Students studying and memorising Al-Quran, shoulder a great responsibility to maintain morals and manners reflecting the beauty of Islamic teachings. Hence the students must cultivate sincere intentions in seeking knowledge, make sure the intention is only to gain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty and not to gain praise or recognition from humans, said Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) Acting Principal Mohammad Ali Sabri bin Haji Yusof.
He said this during a reception ceremony for 71 new students of ITQSHHB for the 1446 Hijrah/2025 session who were welcomed at the institute’s lecture hall in Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha on Saturday.
The students, comprising 29 male and 42 female students, joined the institute for studies at the secondary level.
The acting principal also advised them to maintain good relationships with teachers and friends, respect teachers as providers of knowledge and value friends as companions in the struggle to seek knowledge as well as to always work diligently and consistently in memorisation and repetition.
As for the parents, he highlighted their role in ensuring the success of their children throughout their studies, providing moral support, encouragement and unceasing prayers and to make sure the atmosphere at home is conducive for them to continue to love Al-Quran.
The ceremony began with the recitation of verse 11-15 of Surah Al Mujadilah by Adam Syahier Al-Hamiidy bin Mohammad Ali and translated by Mohammad Adli Hafizh, both new Year 7 students.
The acting principal shared that for the 1446 Hijrah/2025 academic session, the institute received 326 applications and only 322 applications met the admission requirements.
The student recruitment process is carried out through two stages of interviews where candidates were given one page of Al-Quran to memorise at home for a week and attend a written test.
Those who passed proceeded to the second stage where candidates were given 45 minutes to memorise a page of Al-Quran verses on the day of the interview.
A total of 71 students received offers to study at the Secondary Level Year 7 and the institute noted that the candidates comprised students from Arabic preparatory schools and secondary schools under the MoRA, primary and secondary schools under the Ministry of Education and private schools.
The institute, as in the past years, has held a programme in memorisation, especially the recitation and Hafazan Al-Quran programme.
Its objectives are to provide initial preparation to new students on the technique of memorising Al-Quran as well as train students to always be steadfast in mastering the technique.
The ceremony was enlivened with a video presentation of the new students’ Ta’aruf (orientation) week activities, followed by the presentation of Mushaf Al-Quran to the new students by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, the guest of honour.
It proceeded with the reading of the pledge from the new students led by Muhammad Azhari bin Ruslani.
The event continued with the launch of the ‘GenQu Academy’ application by the guest of honour, followed by the recitation of Zikir Sayyidul Istighfar and Selawat Tafrijiyyah led by students from the institute’s student representative council and concluded with the recitation of Doa Selamat by Haji Ubaidillah bin Haji Abdul Mughni.
Prior to the reception, the Ta’aruf week programme for the new students was held from January 13 to 18.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim, Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Ra’es Associate Professor Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the MoRA Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religion) at the MoRA Haji Shamshol bin Haji Omar were in attendance. – Lyna Mohamad
