| Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong, Senior Special Duties Officer, Secretariat Office, MIB Supreme Council |
THE International Seminar on Archaeology, History, Language and Culture in the Malay World (ASBAM) organised by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia and the Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), Malaysia was held from July 27 – 29 last year.
Seven members from the Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) headed by its Honorary Secretary Associate Professor Dr Haji Asbol bin Haji Mail and Honorary Assistant Secretary Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong (the writer) went to Lombok on July 26 last year to attend the seminar.
Alhamdulillah, PESEBAR’s participation in the International Seminar on the famous Lombok, the ‘Island of a Thousand Mosques’ (Pulau Seribu Masjid), left an unforgettable historical experience on the PESEBAR delegation. Experiencing the tremors from the 6.4-magnitude earthquake on the second day of the seminar on July 29, 2018 was an unprecedented event for the members.
The vibrations began from dawn until the most powerful at around 7am local time, rattling the hotel building where the participants were staying at during the seminar.
The earthquake resulted in a tremendous loss of life and destruction of property and buildings, especially in East Lombok, but thankfully the PESEBAR group survived. They carried on attending the seminars and visited several historical sites and cultural centres, as well as the Pasayunan Foundation in Central Lombok.
The July 29 incident was part of the destiny laid out by Allah the Almighty, but luckily Allah the Almighty has been protecting our delegation, allowing it to continue its mission for knowledge sharing and information exchange to Bandung from August 1-5, 2018.
In reality, there are actually more than 6,000 mosques on Lombok island.
Alhamdulillah, the intention and purpose of the PESEBAR entourage has been reached for sharing knowledge while exchanging information and strengthening close relationship with the aim of delivering the Bruneian people’s wishes to practise charity.
Two papers were presented by the PESEBAR delegation on the first and second day of the seminar. The first paper presented by the writer was the premier paper presented on the first day before the earthquake and the second was delivered by Associate Professor Dr Haji Asbol.
The paperwork delivered by the writer was titled Sejarah Sumber Pengukuhan Warisan Bangsa (History as Source of Strengthening National Heritage).
In the paper he tried to share information and views on historical importance as a source of strengthening the spirit of nationalism and as the identity of Bruneians which creates a unity of society and statehood in a country of diverse religions, cultures and ethnicities.
Apart from the source of prosperity and the survival of the nation and the traditions of the traditional heritage, the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept should be preserved and maintained to create a prosperous and tranquility of life that is endowed by Allah the Almighty.
Therefore, PESEBAR’s participation in the seminar provided an overview to the outside world of the importance of the heritage of the Brunei-based MIB to maintain prosperity and development among the life of the people to gain the blessings from Allah the Almighty. This is a traditional Brunei heritage that is practised to create the country’s vision known as Baldatun Tayyibatun Wa Rabbun Ghafur.
Two important questions were raised by historians from Indonesia to the first author during the two-day seminar: Firstly, what heritage needs to be owned and practised by the Malay race in the entire Malay Archipelago? Secondly, what is important in the construction of a nation or country’s civilisation?
Brunei’s historical experiences and perspectives, cultural heritage, monarchy and Islamic religion are part of its heritage, the foundations of its prosperity and peace which has been the practice of the Malay Archipelago and now remains only in Brunei Darussalam.
For the construction of human civilisation, we cannot escape the teachings or Islamic civilisation that colours and embraces human life from the time of Prophet Adam AS created by Allah the Almighty to this day. This is in fact the historical significance which is the source or reference base and guidance for the construction of human civilisation with the sole purpose of worshipping Allah the Almighty.
This is the reason why Islamic history is important to be learnt by the present generation, so that the heirs of the nation know and understand the history of human creation and the development of humanity from the time of Prophet Adam AS to modern times today based on Al-Quran and Hadith.
History as a source of knowledge needs to be disseminated and known to all levels of society even in association with the regional and international communities in a challenging globalisation era for the sake of prosperity of social and state life.
This issue has been highlighted by the writer through an emphasis on the importance of Islamic history in strengthening Brunei Darussalam’s status as a Malay State practising Islam as the official religion of the country and the monarchial political system.
This matter has been described in depth over the initial paper presentation for a maximum of 20 minutes. The author explained the importance of the Islamic heritage that is preserved in today’s world of globalisation. And we do not necessarily try to change and eliminate the legacy of tradition that will surely guarantee the happiness and wellbeing of the nation and state life.
Every step of the path of tradition that contradicts the teachings of Islam will receive negative consequences from Allah the Almighty. As 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 mentioned, “…begitulah ibarat kita mengubah warisan yang indah, apatah lagi membuangnya langsung, apakah akan terjadi? Tentu saja akibatnya buruk dan rugi”.
Therefore, tranquility and prosperity that violate the values of religion cannot last long because it is actually empty blessings.
In relation to the importance of history in the building of Islamic civilisation, in March the writer was given the opportunity to visit several historical sites that contributed towards the spread of Islamic civilisation, which began when Islam was introduced by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from 7AD in Makkah and Madinah.
Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd brought a group of 157 Bruneian pilgrims to perform Umrah and gave them the opportunity to visit historical sites in Makkah and Madinah to strengthen and solidify their deference to Allah the Almighty.
The visits showed the Bruneians how important Islamic history was. The opportunity to learn and witness what was left gave the pilgrims a sense of remorse and hint of what it is like to live in the era of jihad and sacrifice by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his loyal followers, to defend and spread Islam to lighten the path when they were in darkness.
Among the places visited included Masjid Quba, Masjid Sayyidatina Siti Aisyah (Ta’naaim) Jabal Thur, Gua Hira, Jabal Uhud, Jabal Rahmah, Mina, Padang Arafah and Kota Thaif (which we believe is the origin of Sultan Sharif Ali, the third Sultan of Brunei).
All the historical heritages are silent proof of the existence of the greatness of Islamic civilisation in the past, remnants of the struggle of the old generation in defending Islam which needs to be known and learnt by the future generations – the descendants of Prophet Adam AS in this world – to please Allah the Almighty.