The Persidangan Antarabangsa Manuskrip Islam which will discuss the Khazanah Ummah and the heritage of Islamic civilization is undoubtedly a valuable platform of knowledge, as it relates to the turath or legacy of Islamic knowledge and civilization that has been under-studied and still receives limited research to this day.
Islamic manuscripts are not merely collections of old writings; they are intellectual treasures that serve as evidence of the glory of civilization and the excellence of Islamic culture in various fields and disciplines such as science, philosophy, politics, international relations, medicine, technology, arts, education, history, culture, and literature. Manuscripts are a heritage that must be preserved because the knowledge and information contained within them connect the history and civilization of the past, present, and future of the Muslim community, serving as guidance for future generations. This was highlighted by the Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib during his speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Persidangan Antarabangsa Manuskrip Islam held at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB).
According to Yang Berhormat, preserving, safeguarding, and studying these manuscripts, as well as uncovering and disseminating the hidden knowledge within them, is not only a cultural responsibility but also a civilizational mandate that must be passed on to future generations as an effort to revive the identity and glorious history of the Muslim ummah. “Such efforts are crucial because the Muslim scholars and intellectuals made significant contributions to Islam through the scholarly works they authored,” he explained. In this regard, Yang Berhormat emphasized that we need to have a forward-looking perspective regarding the role of cultural agencies as well as educational and academic institutions, which should have the responsibility to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of this intellectual heritage and to foster interest among the current younger generation.
An equally important effort, Yang Berhormat explained, is the digitization of collection materials, particularly manuscript copies. This not only ensures the integrity and preservation of original manuscripts but also opens access to researchers and scholars wherever they may be, regardless of borders or limitations, ensuring that these manuscripts remain accessible and beneficial for generations to come. Before concluding his speech, Yang Berhormat also warmly welcomed the presence of guests, experts, researchers, and participants to support the success of the conference in the noble endeavor to elevate Islamic manuscripts, while praying that the conference would be successful and produce constructive recommendations for the benefit of Muslims and humanity at large.
Touching on the role of Muslim scholars and intellectuals, Yang Berhormat reminded us of the historical function of Baitul Hikmah during the Golden Age of Islam as a center for knowledge dissemination, a meeting place for scholars, a research and discussion hub, a translation center, a research institute, and a publishing house for scholarly works. Yang Berhormat stressed that, in today’s world context, such a role should rightly be played by knowledge heritage centers like BKISHHB, in collective cooperation with local higher education institutions and research centers abroad.
Yang Berhormat added that this aligns with the forward-looking vision of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who during the Majlis Ilmu 2019 urged hopes for “Balai Khazanah Islam to truly become a center of Islamic knowledge heritage, capable of revitalizing a culture of knowledge through scholarly activities.” Yang Berhormat expressed happiness to know that BKISHHB, as a center of Islamic knowledge heritage, is actively organizing various scholarly activities, including conferences, symposiums, workshops, and training programs, especially in collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, and Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan. Through such scholarly events, he said, not only can the heritage of Islamic knowledge be sustained, but also the important role and contributions of Muslim scholars during the Golden Age can be highlighted and showcased in building world civilization and human civilization universally.
