Azlan Othman
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam invites the Muslim Ummah to continue enlivening the country with Selawat, as the monarch sees the impact of reciting Selawat is still relevant and in fact important with the world still facing various trials and challenges.
His Majesty likens the glorification of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Maulud celebration as a manifestation of love for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), even though the Muslim Ummah has never met the Prophet (pbuh).
In a titah delivered last night over Radio Television Brunei (RTB) to mark the Maulidur Rasul celebration for 1444 Hijrah, the monarch said one of the significant practices in the Brunei community when ushering the month of Rabiulawal is the gathering to recite Dikir for 12 consecutive nights.
The monarch hoped that the sustainability of this Dikir will remain as an identity of the nation and will let us gain Syafa’at from the Prophet (pbuh).
Speaking on Syafa’at, the monarch said, as Muslims, we seek Syafa’at from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) especially in the days of hereafter. Hence it is our biggest hope to be loved by the Prophet (pbuh) so that it is easy to get Syafa’at through intensifying our Selawat.
The monarch also believes reciting Surah Yaasiin, performing Selawat and supplication through Munajat has brought us countless blessings from Allah the Almighty that are hard to come by in other countries.
In efforts to heighten the teachings and religious knowledge in the Sultanate, His Majesty takes note that the Islamic Da’wah Centre is currently updating training programmes for Da’ie (religious preachers) through the Tarbiyah (development and training) scheme.
His Majesty also expressed confidence that the Tarbiyah scheme would enable local Da’ie to equip themselves with various skills so as to be able to be on par with Da’ie from abroad.
Such aspiration should be maintained until we can really achieve it, His Majesty said.
