BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Strategic cooperation between Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and Al-Azhar University can transform UNISSA into a hub or the Research Centre for Mazhab Shafi’e that is not only a reference facility for regional but international scholars as well, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in a titah recommends that the centre does not limit itself to research on Mazhab Shafi’e, but also other schools of thought.
This way, His Majesty stressed, the centre will have a wide vision and can play a pivotal role in preventing the spread of teachings that contradict the teachings of the Mazhab of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah. His Majesty made the titah at the 4th Convocation of UNISSA at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of UNISSA.
On arrival, His Majesty, as Chancellor of UNISSA, and His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Pro-Chancellor of UNISSA were greeted by the Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Awg Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, and the Rector of UNISSA, Dr. Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal.
At the Plenary Hall, the Reading of Surah Al-Fatihah was led by the State Mufti, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Dr. Ustaz Haji Awg Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
The ceremony began with His Majesty’s Procession led by the bearing of His Majesty’s Personal Mushaf as the Mace of the Haflut Takharruj ceremony.
Al-Quran recital was presented by a Bachelor of Science Degree graduand in Islamic Finance, Awg Zulhilmi bin Rosman. There was also the reading of Al-Hadith by Awg Zulhilmi bin Rosman, a graduand of the Shari’ah Bachelor Degree Programme in Fiqh and Judiciary.
The Rector of UNISSA in his welcoming address, spoke of among other things, UNISSA’s development, including its success in producing the first graduates of its Business and Science Management Faculty.
In the titah, His Majesty highlights the convocation as recording significant history with the awarding of its first Dr. of Philosophy degree or PhD to a local Bruneian. His Majesty hopes the awarding of the PhD will motivate other Bruneians to emulate the achievement.
His Majesty then consents to deliver the titah to award Dr.ates, Degrees, as well as Postgraduate Diplomas and diplomas to the graduates. This was followed by the Takbir, “Allahu Akhbar’, three times.
One hundred fifteen graduates were awarded Dr.ates, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees and diplomas in various disciplines. The UNISSA Convocation this year recorded significant history when two out of its five Dr. of Philosophy or PhD recipients are Bruneians, who are also the first locals to be awarded the Dr.ates by UNISSA since it was formed seven years ago.
They are Pengiran Haji Badaruddin bin Pengiran Abdul Rahman who majored in Shariiah and Law; and Pengiran Hajah Salmiah binti Pengiran Haji Shahbudin who received the Dr. of Philosophy in Arabic Language and Islamic Civilisation from Brunei Darussalam.
24 graduates received Master’s Degree, 58 received Bachelor’s Degree and 18 were awarded Diplomas in Shari’ah Law, 4 received the Postgraduate Diploma, and 6 received Higher National Diploma in ‘Dirasat Islamiyyah’.
In empowering cooperation in research at the international level, UNISSA is actively planning several Islam related research activities with the cooperation of Al-Azhar University, covering various disciplines, including a manuscript study. The result of the study will be translated into Malay and English for the benefit of the general public, and simultaneously making the country in general and the UNISSA the centre for the propagation of Islamic Knowledge in Mazhab Shafi’e of the Ahli Sunnah Waljama’ah.
To bless the ceremony, a Thanksgiving supplication was recited by the State Mufti. As an institution of Islamic learning, UNISSA continuously contributes to the community through academic and non-academic programmes organised solely to produce learned Muslims who also have respectable personalities as heirs to glorify and develop this blessed country of Brunei Darussalam.