Brunei Darul Hudud

Brunei Darul Hudud

Assalamu ‘Alaikum,

Actually the proposed new name for this blessed nation is Brunei Darul Dzikr in line with the aspirations of a truly inspired King. Consummate obedience to Allah the Almighty is the only way to describe the outstanding bold decision of the Sultan of Brunei to insist his nation be govern by the laws of Allah swt true to the demands of the Quran.

Surah AlMaidah Ayah 48 translates :

“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.”

Only an obedient leader will implement the command of Allah swt without question. Only leaders of the Jahl variety will question the wisdom of their Maker. Man is afraid of wild animals, Man is afraid of the tiny mosquito, Man is afraid of other Men;  it is truly amazing that Man is not afraid of their own Maker and have the audacity to question His wisdom.

Again and again I find myself back in this nation. What is it about this nation that keeps bringing me back to it? Praise be to Allah, today I have in sya Allah, sown the seed of an economic thought that I pray will germinate to a strong benevolent wind that will sweep away the evil of riba that has so engulfed this world of Man such as falsehood has become truth and truth lost in the unthinking innocence of Man. Guide us dear God from the ravages of evil given illegitimate life by the too long passage of time where Man heeds not Your warnings. Many still do not hear You and still sees not the old evil, and its sometimes cunning and devilish disguise in newer clothes.

I reminded the august Hall the day earlier in the Brunei Islamic Banking Conference session I moderated, that when Prime Minister David Cameron of the UK said he wants London to be the next centre of Islamic Finance, there is actually a message to the international Islamic finance industry. The message comes in the form of a question heard only by those who digest and understand. Those who read, digest and understand that the conventional international financial system is on the verge of collapse and Islamic Finance is being asked as to whether it is ready to be the alternative. And the truth is Islamic Finance is hardly an alternative if it is merely a shade different from the system it is asked to replace. It has to transform into something truly different and transform into its true self, unhindered and unfettered by cowardice, unthinking positions, and expediency dictated by forces who holds no love for the ambitions of the Mukmin. Only when the Wall Street Islamic Financiers, sees themselves and desires to transform themselves into the Mujahideen of old will we see the difference.

Will this ever happen?

What is it about Jolly Bean the food chain indigenous to Brunei that captures the imagination of the kids? But then they have always defined foreign cities by the food they loved. To mum and dad what we have noticed is that although prices have not changed in the local currency it has increased a lot in terms of Malaysian currency!

In more ways than one we have lessons to learn from this brave nation. May the blessings of Allah be showered on Brunei Darul Hudud.

Zahid,

Class of ’72 Sulaiman House