Brunei's first group of Islamic healers graduate
By Azaraimy HH

Brunei Darussalam yesterday saw its first group of certified practitioners of Islamic medicine graduate after receiving formal erudition in basic Islamic curative methods.

HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik presented certificates to 162 graduates yesterday in a ceremony held at the Bridex Conventional Hall.

The graduates had undergone a total of 80 hours of learning in a year.

The 162 graduates are members of Darusysyifa' Warrafahah (DSR), an association of practitioners dedicated to healing people of various ailments or sickness, ranging from high-blood pressure to coma, and especially those that are not easily treated by conventional or modern pharmacological medicines, such as hysteria and insomnia, the Bulletin learnt.

One can also seek for their assistance in reciting therapeutic words from the Quran, requesting divine intervention to cure not only sickness but also natural calamities like drought.

One of objectives of DSR is to help the government in the eradication of black magic.

Historically, before the establishment of Darusysyifa' Warrafahah (DSR), a group of 14 people had dedicated their lives to curing people of their diseases and ailments that conventional medicine could not treat such as people affected by black magic etc.

Their number grew to 20, which then led to the creation of an association called the Darusysyifa' Warrafahah. The group of 20 then became DSR pro tem when it was being registered as an association.

From then on, DSR began recruiting more especially through word of mouth and through other platforms including the Internet.

In a short duration of time, DSR received a flood of applicants interested in learning the "Ilmu Ruqiah" - the Islamic medicine.

With a close working relationship with the Malaysian Association of Islamic Medicine and Welfare, six of the DSR pro tem members gained knowledge on how to recruit potential apprentices from a well known teacher, Tuan Guru Dato' Dr Haron Din.

Until early 2009, DSR had 226 members. Currently, another 200 applications are being processed.

Pro tem members were elected to become the administrative committee during the first DSR General Meeting. Since the election, DSR has kick started its programmes.

The first project was the 80-hour DSR basic course. One hundred and sixty five people, who are part of the DSR members, took the course and 162 of them have graduated. Two others did not complete the course, while another member passed away.

DSR has made it compulsory for all its members to take up the basic course in order to take a role and participate in activities organised by it, especially if the member aspires to become a full-fledged healer.

DSR charts its way in accordance with its written policy and objectives of its establishment, which among others are to pool local experts in Islamic medication, strengthen people's confidence in the healing way using Islamic medication, and contribute to the efforts of the government to propagate the Islamic religion as a true religion that touches all aspects of life, in welfare, education, society and medicines etc.

Its objective centres on its aspiration to become a hub for Islamic medicine, a centre for alternative medicine that practises Islamic methods practised by Prophet Muhammad pbuh, to establish local healers that are ready to help Muslims in the country, to become a research centre to unlock the knowledge on curative methods held secret in the holy book, as well as to find medicinal properties in elements and natural sources etc, and also as a 'Dakwah' centre in Islamic medication, and to help the government in eradicating black magic.

Also present at the first ever DSR Graduation ceremony yesterday were YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz, Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil, State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awg Abdul Aziz bin Juned and several other Cabinet Ministers. - Borneo Bulletin (15th February 2010)


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