The Arabic Language Festival is organised to create an Arabic language speaking environment aimed to strengthen students’ interest in the language.
This was stated by the Dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Dr Hajah Rafidah binti Haji Abdullah during the opening ceremony of World Arabic Language Day that falls on every December 18.
The festival was also aimed to raise confidence in communicating in the language, upgrade skills and provide an understanding to the community on the importance of Arabic language as the language of Al-Quran, faith, knowledge and civilisation and meet the Zikir nation aspiration by supporting the use of Arabic in the Sultanate.
This year’s opening ceremony was enlivened with an Arabic Poetry Recital and its Meaning competition. The celebration featured competitions targeting universities, Arabic schools, religious schools, government and private schools as well as the public.
It also targeted universities from abroad including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
Among the competitions are Islamic Calligraphy (Khat), Imla and Bicara Berirama.
In celebrating World Arabic Day at the international level, UNISSA is also participated in an International Nadwah event, themed ‘Trending Issues in the Development of Arabic Learning not as the Speaker of Arabic in South East Asia’ organised by Princess of Naradhiwas University in Southern Thailand.
UNISSA was represented by Dr Muhammad Alif bin Haji Sismat, Director of Planning and Strategic Development.
The festival will be carried out until Sya’aban 1445 Hijrah, declared as the Arabic Month in Brunei. – Lyna Mohamad
