| Aziz Idris |
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, yesterday evening graced the national celebrations for the new Islamic year of 1438 Hijrah at the Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kiarong.
On hand to welcome His Majesty and members of the royal family was Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs, in his capacity as the as Chairman of the Executive Committee for Major Events in the Islamic Calendar in 1438 Hijrah.
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; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel.
The ceremony commenced with the end-of-year 1437 Hijrah prayer led by Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal.
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; 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; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel during the new Islamic year of 1438 Hijrah celebration at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kiarong. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
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; 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; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel during the new Islamic year 1438 Hijrah celebration at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah reciting the end-of-year 1437 Hijrah prayer.
Overview of the religious event.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs, speaking during his welcoming remarks.
Haji Ahmad Abdussalam bin Abdul Rahman, Senior Religious Officer at the Islamic Da’wah Centre, delivering Tazkirah Hijrah during the celebration yesterday.
His Majesty then joined thousands of congregation (Jamaat) performing mass Maghrib prayer led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, Chief Syar’ie Judge, followed by the recitation of the Doa for the new Islamic year Hijrah 1438 by the Imam.
The Chief Syar’ie Judge blessed the occasion with a recitation of the New Year 1438 Hijrah prayer and once again led the Sunnat Hajat prayer to invoke blessings from Allah the Almighty for the Sultanate.
In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Religious Affairs expressed gratitude for the presence of His Majesty and other members of the royal family who graced the ceremony.
The Minister of Religious Affairs, in his welcoming speech, expressed his gratitude upon His Majesty’s arrival, together with other members of the royal family, to grace the ceremony.
“It has become the country’s tradition to celebrate all major events in the Islamic calendar. This reflects the strong faith of Islam in the nation that cultivates the spirit of religion with His Majesty’s guidance,” he noted.
The minister added that His Majesty’s guidance has brought peace and serenity to the country and his subjects in-line with the concept to become a Zikir Nation – ‘Baldatun Thayyibatun Warabbun Ghafur’.
To enliven the ceremony, verses from the Al-Quran were read by Mohd Rohaidi bin Johadi, Champion of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Arabic Schools Students.
Translations of the verses were read by Mohammad Nor Hadi bin Ismail @ Taib and Yussof bin Abdul Majid, education officers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The new Islamic year celebration was highlighted with a Tazkirah Hijrah or talk delivered by Haji Ahmad Abdussalam bin Abdul Rahman, Senior Religious Officer at the Islamic Da’wah Centre.
To further bless the ceremony, a Doa Kesyukuran was also read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.
The mass Isyak prayer was then led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin, the Syariah Appeal Court Judge.
The ceremony concluded with His Majesty and other members of the royal family being greeted by well-wishers.
The national theme for the this year’s celebrations is ‘Harta Berkat Negara Selamat’.
Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar.
The most important event in it is to remind Muslims of the migration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Makkah to Madinah.
The 1st of Muharram is one of the Major Islamic events that is respected and contains its own advantages and blessings as other months in the Islamic calendar.
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