His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, in a sabda last night reminded the ummah on the everlasting relevance of the contents of al-Quran, and its importance in establishing Brunei as a "Zikir Nation", which ensures in promoting the development of ideal human resources encompassing emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects.

These ideal human resources, the Crown Prince said, are pivotal in developing a dynamic and progressive statehood and nation.

The Crown Prince said the teachings from the Quran, which are 'Syumul' or holistic, are eternal in terms of their relevance throughout the ages.

Its most immense greatness is the miracle it brings to view, as well as proving its legitimacy and sanctity, in line with the current level of human knowledge and understanding, the Crown Prince said.

His Royal Highness delivered the sabda during the opening night of the National Al-Quran Recitation for Adults Finals 1433H/2012M last evening at the International Convention Centre in Berakas. The finals are held for three nights and will end on Friday.

His Royal Highness said that in this day and age, the interpretation of the Quran is available in various languages and easy to be acquired and accessed in various print and digital forms.

"Thus, there is no reason and excuse for us not to gain as much of its content and 'Hikmah' (hidden blessings) as we can in great detail so that we can garner as much 'Manfaat' (benefits) from this holy book.

"This includes the inculcation of ideal personality traits such as devotion, piety, courteousness, knowledge, ethics and dedication in doing good and righteous things."

The Crown Prince reminded that all these can only be achieved after a person can identify who he or she is, as well as the secrets of his or her creator, guided by the Quran and the Sunnah.

"A person's success depends on his grasp to learn, be devoted to and practise the teachings in the Quran," His Royal Highness said.

"This direction runs parallel to our aspiration to establish a 'Zikir Nation', which will be based on ideal human resource asset in terms of emotion, spirit and intellect," His Royal Highness said.

"However to achieve it, we must all work hard," the Crown Prince added.

"Surely, Allah the Almighty will not change the fate of certain race until they change it on their own," the Crown Prince said quoting Firman Allah in Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 11.

His Royal Highness said the community that carries on with its life based on the teachings of the Quran will always receive blessing from Allah the Almighty. This includes the capability of the Quran to provide therapeutic benefits to a person.

An ideal personality in terms of "Akhlak" or moral is capable of developing a community and nation that is always dynamic and progressive, His Royal Highness said.

It can fulfil the nation's agenda to develop the country based on the characteristics of Islamic civilisation incorporating the nation's administrative system following the principles of Syura, equality in social system, as well as fair trade and economic system, His Royal Highness stated.

"Clearly this is proven with the birth of many Islamic academia in the fields of science, mathematics and astronomy during the great era of Islamic civilisation in the past," the Crown Prince stated.

With that, His Royal Highness re-emphasised that the balancing point between the development agenda guided by the Quran and the Sunnah will always stay relevant for those inclined towards religion, family and community leading towards the nation's prosperity as "Baldatun Tayyibatun Warabbun Ghafour" envisioned by His Majesty the Sultan in a titah during the first day of the 8th State Legislative Council Meeting.

In this connection, the Crown Prince said, it has become the responsibility of all Muslims to harness development in info-communication technology, as well as skills and expertise of the Muslim people in various fields of interests. This includes working together in developing each other's capability to face the era of globalisation, such as by utilising the Halal industry and Islamic finance that have become widely accepted today.

His Royal Highness said these achievements can benefit the image of Islam as a universal religion promoting brotherhood, peace, progression as well as dynamism for the benefit of humankind. - Borneo Bulletin (2 May 2012)