| Rokiah Mahmud |
A CEREMONY to mark the completion of recitation of 48 times Khatam Al-Quran was held at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital yesterday in commemoration of the name change of Bandar Brunei to Bandar Seri Begawan.
Minister of Development and guest of honour Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar was among those present at the ceremony, in his capacity as the Acting Minister of Home Affairs.
Also present were Legislative Council members; permanent and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs; Chairman of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board; senior officers, officers and staff of the ministry and departments under it; and penghulus, village heads, and mukim and village consultative council members in the vicinity of Bandar Seri Begawan.
A total of 1,312 participants joined the 48 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony comprising officers and staff of various government departments, students of higher learning institutions, officers and staff of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department, private sector organisations and members of the public.
Among the objectives of the ceremony were to seek blessings from Allah the Almighty while at the same time strengthen Islamic teachings, particularly in the capital.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour followed by the recitation of Takhtim by Mosque Affairs Officer at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque Imam Md Hasnal bin Haji Mohammad. It continued with the recitation of Doa Khatam by Mosque Affairs Officer at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang before concluding with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran by Ustaz Zulkifli bin Haji Murat.
