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TITAH
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU’IZZADDIN WADDAULAH IBNI
AL-MARHUM SULTAN HAJI OMAR ‘ALI SAIFUDDIEN SA’ADUL KHAIRI WADDIEN,
THE SULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
During the 8th Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition 1439/2017
Assalamu`alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Alhamdulillah Rabbil `Alameen, Wabihiee Nasta’eenu ‘Alaa Umuuriddunya Wadden,
Wassalaatu’ Wassalaamu ‘Ala Asyarafil Mursaleen, Sayyidina Muhammaddin,
Wa`alaa Aalihee Wasahbihee Ajma’een, Waba`du.
First and foremost, I would like to welcome all of the ASEAN youth participants
to the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition 1439 Hijrah/2017.
Especially to the new participants from Timor-Leste, I convey warm greetings and wish you all the best in this field.
I also wish to congratulate the winners of this Competition,
as well as other participants,
who have exhibited the ASEAN spirit of solidarity.
The Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition is indeed
a step to encouraging healthy social activities and interaction amongst the youth.
It can also be defined as a co-operative partnership between governments to foster the generation of youth.
Their meeting in this competition allows intensifications of regional interaction networks amongst the youth community,
that can also contribute to the unity of the ummah as a whole.
The generation of youth is a huge resource of energy for the ASEAN countries.
With their entirety of 211 million,
it makes them capable of shifting the development in their respective countries.
The success to unite the youth’s energy will amplify the strength and endurance of the nation.
My wish to concentre the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition is
to see them acquire the character of the Al-Quran.
The ‘character of the Al-Quran’ here means virtuous according to the mould of the Al-Quran.
This trait is actually expected of in all Muslims.
Through the National Youth Policy, we also emphasize the advancement in knowledge,
as it is the pillar of development. For without it, development would be unfulfilled.
This is also highly significant for the generation of youth.
In order to achieve this, it is necessary for the generation of youth to be technology savvy, obtain technical and vocational,
as well as basic entrepreneurial skills, which is parallel to the requirement for the nation’s development.
I also encourage the generation of youth to partake in the organisations or activities of voluntary basis,
that can nurture a healthy, active and dynamic lifestyle.
This practice will assuredly produce quality leaders.
“Quality” here does not only associate to the exterior,
but more importantly the consideration of actions and abilities.
This is the point where the generation of youth can be valued to be of quality or otherwise.
However, we should always assume that they are of true quality,
as well as being the most invaluable hope of the nation.
The religion of Islam would definitely wish for the ummah to be of quality and enriched with value.
The stem of value expected by Islam is ‘virtuous’.
From this, righteous characteristics, such as being highly pious,
loyal towards ulil amri, devoted towards our nation, honest, sincere and courteous, are generated.
This is the trait Islam expects of us.
May the generation of youth, as well as all of us, be blessed by the Almighty with this noble virtue.
Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamu ’Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
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