| Wani Roslan |
HER Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam yesterday graced the Women’s Special Assembly held at the International Convention Centre, in conjunction with Maulidur Rasul celebration for 1440 Hijrah.
Accompanying Her Majesty were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.
Upon arrival, Her Majesty was greeted by the spouse of the Minister of Religious Affairs Datin Hajah Nahriah binti Haji Hasbi @ Asbi; the spouse of the Minister of Education Datin Hajah Razina binti Haji Kassim; the Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh; and the spouse of the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Datin Hajah Jama’iah binti Haji Abdul Manap, in their capacity as the event co-advisors, co-chairpersons and committee members.
The ceremony began with the reading of selected verses from Al-Quran by Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, the Qariah champion of the 2017 Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition.
This was followed by welcoming remarks by Hajah Hadiyati binti Haji Abdul Ladi, the Acting Head of the Syar’ie Prosecution Division and the co-chairperson of the working committee for the ceremony, who said that this year’s theme Tarbiyah Rasulullah Membawa Rahmat Dalam Berkeluarga was based upon the best guidance and educational methods of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The ceremony also featured a combined performance from the students and teachers of Politeknik Brunei, Menglait Secondary School, Pantai Berakas Primary School and Al-Falaah School, during which they gave an interpretation of Verses 30-32 from Surah An-Nur through dialogue and drama.
This was followed by the main highlight of the ceremony, a special religious talk on the theme of this year’s Maulidur Rasul celebration by Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Syariah and Law at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Dr Hajah Hanan binti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz.
A Dikir Marhaban was performed by female officers and staff from the Ministry of Education and members of the Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam (CWBD), before the ceremony concluded with a recitation of the Doa Selamat by Datin Hajah Maznah binti Haji Muhammad.
Her Majesty and other members of the royal family then toured an exhibition which showcased the Art and Calligraphy Centre of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, PAZ Tarbiyyah Islamic Enrichment Centre, Al-Minhaaj Centre and Nadi Quranic Learning Centre.
The Women’s Special Assembly this year was organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the CWBD in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.