| Wani Roslan |
THE ‘Seminar on Understanding of Faith and Current Thinking 2018’ (SEKAPES 2018) was officially launched at the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) yesterday, in a ceremony officiated by the Minister of Religious Affairs. Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
In a speech delivered at the launching of the seminar, the minister said that the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Centre of Research and Understanding at KUPU SB is qualified to conduct further research studies on Islam in Brunei.
“Any methodology used in research studies – whether descriptive, analytical or synthesised – should be consistent with the purpose of developing, empowering and maintaining the understanding and position of Islam based on Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, both in this country and in the Southeast Asian region,” he said.
The minister also suggested that the current scope of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Centre of Research and Understanding should be focussed on aspects of the Bruneian identity as adherents of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, according to the Mazhab Shafi’e.
“The importance of expanding the scope of research is to see that Brunei remains a country steeped in Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) – an independent, sovereign and self-governing country, based on the Islamic teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah,” he said.
Under the theme ‘The Creed of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah as a Basis for National Wellbeing’, the seminar aims to strengthen further understanding on Aqidah (faith) among Muslims; address current beliefs and perspectives that are opposed to the principles of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah; and identify issues and challenges in education, while promoting the learning of Aqidah through scientific work.
The two-day discussions opened with a presentation of the first main working paper on ‘The Archipelago’s Methodology Approach in Managing Liberalism and Religious Extremism within the Framework of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah,’ by Major (K) Associate Professor Dr Mohd Mizan bin Mohd Aslam, Rector of the Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis.
SEKAPES 2018 will also highlight main papers from selected scholars such as Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin, Deputy State Mufti and Professor Emeritus Dato Dr Sayyed Muhammad Aqiel bin Ali Al-Mahdaly, the Academic Advisor at the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).
Also in attendance were Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA); Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Rector of UNISSA; Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB); Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar, Acting Ra’es of KUPU SB; Roslan bin Haji Taja’ah, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administrative and Financial Affairs) at the MoRA; and Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA.
The post Aqidah seminar opens at KUPU SB appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.