BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – As the country welcomed Maulidur Rasul on Friday evening, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah urged Muslims to emulate the Prophet Muhammad’s “exemplary leadership”.

In a titah broadcast on Radio Televisyen Brunei to mark the Islamic holiday, he cited a hadith where Prophet Muhammad reminded Muslims that “the perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbours hungry”.

“The strong should help the weak and the rich should help those who are less fortunate,” the sultan added. “These are the pillars of life in Islam and its leadership.”

“Our intention for development is for the people and country, to care for the people and to build this country. This is the teaching of our religion.”

He went on to speak about Muslims who chose “leadership from those outside of Islam”.

They are engaged in many things that contradict Islam and this situation can invite many evils in the world, as well as hardship in the hereafter, he said.

The monarch added that Brunei owed its stability and prosperity to Islamic leadership.

“All the people are seen to be happy and united without any fights or strife. Everyone is seen to have a strong passion for maintaining peace and harmony.”

Maulidur Rasul is celebrated nationwide on Saturday to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

A procession of 13,000 people will take place at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien on Saturday morning, while smaller scale processions will also take place in the Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.