Rokiah Mahmud
The Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) through the Fiqh Al-Usrah Research Centre held an International Seminar on Fiqh Al-Usrah 2022 (MUAFIQ 22) themed ‘Religious Education as the Core of a Perfect and Happy Family’.
The State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned delivered a paper on ‘The Importance of Fiqh Al-Usrah in Leading the Family’.
He said fiqh is defined as matters related to Islamic laws while al-Usrah meant family or family members. Taken together, fiqh al-usrah means that the laws of Islam must be practiced in family life, he said.
He said ‘family’ is as an institution determining the future of its generations. He likened it to a nation – where if the land is fertile, all will be well – or it could be the other way around.
He said the basis of establishing a household that follows the tenets of Islam and receive blessings from Allah the Almighty is knowledge.
“Without Knowledge it is impossible to achieve. Because of that, the concept of learning must be established in a household,” said the state mufti.
The seminar was held in conjunction with the 2022 National Family Day celebration as well to run concurrently with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2022 (Brunei MYCE 2022).
Director of Fiqh Al-Usrah Research Centre, Hilman bin Haji Salim said family education is important in shaping the character of children, and said it determines the strength of religion as well as the harmony of a nation.
MUAFIQ 22 saw international experts present papers.
Deputy Dean of HEPA from the Faculty of Human Development at Sultan Idris Education University in Malaysia Dr Md Noor bin Saper presented a paper on ‘Pendekatan Syar’ie untuk Keharmonian Rumahtangga’.
Meanwhile, Pengasuh Pesantren Tahfizh Al-Quran Az-Zahra Riau Indonesia Professor Dr H Abdul Somad Batubara presented on ‘Religious Education in Family’.
Online presentations were also held in parallel during the event.
The seminar aimed to identify issues and challenges in family life and achieve long and short term solutions in heading towards a harmonious and happy family unit. The seminar also hoped to provide exposure on the importance of Islamic values in a Muslim family.
