Azlan Othman
Under the wise leadership 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, the nation is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic calmly and without panic, enabling all parties, particularly the health authority to focus on keeping the infection from spreading, and the public to abide by the regulations and health measures.
This was said by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman during the National Israk Mikraj celebration for 1443 Hijrah at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien mosque in the capital yesterday.
The minister, who is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee for Major Islamic Events Celebration for 1443 Hijrah, said in putting trust in Allah the Almighty, we are now in the endemic phase of COVID-19 as stated in His Majesty’s titah.
also Allah the Almighty’s creation. But, at the same time, it can be controlled and its effects reduced. We need to persevere and step up efforts to control and reduce its effects.”
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin said, “We must also inculcate spiritual practice and strengthen pious acts and charity. We pray that our efforts will bear fruit, that it prevents the infection from spreading and threatening our lives.”
The minister added, “We should take heed of the historic Israk Mikraj event of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) night journey from Masjidil Haram in Makkah to Masjidil Al-Aqsa in Palestine and ascended to Sidratul Muntaha to accept the order of five-times-a-day prayer obligation from Allah the Almighty.”
Lessons and wisdom from such a historic event were the focus of this year’s celebration, themed ‘Sembahyang Kerana Allah’.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin said, “The theme aims to increase our understanding of the wisdom of prayer obligation, especially the five
daily prayers.
“I hope it will drive to becoming pious servants of Allah the Almighty that are faithful and wholeheartedly embrace the true meaning of prayer to gain blessings.”
The ceremony began with the reading of verses of Al-Quran by Engineer Sergeant Major Aliudin bin Haji Sarbini at the Maintenance Department, Support Services Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Navy, Ministry of Defence while its interpretation was read by Education Officer of the Co-curriculum Department of the Ministry of Education Muhammad Samira Razin bin
Abdullah Sambut.
The ceremony continued with a special religious talk entitled ‘Sembahyang Ku Kerana Allah’ presented by Operations Officer at the Religious Department of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Captain Mohammad Ayza Azrine bin Ayahani.
To bless the ceremony, a Doa Selamat was read by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang.
The ceremony was jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Ministry of Education and the Islamic Education Department of the Ministry
of Religious Affairs.
