| Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
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 attended the National 1440 Hijrah New Year celebration at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Kampong Kiarong yesterday.
His Majesty was accompanied by 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; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel.
Welcoming their arrival were Minister of Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Major Islamic Events for 1440 Hijrah Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, as well as executive committee members of the event.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal recited the Doa to mark end of the previous Islamic year.
The Azan for the Maghrib prayer was then made by Mudim Haji Suhaili bin Haji Kalong. This was followed by the performing of the mass Maghrib prayer led by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, the Doa Awal Tahun 1440 Hijrah recitation to mark the beginning of the new Islamic year of 1440 Hijrah, as well as the mass Sunnat Hajat prayer.
The Surah Al-Fatihah was then recited by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
In his welcoming remarks, the Minister of Religious Affairs spoke on the religious practices and characteristics one must develop and embody in order to successfully transition from being a person of bad character into one imbued with virtuous qualities.
After this, a Tazkirah on Hijrah was presented by Director of the Islamic Da’wah Centre at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh.
In his talk, Haji Abdul Rajid said the Hijrah or ‘migration’ is one’s transition from being ignorant to being knowledgeable, from darkness to light, and highlighted the importance of gaining Islamic knowledge from Al-Quran and the As-Sunnah.
The Doa Selamat was then recited by the State Mufti, followed by the Azan for the Isyak prayer by Mudim Haji Latif bin Haji Saman and the performing of the mass Isyak prayer led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin of the Syariah Appeal Court Judge.
Similar mass prayers and Doa Kesyukuran to usher in the Islamic new year were also performed concurrently with the main event in mosques, suraus and religious halls nationwide.
The celebration at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, Tutong was attended by Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, the celebration at Pekan Seria Mosque in the Belait District meanwhile was attended by 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.
The celebration at Utama Mohd Salleh Mosque in Pekan Bangar, Temburong was attended by Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof.