| Fizah HAB and Daniel Lim |
DIKIR Syarafil Anam ceremonies were held in mosques, suraus and religious halls across Brunei last night, with Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital providing the main focus for the opening of the nationwide celebrations of Maulidur Rasul for 1440 Hijrah.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman was the guest of honour.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang; and Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Acting Ra’es Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar.
The religious event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour followed by a special lecture on Dikir Syarafil Anam by Al-Minhaj Centre Co-Founder Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ajak and the mass recitation of Dikir.
The ceremony continued with the recitation of Dikir Assalamu’alaika by officers and staff of Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque Dikir group; and the recitation of Dikir Khairuman Sambas by the Kampong Belimbing Dikir group and the Kampong Subok Dikir group.
The recitation of the Dikir Tanaqal Indara was then conducted by the Perangkap Dikir group of Kampong Burung Pingai Berakas and the recitation of Dikir Badat Kopi by the National Anti-Drug Association (BASMIDA) Dikir group, while the recitation of Dikir Asyraqal was performed by officers and staff of the Islamic Studies Department of the MoRA.
This was followed by the recitation of Doa Dikir by Mudim Haji Amran bin Haji Md Salleh and the recitation of Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam by Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang.
In the Belait District, meanwhile, an opening Dikir ceremony in conjunction with Maulud Nabi was held at the RPN Kampong Pandan Mosque, Kuala Belait yesterday.
Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad was the guest of honour.
Also present during the ceremony were Head Religious Officer in the Belait District Haji Asminan bin Haji Chuchu and a representative from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
Over 100 attendees comprising officers and staff members from various government departments, committee members, mukim penghulus, village heads, representatives from private companies in the Belait District, the mosque’s Takmir Committee members and residents from the surrounding area attended the ceremony.
The event began with the mass Maghrib prayer and mass Sunnat Hajat prayer followed by the Dikir ceremony, which started with the mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour. This was followed by the mass recitation of Dikir Assalamu’alaika and Dikir Syarafil Anam.
The ceremony continued with the mass Isyak prayer followed by the recitation of Dikir Asyaraqal before concluding with the recitation of Doa Dikir, all of which was led by Assistant Mosque Affairs Officer Imam Haji Julazni bin Haji Zaini.
The Dikir Maulud ceremonies will be observed for 12 consecutive nights in all mosques, suraus and religious halls across Brunei to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), starting on the 1st of Rabiulawal, 1440 Hijrah corresponding to November 9, 2018 until the 12th of Rabiulawal, 1440 Hijrah corresponding to November 20, 2018.