Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu`izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussilam highlighted the importance of agidah, or faith, in producing a society that is progressive, productive and blessed by Allah SWT.
In a titah to open the Knowledge Convention 2007 yesterday, in conjunction with His Majesty`s 61st birthday, the ruler advised that faith could provide guidance toward working with sincerity, diligence and efficiency, to generate good results and raise productivity.
His Majesty warned that activities conflicting with aqidah, such as theft and alcohol and drug intake, can lead to large-scale ruin and loss. "We need to understand that the issue of faith is an everlasting one. Activities which clash with aqidah are now the norm, but people are not aware that they can bring about ruin and loss,"
Such transgressions indicate that the doers` faith is flawed, and their belief in Allah SWT incomplete. "if their faith had been absolute, then they would not have committed acts that are considered wrong and restricted by Allah SWT."
His Majesty said that Brunei enjoys sufficient facilities to strengthen the aqidah.
"We have agencies, schemes and programmes along with the accompanying infrastructure. All these - can act as mechanisms to create people whose faith is complete, who will be able to lead us to enjoy long lasting peace," he said.
"The only thing that needs to be done is to review these mechanisms and to revise the paradigms, so that society`s goals of security, development and progress can be truly achieved."
The existence of community faith is not fictional or backwards. An ardent society builds rather than disrupts or destroys national development.
"Indeed, faith provides motivation and support for continued progress and perfection," he said.
The ruler was also pleased to attend this year`s convention, which continues to receive public support and interest. It is hoped that the annual event will continue to have perpetually fresh agendas. His Majesty also remarked that this year`s theme, Aqidah Kukuh Membawa Berkat (loosely translated as "strong faith invites blessings"), is an invitation to live faithfully and morally upright.
Source: www.brudirect.com (25 Juli 2007)
