Rokiah Mahmud
In an effort to enhance professionalism among lecturers and students while at the same time providing an opportunity to generate ideas, share experience and skills with local and foreign experts, an International Multaqa Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah webinar 2022 was held yesterday.
The webinar also aimed to invigorate a culture of knowledge production through sharing and discussion, while at the same time, forging networks and relations among educators and foreign institutions.
The webinar highlighted Islamic education experts – both local and foreign – while discussing current issues related to faith and deviant teachings, and its impact on Islamic education locally and internationally. In doing so, benefits could be gained with knowledge integration.
The launch of the International Multaqa Ulamak Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah 2022 was officiated by Deputy President of Malaysian Ulama’ Association Dato Wan Mohamad bin Sheikh Abdul Aziz.
Meanwhile, during the knowledge sharing session, State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned presented his paper entitled ‘Dangers of the Musyabbihah of the New Millennium and the Modern Khawarij: The Role of Muftis and ‘Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Scholars in Facing the Takfiri Group’.
The State Mufti shared that Brunei Darussalam so far has yet to encounter or deal with threats that come from the extremists and religious deviants such as the Khawarij and Musyabbihah.
He noted that several factors have enabled Brunei Darussalam to avoid such threats, for example Islam as the official religion in the country according to Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah following Mazhab Shafi’e which has been enshrined in the constitution.
This, he explained, acted as the country’s shield in repelling threats coming from the extremists and trouble makers that aim to pollute the faith. He went on to say that it also applies to all aspects including administration, law, da’wah, and education.
“In the field of law enforcement, the government has enforced regulations in controlling the entry of books that considered to have deviant content and contradictory to the teaching of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.”
Meanwhile in the aspect of da’wah, a committee has been set up to serve as a platform to give permission and accreditation to individuals who want to deliver religious talks in the country.
At the same time, the government also established centres including the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Understanding Centre and the Mazhab Shafi’e Research Centre. All these, the State Mufti added, aimed to expand knowledge and strengthen understanding and Aqidah in which all these centres were put under the administration of higher learning institutions in the country.
Meanwhile, the afternoon session witnessed presentation of Knowledge and Current Aqidah Issues. The webinar was organised by Institute of Teacher’s Education Malay Campus in collaboration with the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) and Malaysia Ulama’ Association.
