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 on Monday led the procession around the capital in conjunction with the Maulidur Rasul celebration.
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; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah were also in attendance at the assembly and procession.
The event was held simultaneously in all four districts nationwide. The theme reads ‘Preservation of Human Mind in Accordance of Sunnah of the Prophet’.
The 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 the Chairperson of the Executive Committee for Major Islamic Calendar Events for 1446 Hijrah said the celebration was to show our love for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to uphold meritorious leadership of the messenger of Allah the Almighty.
The Minister said we will continue to celebrate Maulidur Rasul to show gratefulness to Allah the Almighty, to propagate Islamic teachings and to address current issues through the theme chosen in this traditional celebration such as social issues, in particular mental health that needs to be tackled.
The Minister added, in the preservation of human mind, it must be based on the Sunnah of the Prophet to cure illness through spiritual approach, in addition to scientific approach practised in modern medicine nowadays.
Some 5,000 participants from 95 teams comprising of government ministries, educational institutions, associations, villages, mosque committee members and private sectors gathered at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
The annual religious gathering was followed by Dikir Marhaban and Sayyidul Istighfar by 60 officers and staff at the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Transport and Info-communications as well as Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
21 canon blasts were fired outside the Taman during the Marhaban presentation.
Before proceeding with the procession which covered a walk around the capital, three times of proclamation of Selawat echoed around the Taman led by Chief Syarie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.
Before leaving the Taman, His Majesty and members of the family received greetings from members of the public joining the procession. – AZLAN OTHMAN