| 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 described Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a source of enlightenment and progress for mankind, while delivering his titah last evening on Radio Television Brunei (RTB) to mark the Maulidur Rasul for 1440 Hijrah.
His Majesty said, “It is appropriate that the Prophet should be remembered, as the world was in constant darkness until the Prophet’s mission.
“Today, we are still living with the legacy of the Prophet’s mission: the light of Islam and the light of faith.
“The brightness that they provided was not an ordinary one; apart from the cleansing of human nature, they also gave illumination to souls still enveloped in darkness.”
“This darkness was brought about by the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah), which caused so much misery and suffering. But after the coming of Islam through the propagation of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), these evils were immediately replaced with a better and more principled way of life.
“Such is the power of Islam to bring about a favourable outcome. And today, we along with the rest of the global community are still being guided by that outcome. Before the advent of Islam, slavery was commonplace, but it became unacceptable after the arrival of Islam. Similarly, before Islam, indiscriminate killings were common practice, but later they were prohibited.
“Allah the Almighty spoke the truth that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent as a blessing to the universe. Let us be thankful with this blessing, which is also a way of showing our appreciation for the great services of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
“Our appreciation should not be limited to words, but must be backed up with deeds. This means to carry out what was liked by the Prophet, and to refrain from what he disliked.
“If we are able to accomplish these, then it signifies our love for the Prophet and the fulfilment of our obligations towards him.
“This is our primary intention of observing Maulidur Rasul – so that our love for the Prophet may continue to flourish, and that we may never forget his teachings.
“It is the main objective of Tarbiyah, or the Prophet’s systematic method of training, to make those teachings part of our daily lives. We should not repudiate this method of education, because it means to reject what is good for us and to invite disaster.
“We are all encouraged to invite blessings in our homes, among our communities and across the nation.
“Blessings lead to happiness, for without them, happiness would be impossible. This is why we should embrace the Prophet’s Tarbiyah, or method of education, as a prerequisite for acquiring these blessings.
“It pleases me that we have a strong tradition of celebrating major events in the Islamic calendar, including Maulidur Rasul.
“It is my view that these traditions invite blessings, and therefore should be maintained. If necessary, should be improved upon.
“We are doing this to motivate a sense of piety among us. A sense of piety is neither irresolute nor weak, but should be firm and strong. That is why we are encouraged to commemorate major events in the Islamic calendar – to instil more religious awareness, which is crucial for preserving the continuity of the Ummah.
“Finally, I wish all of you a blessed Maulidur Rasul, and that we may all receive divine intervention,” said His Majesty, concluding the titah.