Hakim Hayat
Performing prayers will shield us from any forms of adversity while Zakat or tithe ensures the purity of our assets, 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 said in a titah last night.
In the titah broadcast on national television and radio from Istana Nurul Iman to mark the Israk Mikraj for 1442 Hijrah, His Majesty praised Allah the Almighty for the abundances of peace, harmony and health that we all can reap. “We all should be thankful because we are still capable of performing pious deeds because of the continuous protection from Allah the Almighty,” His Majesty said.
His Majesty said that primary of all pious deeds is the five pillars of Islam that is compulsory for all Muslims, the five times daily prayers, which is the mainstay for Islam and its pillar, according to the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
His Majesty added that there are tens of verses in Al-Quran on the prayers, and among them is Verse 277 Surah Al-Baqarah that translates to, “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give Zakat will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
The monarch brought attention to both pillars of Islam of the prayer and Zakat which is not separated by Allah the Almighty, because the prayer is evidence of the relationship between a servant and God, while Zakat is a symbol of existence of the bond of responsibility among fellow human beings.
“It can be summarised that the command to perform the prayer and issuing the Zakat holds secret goodness for all, where with the prayers we are shielding ourselves from the evil in the world while by issuing the Zakat, it will purify our property by the means of fulfilling the rights of the Zakat beneficiaries,” added His Majesty.
His Majesty reminded that the wealth we have, does not belong to us entirely, rather there are parts that belong to the Asnaf or beneficiaries of Zakat. “If we understand the wisdom or secret of these two pillars, we are bound to perform them, because of the blessing that can both be attained in this world and the hereafter.”
His Majesty said the blessing for those who pray is serenity and protection while for those who issue the Zakat, they are promised proliferation of wealth, and it will not diminish and in the hereafter, it will be rewarded with heaven by Allah the Almighty.
“It is a general prerequisite that to attain heaven is through obedience to Allah the Almighty and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), where among the features of this is performing the prayers and issuing Zakat, while also not forsaking other dutiful deeds.”
His Majesty added that those in this sphere will attain the promise of Allah the Almighty, citing the Firman in Surah An-Nisa Verse 13 which translates to, “Whoever obeys Allah the Almighty and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens (in Paradise) under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.”
His Majesty believes that Muslims in the country are well-versed with the obedience concept and are implementing it in their daily lives. “This is why Allah the Almighty has revealed some consequence of this, which is through the blessing of peace, prosperity and security, including this extraordinary situation where as if our country is truly free from the transmission of the coronavirus pandemic, although people out there are continuously still struggling to combat it.
“Is this not possible that it is one form of protection of Allah the Almighty on us?,” His Majesty rhetorically asked, because His Majesty said that we have fulfilled our duty of prayers, Zakat, fasting, reciting Al-Quran, reciting the Zikir and continuously making supplications.
In concluding the titah, His Majesty prayed that these blessings upon Brunei will be eternal.