| Azlan Othman |
PENGIRAN Muda ‘Abdul Wakeel Mosque in Kiudang, Tutong was placed first in the male category of the Al-Quran reading competition in Murattal manner organised by the Mosque Affairs Department and Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque in Kampong Jerudong.
Second and third places went to Kampong Sungai Bunga Mosque and Kampong Sungai Liang Mosque.
In the female category, Kampong Tanah Jambu Mosque grabbed the top spot, Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah came in second and Jamalul Alam Mosque in Kuala Belait in third spot.
The competition was organised to nurture the spirit of reading Al-Quran and Muqaddam among children at mosques, suraus and religious halls nationwide and to make them Al-Quran literate.
The competition held in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration was divided into male and female categories with 25 teams.
Chief guest Acting Director of Mosque Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Amir Hisham bin Haji Masri presented prizes to the winners.
The competition was held to produce children able to recite Al-Quran properly and to answer 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’s call to make Brunei Darussalam a Zikir Nation and gain respect from the world community as a nation with superior virtues and Islamic practices.
It also aimed to make mosques centres for Islamic propagation to the general community and to foster closer ties among the participants besides finding young talents in the reading of Al-Quran.
It is also to encourage children to get acquainted with mosque activities especially in Al-Quran reading and Muqaddam.