Adib Noor
Brunei Darussalam celebrates Hari Raya Aidilfitri today as the hilal or new moon of Syawal for 1443 Hijrah was sighted at four vantage points yesterday.
The announcement was made with the consent 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 and broadcast on Radio Television Brunei.
Moon-sightings were held at Bukit Agok in Jerudong, Tanjung Batu in Kampong Sabun, Bukit Lumut in Belait District and Bukit Ambog in Tutong District.
Delegations at the moon-sighting locations were Syar’ie judges and officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Syariah Court at State Judiciary Department, State Mufti’s Office and Survey Department.
Reports were delivered to Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his capacity as President of Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) witnessed by other MUIB members – Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, Attorney General Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang.
Earlier, a religious event was held at Multaqa Hall at the MoRA.
The event began with the recitation of verses from Al-Quran by Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah student Abdul Aziz bin Noor Nasran followed by the recitation of Tahlil and Doa Arwah as well as a mass Maghrib prayer led by Mosque Affairs Officer Razman bin Haji Ramlee.
The Sultanate will observe a three-day public holidays beginning today.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a Hari Raya gathering guideline urging those with flu-like symptoms or feeling unwell to refrain from visiting others or receiving guests during the festivities.
Hand shakings and hugs should be substituted by placing the right hand on the chest with a smile or a slight bow as a gesture of respect or greetings. MoH also reminded that proper hygiene etiquette be observed at all times and the sharing of utensils be avoided.
