| Ishan Ibrahim |
A CEREMONY held at Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Akar to mark the 13th National Youth Day celebrations was given a celebrity boost, as internationally renowned Islamic preacher Fatih Seferagic dropped by to deliver an Al-Quran recitation.
The famous Al-Quran reciter is in the country as part of his Journey of Faith Tour 2018, which will also see him visiting a number of other countries in the region.
The event was also attended by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, in his capacity as Patron of Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin; as well as youth from various parts of the country and residents of Kampong Sungai Akar.
Seferagic, who is also a human rights activist, delivered a mesmeric recitation of Surah Ar-Rahman, wowing his fellow congregants with his soothing voice which has captured millions of hearts all over the world.
A Bosnian national of German descent, the 23-year-old Seferagic was raised in the United States, and is a Hafiz as well as an international Qari.
He is an Internet sensation who rose to fame after posting videos of himself reciting passages of Al-Quran on his self-titled YouTube channel and accumulating more than 320,000 subscribers.
Many of his videos have been viewed over a million times.
Prior to achieving international fame, Seferagic first began memorising Al-Quran at the age of nine, eventually successfully memorising the whole book by the age of 13 at the Quran memorisation seminary programme.
He also studied Arabic under the Bayyinah Dream Programme of Bayinnah Institute in Texas, United States, as well as established his own programme to teach children how to read and memorise Al-Quran.
Following Seferagic’s Al-Quran recitation, a mass Maghrib prayer led by Imam Symsul Nizam bin Haji Badar was held.
The event continued with a special religious lecture entitled ‘Akhirat First’ delivered by Project Head of Mindplus Education Sdn Bhd Ustaz Muhammad Fatin Abdul Rahman bin Kifli.