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 graced the national level celebration of Israk Mikraj for 1445 Hijrah.
The celebration was held at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas yesterday.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.
The arrival of His Majesty was greeted by Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris bin Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar; 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 Executive Committee for Major Islamic Calendar Events for 1445 Hijrah and the final of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1445 Hijrah; 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 at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad; Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan; Deputy Minister (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah; Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Economy) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid as the Chairman of the Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN); and other executive committee members.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Al-Quran verses using Zainul Qur’an format, from Surah Al-Mu’minun verses 1-11 performed by three siblings – Pengiran Muhammad Adibul Amin bin Pengiran Haji Marjuki, seated in second place at the International Al-Quran Reading Competition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016 and 2017, and eight-time qari champion in the final National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults; Pengiran Muhammad Amirul Aiman bin Pengiran Haji Marjuki, qari champion in the final National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1444 Hijrah who also represented the Sultanate at international Al-Quran reading competitions in Kuwait and Indonesia; and Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki, qariah champion in the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults in 2021 and qariah champion in the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition in 2020.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin delivered a welcoming address where he said the celebration this year was in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) for the government sector, and UNN for the private sector.
The collaboration involving government and the private sectors, the minister added, is a sign of solid support to uphold governmental policies for Islamic eminence.
His Majesty then delivered a titah prior to a Selawat An-Nur performance was delivered by officers and staff of the PMO, the MCYS, the Islamic Da’wah Centre (PDI) and UNN.
Vice Chancellor of Universiti Islam Selangor Associate Professor Dato’ Dr Muhammad Farid Ravi bin Abdullah delivered a religious talk on ‘Sembahyang Tiang Ugama’ (Prayer, the Pillar of Religion).
To enliven the ceremony, there was a special performance to highlight the journey of Muslim converts, Asy-Syahadah Youth and Nurul Islam Association under the PDI.
A Doa Selamat was also read by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned. – Rokiah Mahmud
