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Brunei Sultan Says Good Muslims Do Not Kill or Steal
JAKARTA, Oct 16 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A good Muslim should not kill or cause suffering to others, neither should he steal, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, said on Monday while speaking on a key religious occasion, the
Mehraj, or Day of Enlightenment.
"Those who have strong faith in Allah, the Almighty, would not steal nor kill others, neither would they cause suffering to others," observed the ruler.
He said those with faith in Allah, the Almighty, would not take what is not his, or take another life; what is more, would not cause harm and discomfort to others as long as such strong faith remains intact in oneself.
He urged Muslims to consistently fortify their faith in God, as the maintenance of such strong faith is crucial for the peace and tranquility of the Brunei nation.
"To have strong faith in Allah, the Almighty, is not only important, but also crucial for the happiness of oneself, as well as for the rest of the mankind," he said.
The ruler spoke in conjunction with current global events, including the attacks on the U.S. on September 11th, and the current onslaught on the Afghans by U.S. military forces.
In another speech last week, the ruler said he sympathized with the victims of the U.S., the bombardment of Afghanistan, as well as with the refugees on the borders of Pakistan and Iran.
Brunei is nearly 100% Muslim. It has strict laws preventing Muslims from changing their faith, and is home to more than half a million Brunei citizens. The country is also rich in oil.
The leader of the country urged Muslims to have strong faith in Allah in order to be shielded from the influence of negative elements.
He also said Muslims should learn from the Mehraj event, when the Prophet of Islam (SAW) made his night journey to Jerusalem, thousands of miles away from Mecca in just a single night, while at the same time ascended to the seventh heaven.
The King said some of the ways and means to ensure a stable level of faith are to constantly and consistently remember Allah through
zikir (prayer), fortifying one's religious knowledge through learning, and being always in the company of pious people.
"Inshallah [God-willing], by doing this, it would be easy for us to strive to fortify our faith and to be good and to do good for the sake of Allah.
Inshallah our nation will remain peaceful and tranquil and free from all kinds of social diseases," concluded the ruler.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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