Rokiah Mahmud
Around 100 individuals visited the galleries yesterday morning following the re-opening of Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB), Archaeological Officer Haji Muhammad Ruzaini bin Haji Mohd Daud said.
He expects the numbers to rise during the third term school holiday.
“The re-opening is also a part of the Brunei December Festival 2022,” Haji Muhammad Ruzaini said.
He said among the visitors were foreigners.
The public can view exhibits at nine galleries while the ’Rambut Mulia Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam (SAW)’ gallery will be open until December 18, except on December 16.
A Selawat ceremony was also held to mark the opening of ‘Rambut Mulia Rasulullah SAW’ gallery.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman; and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin were the special guests at the opening ceremony.
Deputy Minister (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu was also present.
Students of Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) recited the Selawat and Dikir Syarafil Anam at the Rambut Mulia Rasulullah SAW gallery, followed by Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam, led by ITQSHHB Education Officer Ahmad Zul-Waqar bin Haji Suhaili.
Meanwhile, Hajah Nur Karmilah binti Haji Ismail who visited with her family members yesterday shared how they were amazed by the special collections on display at the galleries.
She said one gallery that caught their attention was the Rambut Mulia Rasulullah SAW, adding that they felt blessed to have been able to witness an exhibition of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) hair.
She said the Mushaf gallery housing several collections of Mushaf Al-Quran and the Astronomy gallery taught them about civilisation during the times of Islamic scholars.
Hirdan bin Haji Abdul Kadir, from Pusat Bahagia, Community Development Department (JAPEM), said he obtained a lot of knowledge from the galleries, especially about Islamic scholars and civilisation.
The galleries at BKISHHB will be open from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm, except on Friday.
