Episode 3 — Ihsan: The True Performance Indicator

When rules become walls instead of bridges — something sacred is lost.

In our public and corporate life, we’ve all met the “Little Napoleon” — that person who wields rules like weapons and forgets that service is a trust.

In this week’s KopiTalk with MHO, I explore the missing ingredient that restores conscience to power — Ihsan, the spirit of excellence that humanises systems, calms the ego, and fills work with meaning.

When ihsan is missing, zalim quietly takes its place.
But when ihsan leads, even the smallest act becomes worship.

🔸 Episode 3 — “Ihsan: The True Performance Indicator”

#MIBManagement101 #KopiTalkWithMHO #NegaraZikir #Leadership #FaithInAction

☕ KopiTalk with MHO | MIB Management 101

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“Verily, Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsan) in all things.” — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Sahih Muslim)

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Reflection

As a journalist, I've encountered one of the most frustrating aspects of public service — red tape. Officers stick to the rules like they’re holy texts, using them as shields instead of tools. 

Somewhere along the way, the real spirit of service gets lost. We’ve all encountered a “Little Napoleon” — that official who flexes power by making things harder for everyone.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. What’s lacking isn’t policy or systems — it’s ihsan, the human conscience that turns rules into compassion and authority into trust.

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Introduction: From Barakah to Ihsan

In our last episode, we talked about Barakah — that invisible force that brings peace, purpose, and harmony to our work. So, how do we keep that flow going? 

The answer is Ihsan — the spirit of excellence that turns every task into an act of worship.

If amanah is the foundation and barakah is the outcome, then ihsan is the process — the moral and spiritual excellence that ties them together.

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The Meaning of Ihsan

Ihsan comes from the Arabic word hasuna, which means to be good, beautiful, or excellent. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave us a clear definition in the famous Hadith of Jibril:

“It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He surely sees you.”

In management speak, ihsan is that inner drive to do work not just for recognition or rewards, but to fulfil our trust before Allah. It turns a job into ibadah (worship) and a workplace into a community of sincerity.

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Ihsan as a Mindset of Excellence

While modern management loves efficiency and performance, Ihsan takes excellence to another level — it adds a conscience to competence. A manager with Ihsan doesn’t just get results; they do it with justice, sincerity, and compassion.

In the MIB context, ihsan fits perfectly with Negara Zikir — a call for mindfulness in governance and service. It's all about serving others as a way to show our devotion to Allah, guided by humility and moral clarity.

When ihsan fills the heart, policies become purposeful, and performance becomes personal.

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From Compliance to Conscience

A lot of organisations focus on compliance — rules, audits, and checklists. While that’s important, compliance without ihsan leads to a soulless bureaucracy.

Ihsan encourages us to shift from compliance to conscience — from doing things just because we have to, to doing them because it’s right in the eyes of Allah.

“Verily, Allah loves that when one of you performs a deed, he does it with excellence.” — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

When we practice ihsan, excellence becomes an act of love, not just an obligation. 

It turns performance into prayer. Without ihsan, zalim can slip in — when conscience fades, injustice takes its place.

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The Dimensions of Ihsan in Management

1. Excellence in Intention (Niyyah): Every action starts with purpose. A leader with ihsan asks 'why' before 'how.'
   
   
2. Excellence in Action (Amal): Doing work with precision, fairness, and sincerity, no matter who’s watching.
   
   
3. Excellence in Interaction (Muamalat): Treating colleagues, clients, and subordinates with dignity and empathy.
   
   
4. Excellence in Reflection (Muhasabah): Evaluating outcomes not just based on profit, but also on ethical and social impact.

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Ihsan in the Workplace: The Human KPI

In MIB Management, success isn’t just about how much we produce, but how well we stick to our values while doing it. A workplace filled with ihsan becomes a place where employees thrive out of faith, not fear.

When ihsan becomes the norm, performance turns into purpose, and service mirrors iman (faith).

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Cultivating Ihsan in Everyday Work

1. Start with Zikir: Kick off meetings and decisions with a reminder of Allah — it helps set intentions and keeps egos in check.
   
   
2. Lead with Empathy: View your role as stewardship, not superiority. Authority is a trust, not a trophy.
   
   
3. Encourage Reflection: Create moments of group muhasabah — check progress through values, not vanity.
   
   
4. Reward Sincerity, Not Showmanship: Acknowledge those who work quietly but faithfully.

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The Ihsan Effect: A Legacy Beyond Results

When Ihsan becomes our go-to performance indicator, we start measuring success not by how high we climb, but by how sincerely we serve. It builds a culture where employees are driven by meaning, not mandates.

The Prophet ﷺ promised that ihsan perfects faith (iman) — and by extension, perfects leadership. A nation that operates with ihsan is a nation at peace with both its Creator and its people.

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Closing Reflection

The journey of MIB Management is all about the heart — from amanah to barakah to ihsan. 

These aren’t just ideals; they’re real practices when applied sincerely.

Ihsan is the art of working beautifully. It’s where professionalism meets spirituality, and where leadership becomes a form of worship.

How do you practice ihsan in your daily work this week?

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📖 KopiTalk with MHO — Reflections brewed with purpose.
🟢 #MIBManagement101 #KopiTalkWithMHO #NegaraZikir #Leadership #IhsanAtWork #FaithInAction

 

Participation without Politics: The Question of People’s Role under MIB

☕ KopiTalk with MHO

(Part 2 of the series — Understanding Brunei’s Political System through MIB)

If Negara Zikir defines Brunei’s soul, the next question naturally follows — how do its people take part in shaping that soul?

In a system where power is understood as amanah (a sacred trust) and authority flows from divine accountability, the rakyat’s role is not measured by ballots or campaigns. It is measured by sincerity, service, and conscience.

1 | The Paradox of Participation

Under the philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), sovereignty belongs to Allah, and leadership is a trust delegated to the Sultan. Yet Islam also teaches syura — consultation and shared decision-making.

This creates a delicate balance: obedience to authority coexists with the moral duty to offer sincere advice (nasihat).

According to Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, this paradox finds its harmony when citizens participate not by contesting power, but by cooperating, consulting, and contributing.

Participation, in other words, becomes an act of zikir — serving Allah by serving others.

2 | Redefining Self-Determination

In liberal democracies, self-determination is defined by the freedom to choose leaders. Under MIB, it is defined by the freedom to uphold goodness — aligning one’s life with iman, taqwa, and amanah.
Each citizen is both servant and steward:

• A servant of God, guided by faith and conscience.
  
  
• A steward of society, accountable for justice, honesty, and compassion.

In Negara Zikir, self-determination is not about seeking power, but about choosing righteousness. It is participation through integrity — the power to act rightly, even when unseen.

3 | The People’s Channels of Voice

Within this framework, political parties and people’s movements in Brunei play reflective and supportive roles. 

While their space under MIB is guided by its philosophy, these bodies remain meaningful. 

They serve as vehicles for civic education, unity, and responsibility, helping citizens understand their rights and duties through the lens of faith and nationhood. 

Their purpose is not to divide or contest, but to complement the moral authority of governance, bridging the gap between leaders and the rakyat.

Participation under MIB unfolds through institutions designed for harmony, not rivalry:

• Majlis Mesyuarat Negara (Legislative Council) — where appointed members deliberate on national matters, embodying the principle of syura (consultation).
  
  
• Community and grassroots councils (MPMK) — platforms of cooperation and local advice, nurturing ukhuwah (brotherhood).
  
  
• Civil service and TPOR (Tekad Pemedulian Orang Ramai) — where accountability is shown through responsible service.
  
  

• Religious and social organisations — fostering civic virtue, volunteerism, and compassion.

Each channel becomes a continuum of shared governance — where loyalty, honesty, and service sustain the moral order of MIB.

4 | Participatory Governance as Moral Agency

For Pehin, participatory governance rests on three pillars:

1. Mas’uliyyah (Responsibility) — accountability before Allah and the community.
   
   
2. Syura (Consultation) — collective wisdom guiding decisions, even without elections.
   
   
3. Khidmah (Service) — genuine participation through integrity and care.

To participate, then, is to serve. The rakyat’s role becomes amal jariah — continuous good deeds that remind society of its higher purpose.

A young Bruneian mentoring schoolchildren, a public servant resolving issues with empathy, or a villager organising a community clean-up — all embody participation through service. These are small acts of democracy expressed through devotion.

5 | Good Governance and the Question of Checks and Balances

If participation is MIB’s heart, good governance is its face — the outward reflection of inward faith.

A government that rules with justice, efficiency, and compassion becomes an embodiment of ihsan (excellence) in administration. 

Pehin reminds us that Negara Zikir cannot stand on slogans alone; it must demonstrate trustworthiness, transparency, and responsibility at every level of governance.

Here lies the question often asked in modern discourse — how does MIB provide checks and balances? While the MIB political framework is not adversarial, accountability operates through moral, administrative, and spiritual mechanisms:

• The ruler’s conscience and divine accountability — the Sultan, as Allah’s vicegerent, is bound by moral restraint and responsibility before God.
  
  
• Institutional oversight — bodies such as the Audit Department, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the Legislative Council act as internal guardians of fairness and legality.
  
  
• Community and media ethics — though press freedom is guided rather than absolute, its moral purpose remains to inform, educate, and uphold social harmony without slander or malice.
  
  
• Public feedback systems such as TPOR (Tekad Pemedulian Orang Ramai) — serve as civic platforms for grievances and improvement, embodying consultation (syura) in practice.

In this sense, MIB’s check and balance rests not on confrontation, but on conscience — a blend of moral vigilance and institutional integrity rooted in faith.
Good governance, then, is not imported but born from faith in action.

6 | Sovereignty, Service, and Divine Trust

Brunei’s national motto — Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā ('Always render service with God’s guidance') — captures the spiritual foundation of MIB and Negara Zikir politics. 

It reminds both rulers and rakyat that leadership and citizenship are inseparable acts of service guided by divine light.

In the MIB worldview, sovereignty ultimately belongs to Allah, the true source of authority. 

The Sultan, as Allah’s vicegerent on earth, carries the amanah to govern with justice and compassion. 

Meanwhile, the rakyat shares in that trust through loyalty, service, and prayer — fulfilling their moral duty to both nation and Creator.

This sacred relationship reflects the triadic ideals of Hablum minallah (bond with God), Hablum minannas (bond with humanity), and Hablum minal ‘alam (bond with nature). 

Together, they form the moral compass of governance under Negara Zikir — balancing faith, society, and the environment in one harmonious continuum.

7 | Reflection: Between Silence and Service

The rakyat’s role under MIB is not to oppose, yet neither is it to stay silent. True loyalty is honesty — to advise when needed, to serve when called.

Brunei’s participatory governance, therefore, is a quiet democracy of virtue — where citizens uphold the nation’s moral compass through sincerity in action.

To live under MIB is to know that every act of service, however small, strengthens the spirit of Negara Zikir. It is governance through remembrance and participation through faith in motion.

☕ KopiTalk Reflection

Every nation seeks participation; few seek it through virtue.

In Brunei, participatory governance is not about louder voices, but purer intentions.
And good governance is not just about systems — it is sincerity that breathes life into them.

In the end, the true democracy of Negara Zikir is when ruler and rakyat alike remember: power is trust, and service is ibadah. (MHO/10/2025)

 

Suara Dalam Diam: Demokrasi Berzikir di Bumi Brunei

Baru-baru ini, saya meneliti satu salinan pembentangan PowerPoint yang dikongsikan oleh seorang sahabat. Pembentangan itu disampaikan oleh Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama, dalam Kuliah Perdana Pendidikan Negara Zikir Berfalsafahkan Melayu Islam Beraja.

Walaupun ia disampaikan beberapa tahun yang lalu, isi dan pesannya masih segar serta relevan dengan zaman kini. Pembentangan itu mengajak kita — khususnya generasi muda — memahami semula makna sebenar politik Brunei yang berteraskan Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) dan berpaksikan Negara Zikir. Ia menyentuh soal kekuasaan, amanah, dan keinsafan — tiga nilai utama yang membentuk sistem serta budaya politik Brunei yang unik di dunia.

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Falsafah Negara Zikir dan Asas Pemerintahan MIB

Pehin menjelaskan bahawa konsep Negara Zikir bukan hanya tentang menyebut nama Allah, tetapi tentang menghidupkan nilai zikir dalam tindakan, keputusan, dan dasar kerajaan. Zikir membawa makna kesedaran dan ketaatan — satu cara hidup yang menjadikan manusia sentiasa mengingati Allah dalam setiap urusan. Dalam konteks politik, ia menuntut setiap keputusan dibuat dengan hati yang bersih, fikiran yang waras, dan niat yang ikhlas.

Falsafah Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) pula menjadi asas kepada seluruh sistem politik negara. “Melayu” melambangkan jati diri dan akar budaya bangsa; “Islam” menjadi panduan moral, undang-undang, dan nilai kemasyarakatan; manakala “Beraja” menggambarkan kepimpinan yang berasaskan amanah dan tanggungjawab di bawah petunjuk Ilahi. Gabungan tiga nilai ini menjadikan sistem kenegaraan Brunei seimbang — antara dunia dan akhirat, antara tradisi dan kemajuan.

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Pemasyhuran Perlembagaan dan Makna Pemerintahan Beraja

Pehin turut menyoroti Pemasyhuran Perlembagaan Brunei 1959 dan pindaan 2004 sebagai detik penting yang membentuk wajah politik negara. Kedua-dua watikah pemasyhuran dimulakan dengan basmalah, tahmid, dan selawat, menandakan bahawa undang-undang tertinggi negara ini lahir dalam suasana zikir — penuh kesedaran akan tanggungjawab kepada Allah.

Perlembagaan ini menggariskan tiga tujuan utama pemerintahan beraja:

1. Mengekalkan Brunei sebagai Negara Melayu Islam Beraja yang merdeka, berdaulat dan demokratik, berasaskan ajaran Islam menurut Ahli Sunnah Waljama’ah, serta berpaksikan keadilan, amanah dan kebebasan.
   
   
2. Menjamin ketenteraman, keselamatan, kebajikan dan kebahagiaan rakyat dengan petunjuk dan keredaan Allah.
   
   
3. Menjalin hubungan antarabangsa yang menghormati kemerdekaan, kedaulatan dan keutuhan wilayahsemua negara tanpa campur tangan asing.

Menurut Pehin, inilah azam politik dan aspirasi nasional Brunei — sebuah demokrasi yang berteraskan iman dan moral. Demokrasi dalam acuan MIB bukan tentang pertembungan suara, tetapi tentang keseimbangan antara tanggungjawab dan kebebasan. Ia adalah demokrasi yang berzikir — tenang, beradab, dan berpandukan nilai tauhid.

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Demokrasi Bersendikan Islam: Antara Rakyat dan Pemerintah

Dalam sistem MIB dan Negara Zikir, hubungan antara rakyat dan pemerintah bukan sekadar urusan kuasa, tetapi satu bentuk kontrak sosial yang berteraskan amanah dan tanggungjawab. Kedua-duanya saling memerlukan — pemerintah memimpin dengan adil, rakyat pula menyokong dengan setia dan berhemah. 

Di sinilah nilai syura diamalkan, iaitu musyawarah dan kebijaksanaan dalam membuat keputusan.

Kebebasan rakyat tidak diukur melalui undi atau parti, tetapi melalui keikhlasan untuk berkhidmat. Seorang pegawai yang jujur, seorang guru yang mendidik dengan hati, atau seorang petani yang gigih mencari rezeki halal — semuanya memainkan peranan dalam membina negara. Dalam erti kata lain, politik MIB bukan tentang perebutan kuasa, tetapi perjuangan menegakkan nilai dan maruah bangsa.

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Pemerintahan Beramanah dan Berihsan

Namun di sebalik keharmonian ini, timbul persoalan: sejauh mana rakyat berpeluang menyuarakan pandangan dan terlibat secara bermakna dalam sistem ini? 

Cabaran inilah yang perlu direnungi oleh generasi muda hari ini. Dalam dunia moden yang menuntut keterbukaan, hak bersuara, dan kebebasan berpesatuan, sistem MIB perlu terus menyesuaikan diri tanpa mengorbankan nilai-nilai asasnya. 

Dalam semangat zikir dan amanah, suara rakyat yang beradab bukanlah ancaman, tetapi pelengkap kepada kebijaksanaan pemerintahan.

Hubungan antara pemerintah dan rakyat juga berasaskan kepercayaan dua hala. Pemerintah memerintah dengan amanah dan ihsan; rakyat pula menyokong dengan ketaatan dan doa. Inilah bentuk kontrak sosial berteraskan nilai rohani — perjanjian moral yang menjamin keseimbangan antara kuasa dan keinsafan.

Bagi Pehin, keberkesanan pemerintahan hanya lahir apabila kuasa ditadbir dengan amanah dan ihsan. Amanah ialah tanggungjawab moral yang tidak boleh dikhianati, manakala ihsan ialah keindahan dalam berbuat baik. Kedua-duanya menjadi asas kepada good governance dalam konteks MIB.

Keberkatan sesebuah kerajaan bukan diukur melalui teknologi atau sistem, tetapi melalui kejujuran pemimpin dan ketulusan rakyat. Namun, dalam konteks pengurusan dan pentadbiran moden, dunia kini menuntut tahap kebertanggungjawaban (accountability) dan ketelusan (transparency) yang lebih tinggi. 

Norma politik dan demokrasi masa kini menilai kepercayaan rakyat melalui keterbukaan maklumat dan kejujuran institusi. Dalam sistem MIB dan Negara Zikir, nilai-nilai ini perlu diterjemahkan dengan bijaksana — menyeimbangkan antara tradisi dan keperluan semasa, antara ketaatan dan tanggungjawab sosial.

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Penutup: Suara Dalam Diam

Suara dalam diam’ menggambarkan jiwa rakyat yang tenang tetapi penuh makna. Ia bukan sekadar simbol ketenangan, tetapi satu panggilan lembut agar pemerintah terus membuka ruang partisipasi rakyat dalam semangat zikir dan tanggungjawab bersama. Di sinilah keindahan sistem MIB terserlah — sebuah demokrasi berjiwa rohani yang menghubungkan pemerintah dan rakyat melalui amanah, kasih, dan doa.

Seperti yang disampaikan oleh Pehin, Brunei ialah negara kecil yang berjiwa besar. Politiknya tidak bergemuruh dengan pertikaian, tetapi berdenyut dengan nilai dan zikir. Selagi zikir itu hidup dalam hati rakyat dan pemimpin, selagi itulah Brunei akan kekal teguh sebagai Negara MIB yang diberkati.

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✒️ Ditulis berdasarkan pembentangan oleh
Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman
Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama, Brunei Darussalam
Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman
Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama, Brunei Darussalam