| Fizah HAB & Daniel Lim |
THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) organised the 35 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremonies across all four districts in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebrations.
A total of 2,000 youth participated in the ceremonies.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin attended as the guest of honour. The event for the Brunei-Muara District was held at the Setia Ali Mosque in Pekan Muara.
Permanent Secretary at the MCYS Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim, Ra’es of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar and Rector of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal also attended.
A total of 1,000 participants attended the event, comprising youths from the National Service Programme (PKBN), Youth Development Centre, students from the Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) as well as students from higher learning and technical educational institutions, secondary and religious schools, youth associations and youths from the Belia Cinta Tanah Air programme and Qaris and Qariahs of the National Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour, followed by the recitation of Surah Adh-Dhuha until Surah Al-Masad led by students from ITQSHHB and the reading of Takhtim by a representative from UNISSA.
The recitation of Doa Khatam was led by 2018 National Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition Qari Champion Muhammad Sa’dun bin Suhalili, while PKBN trainees led the recitation of Dikir Marhaban.
The ceremony concluded with the recitation of Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam read by Mosque Affairs Officer Nasehin bin Yahya and mass Zohor prayer.
In the Belait District, a similar ceremony was held at the Pekan Seria Mosque, seeing Deputy Minister of Development Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin attending as the guest of honour.
Head Religious Officer for the Belait District Haji Asminan bin Haji Chuchu, Head of the Belait District branch of Youth and Sports Gaung Jamit; mosques Takmir committee members, officers from government agencies and department; as well as students from several secondary schools attended the event. In total, over 300 attended the ceremony.
The ceremony started with a mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour, followed by the recitation of Surah Adh-Dhuha to Surah Al-Masad.
The recitation of Takhtim and Doa Khatam was then conducted, following with the Khatam Al-Quran.
The guest of honour presented Bunga Telur to the Khatam participants, following which the Dikir Marhaban was conducted.
The ceremony concluded with the recitation of Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam and mass Zohor prayer.
In the Tutong District, the event was held at the Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Wakeel Mosque, while the event in the Temburong District was held at Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque.