| Fizah HAB |
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 consented to grace the finale of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah last night at the International Convention Centre.
Upon arrival at the venue, His Majesty was greeted by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his role as Chairman of the Major Islamic Events Celebration Executive Committee and Chairman of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah/2019 Executive Committee; State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned; and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; and other committee members.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
The ceremony began with a recitation of verses from Al-Quran by Haji Dasrizal bin Marah Nainin, a Qari from Indonesia, Champion of the International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur 2013.
In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Religious Affairs outlined the various programmes provided by his ministry to improving the quality of Al-Quran reading among the participants.
The minister said several programmes were implemented, including the Tadabbur Al-Quran for Public programme hosted by UNISSA since 2016 and Understanding of Al-Quran Scheme programme organised by the Al-Quran Studies and Dissemination Division of Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah since 2008.
Announcing the results of the competition, the competition’s chief jury Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh touched on achievements made by the Qari and Qariahs for this year compared to the previous years.
Haji Mohammad Albi bin Haji Ibrahim was announced as the champion Qari of this year’s National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults, while Hajah Nurfaezah binti Haji Emran emerged as the champion Qariah.
His Majesty presented the prizes to the competition winners and participants. He also presented souvenirs to the competition jury.
The champion Qari received a challenge trophy, Haj package, a cash prize of BND7,000, a pure gold bar weighing 40 grammes worth BND2,700 donated by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Insurans Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, an embroidered cloth donated by Little Ummi Company, as well as a participation certificate.
The runner-up Qari, Ahmad Zulwaqar bin Haji Suhaili, received BND5,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur sponsored by Continental Tours & Travel, a prize and a certificate.
Third-place Qari Haji Awang Muhammad Fikri bin Haji Awang Metussin received BND3,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.
The champion Qariah received a challenge trophy, BND7,000 cash, a pure gold bar weighing 40 grammes worth BND2,700 donated by Perbadanan TAIB, Insurans Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, a Brunei embroidered cloth donated by Little Ummi Company, and a participation certificate.
Second place went to Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, who received BND5,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.
Third-place Qariah Hajah Nurul Akmalina binti Haji Yahya received BND3,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.
The champions of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults will represent the country at the upcoming International Tilawah Al-Quran competition to be held in Kuala Lumpur.
To bless the ceremony, a Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti.