His Majesty's titah during his visit to Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali earlier this month, when His Majesty stated that without religion, Brunei is akin to not having flesh and blood, and without Islam, Brunei is akin to not wearing clothes.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment