| Azlan Othman & Lyna Mohamad |
CEREMONIES were held yesterday to mark the Israk Mikraj celebrations.
The event for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and its departments was organised by the Fire and Rescue Department and held at the Ash-Shaliheen Mosque.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong was the guest of honour.
The annual event is held to enliven the celebrations and forge closer ties among the workforce.
A special talk titled ‘Strengthening Faith through the Israk Mikraj Event’ was delivered by Assistant Lecturer at the Core Knowledge Centre of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Hilman bin Haji Salim.
Attendees performed mass Asar prayer led by Imam Anuar bin Haji Salim. This was followed by the handing over of mosque items by the minister to Imam Anuar.
Legislative Council members as well as the permanent secretary, acting permanent secretary, deputy permanent secretary, department heads, senior officers at MoHA attended.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its department marked the event at the Al-’Afiah Hall of the ministry. The annual event was organised by the Department of Scientific Services and Renal Services Department.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar participated.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Head of Religious Teacher of the Religious Services Unit, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Haji Nor Asilin bin Haji Puting.
A religious talk was delivered by certified Da’ie of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) Md Khaizuran Amali bin Haji Kamsani from the Al-Minhaaj Centre.
A Khatam Al-Quran in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration was also held. It began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by the minister.
Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif, directors, officers and staff of MoH also attended.
A similar celebration was organised by the Group of Wives of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries and affiliated members.
The event was held at the residence of Datin Hajah Zalina binti Haji Omar, the spouse of Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud.
Chairwoman II of the association Datin Paduka Hajah Jahrah binti Haji Mohamad, the spouse of the Minister of Home Affairs, also attended.
The ceremony began with a mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by spouse of the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Hajah Azizah binti Haji Mohamad.
A talk on ‘Panduan dan Cara-cara Wudhu Orang Sakit/Uzur dan Musafir Serta Sembahyang Orang-orang yang Sakit dan Kurang Upaya’ was delivered by Religious Officer at the Dakwah Propagation Section and Head of Counselling, Islamic Da’wah Centre Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Haji Kasharan.
Mass recitation of Sayyidul Istighfar and Doa Selamat was read by Hajah Azizah.
Meanwhile, the committee of the IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus Surau in Jalan Muara marked the event under the theme ‘Prayer shapes Pious Ummah’.
Acting Director of Syariah Affairs at the MoRA Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gemok was the chief guest.
The celebration was held to enliven the surau and fulfil the wishes of 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 in making the Sultanate a Zikir Nation.
A religious lecture was delivered by Buhuth Officer at the State Mufti’s Office Awangku Muhd Wafiuddin bin Pengiran Haji Zulkarnain.