BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: It is crucial for every Muslim to uphold the purity of the Islamic belief to avoid deviations, especially those concerning the teachings based on Aqidah Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, which is the foothold of Brunei Darussalam, Borneo Bulletin reported.
Mistakes over the understanding of a religious issue and questioning its validity without first referring to religious officers or authorities, but instead referring it to the print and electronic media (for example, Internet, Facebook, etc) could create confusion, uneasiness and conflict among the public. This is especially so if such issues are read or followed by the public.
According to the Brunei Darussalam Islamic Religious Council (MUIB), this was what Pg Hj Abdul Rahman bin Pg Hj Omar had stirred up.
But praise to Allah the Almighty and with the guidance from Allah the Almighty and with the explanation given to local religious authorities by Pg Hj Abdul Rahman with the cooperation of the Internal Security Department, everything has come to pass.
Pg Hj Abdul Rahman made his repentance before the Islamic Dakwah Centre yesterday in the presence of a Syariah Judge and two witnesses.
Also present were the Deputy State Mufti; Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Suhaili bin Hj Mohiddin who is also a member of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council and Syariah Court of Appeal Judge, and the Syariah High Court judge, Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Salim bin Hj Besar, who is also a member of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council.
In his admission, Pg Hj Abdul Rahman said, “I sincerely, with my own willingness and without being forced by anyone, admitted my mistakes and wrongdoings and repent truly for what I’ve written in my article ‘Should we resort to stoning or flogging’ in the Borneo Bulletin dated March 13, 2013, and an article entitled ‘MORA issues’ in my blog, abdulrahmanviewpoint.blogspot.com, dated March 23, 2013, as well as through what I’ve mentioned previously to the public especially in this country, be it through my articles in the newspapers, blog and so on.
“Among others, I’ve said that stoning towards adulterers was never mentioned in any Surah in Al-Quran and that Hadith was created by humans and that there is contradiction between Al-Quran and Hadith on penalty towards adulterers.
“I also questioned the validity of certain Hadiths, which in my point of view, was contradicting as per what was narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim in the Hadiths.
“I also referred to the Internet for my research on stoning as a punishment and emphasised more on the logical thinking on the position of some of the matters in the religion.
“Hence I sincerely admit and realise that all my views and statements on the matters mentioned above were wrong in Siarak Law and that their effects could make me an apostate due to my ignorance of religion.
“I also admitted that my write-ups could probably have created confusion, uneasiness and conflict among the public to dispute the authorities’ resolution on the Syariah Criminal Act and other Syarak Laws, which if it really happens, would certainly affect the country’s security.
“I regret my actions in issuing these wrong opinions and will now stop expressing my views on such matters. I am determined that I will not repeat such mistakes again in the future.
“Praise be to Allah the Almighty for I have realised, admitted and am convinced that stoning punishment towards adulterers is stated in the Islamic law based on Syarak texts.
“I have also realised, admitted and am convinced that Hadith is not a creation of humans, but based on the revelation of Allah the Almighty
“I have also realised, admitted and am convinced that Hadith from Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim are all true and that Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim are venerated narrators of the Hadith.
“I have also realised, admitted and am convinced that the Muslim Ummah should not solely refer to the Internet when conducting research or learning more about Islam.
“I have also realised, admitted and am convinced that I should not prioritise logic laws in considering or thinking about matters relating to Islam.”
Pg Hj Abdul Rahman also sought forgiveness from Allah the Almighty.