| Azlan Othman |
ALL generations of Bruneians must be thankful to Allah the Almighty and must not forget that the Sultanate has survived many challenges in its history towards achieving independence in 1984, said the Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, in his premier lecture titled ‘Allah Selamatkan Brunei Darussalam’.
Also present at the lecture, held at the 32nd National Day gathering of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday, was the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud.
According to the minister, our beloved nation overcame at least three important challenges in its history such as surviving the Spanish conquest in 1578; surviving British colonisation in 1946 and remaining as a country with sovereignty and democracy based on the teachings of Islam according to Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah, fairness, trust and freedom.
The minister also explained the significance of the formal prayer ‘Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam’ and the lyrics of the national anthem ‘Allah Peliharakan Sultan’ in the hopes that the official prayers have the effect of creating and maintaining the Sultanate’s prosperity with fair governance and loyalty, where the ruler and the people are united in solidarity.
The minister added that the formal prayer plays the same role to impress the robustness of Brunei as a monarchy and is appropriate for such to be recited in mosques, suraus and in any events either formal or non-formal. Similarly, the national anthem also needs to be sung properly, especially in schools, saying that with this we can remember Allah the Almighty, the government and the people.
The Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Bada-ruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, during his speech. – AZROL AZMI
This is a nation that does not forget Allah the Almighty and is timely that the Sultanate is aiming to be a Zikir Nation.
Earlier, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Haji Harun bin Haji Junid, as the Deputy Joint Chairman of the gathering in his welcoming remarks said that the aim of the event was to stimulate the spirit of improving the quality of services in the field of religion to strengthen unity among the people in upholding the leadership of the king, the monarchy and his wish to create a Zikir Nation which supports Islamic teachings.
The event was also held to foster closer ties amongst the workforce of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and in glorifying the National Day celebration.
About 2,000 personnel of the Ministry of Religious Affairs participated in the gathering and heard the premier talk with high hopes that it can boost the morale of all staff of the ministry and to instil patriotism in our beloved country to achieve the goals as a Zikir Nation and ‘Baldatun Thoyyibatun wa rabbun ghafur’ (a state of prosperity, safe, tranquil and full of Allah the Almighty’s forgiveness).
The gathering was also highlighted with the singing of the national anthem of Brunei Darussalam, recitation of Ratib Al-Attas, followed by the Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam.
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