PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah said it will be unfortunate for a country when its leaders choose to act impulsively, react emotionally, and proceed recklessly based on personal feelings and emotional influences.
His Royal Highness said leaders who make hasty decisions without careful thought and prioritise short-term interests will ultimately cause harm, the consequences of which must later be borne at great cost by innocent citizens.
"The calmness, openness, and cautiousness of leaders in making decisions based on well-informed judgments are crucial," Sultan Nazrin stated during the national-level Maal Hijrah 1448 Celebration held at the Putra Mosque here on Wednesday (June 17).
Also in attendance were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.
Themed "Madani Dihayati, Ummah Diberkati”, this year's national-level Maal Hijrah celebration drew about 5,000 attendees.
Sultan Nazrin emphasised that every leader should learn from the Hijrah event, which demonstrated the importance of strategic planning.
He pointed to the example of Prophet Muhammad appointing Abdullah bin Uraiqit, who was not a Muslim at the time, as a guide due to his trustworthiness, knowledge of desert routes, and reliability.
"This story serves as an example that Islam recognises a person's expertise, integrity, and trustworthiness without prejudice towards their religious background, provided they do not harm Muslims," said the Sultan.
Sultan Nazrin further emphasised that a great nation is not one that merely takes pride in past achievements, but one that draws lessons from them to build a brighter and more glorious future.
He said sacrifice has been the fundamental factor behind every great success, the readiness to leave behind comfort, endure hardship, and face difficulties in pursuit of a nobler objective.
"Struggle becomes meaningless without sacrifice. Sacrifice is not merely accepting the loss of something we cherish, but the willingness to place a greater interest above personal interest. Sacrifice demands courage, perseverance, and sincerity, said the Ruler.
Sultan Nazrin expressed concern over the diminishing spirit of sacrifice within the ummah, noting that this vital quality is becoming increasingly rare and, at times, merely rhetorical.
"The Muslim community must be made to understand the value of sacrifice, be instilled with the spirit of willingness to sacrifice, and make sacrifice a way of life, for the continuity of the nation in facing the increasingly challenging storms and waves of the world," he said.
The Sultan of Perak also highlighted the importance of unity, drawing inspiration from the Medina Charter, which successfully united people of diverse races and religions through tolerance and just, wise leadership.
The Ruler emphasised that unity and cooperation, combined with just and wise governance, are fundamental strengths in advancing Islamic civilisation.
"Clearly, the success of a nation depends greatly on the willingness of its people to cooperate, respect one another, and live harmoniously despite differences in ethnicity, culture, and religion, while being under the stewardship of a just and wise government," said the Sultan.
His Royal Highness also reminded Muslims that the celebration of Maal Hijrah is not merely to commemorate a new date in the calendar, nor is it simply nostalgia for an event that occurred more than fourteen centuries ago.
"Rather, the celebration of Maal Hijrah should serve as a moment for self-reflection, reviewing past mistakes with the intention of awakening awareness and reminding humanity of its heedlessness at a time when people risk becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the tides of worldly life," said the Sultan. - Bernama
