The final of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1445 Hijrah/2024, which saw 12 participants – six males and six females – commenced yesterday at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre, Berakas.
Present at the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
The ceremony commenced with Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar leading the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed with welcoming remarks from Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, as the chairman of the competition.
The minister said participants of the competition and enthusiasts of Al-Quran recitation are aware of the necessity to consistently improve the quality of their recitations.
At the same time, it is important to read and understand the meanings of Al-Quran verses, as it complements conclusions drawn from the recited verses, he said. The competition commenced with recitations by Haji Muhammad Fikri bin Haji Metussin, Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri and Awangku Adi Nazri bin Pengiran Haji Jofri.
It was followed by a nasyid presentation (Al-Quran Syafa’ah) – the theme song of the competition by the ‘Aliyah Qiraat students of Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. The competition continued with recitations by Dr Hajah Siti Wardah binti Major (Rtd) Haji Abd Rahman, Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahya and Amal Nazirah binti Haji Asmat. Their Royal Highnesses departed from the event after the participants completed their recitations on the first day of the competition.
The three-day competition, themed ‘Al-Quran, Pedomanku’ (Al-Quran, My Guidance), is jointly organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Finance and Economy; the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism; Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB); Insurans Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd; and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The announcement of the champion will be held tomorrow.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof; Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin; Acting Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Pengiran Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Zety Sufina binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Sani; Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Economy) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid; and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan were also present. – Adib Noor
