Azlan Othman & Daniel Lim
His Majesty 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 last evening joined congregants at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque for the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Doa Kesyukuran, as well as mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers, in conjunction with Brunei Darussalam’s 37th National Day celebration today.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin lhsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin in his capacity as the Chairman of the 37th National Day Celebration Executive Committee; State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned; and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar.
His Majesty and members of the royal family joined the mass Maghrib prayer, led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, who also led the Sunnat Hajat prayer and the mass recitation of Surah Yaasiin.
To bless the ceremony, Doa Kesyukuran was read by the State Mufti.
Meanwhile, Isyak prayer was led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin.
Similar ceremonies were also held at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kiarong, Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in RPN Kampong Mentiri, Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque in Kampong Jerudong, Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Serusop, Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kampong Sengkurong, Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Kebun, Setia Ali Mosque in Pekan Muara and RPN Lambak Kanan Mosque.
Meanwhile, in Belait District, the religious ceremony was held at Muhammad Jamalul Alam Mosque in the presence of Belait District Officer Ramlee bin Haji Jamudin.
Also present were Legislative Council (LegCo) member and Penghulu of Mukim Liang Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin, mukim penghulus, village heads, and heads of government departments in Belait.
A mass Maghrib prayer was led by Mosque Affairs Officer Imam Haji Akup bin Haji Lamat, who also led the Sunnat Hajat prayer and recitation of Surah Yaasiin.
Head Religious Officer in the Belait District Aliyani bin Ismail read Doa Kesyukuran while Imam Haji Akup led the mass Isyak prayer as well as the recitation of Surah Al-Insyirah to Surah An-Nasr.
The religious event last evening was also simultaneously held in all main mosques and suraus throughout the country.