Rokiah Mahmud
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 Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam performed the Sunnat sacrificial rites for Their Majesties and other members of the royal family and the distribution of the sacrificial meat to 17,406 recipients in the Sultanate to mark Hari Raya Aidiladha at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah yesterday.
Also joining the ceremony 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 ‘Abdul Mateen.
On arrival at the mosque, His Majesty was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad and State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
The monarch led the ritual of sacrificing four goats during the ceremony, while the remaining livestock were slaughtered at PDS Abattoir Sdn Bhd slaughterhouse and Syarikat Mohammed Norfaidzal Haji Zainuddin & Anak-Anak.
This year, 194 livestock – 180 cattle and 14 goats – were sacrificed at the ceremony and the meat distributed to 16,158 underprivileged individuals and 1,248 single mothers and senior citizens.
Earlier, His Majesty joined Muslim congregants in performing Sunnat Hari Raya Aidiladha prayer.
The prayer was also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
On arrival, His Majesty and other members of the royal family were 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, the Minister of Religious Affairs as Chairman of the Executive Committee for Major Islamic Calendar Events for 1443 Hijrah and the State Mufti.
The prayer was led by Mosque Affairs Officer of Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Suhaili bin Haji Metali Al-Hafiz, while the sermon was delivered by the State Mufti.
In the first sermon, the State Mufti touched on the definition of Feast of Sacrifice or Hari Raya Korban.
“The term Korban means performing sacrifice, not only in terms of property, but also life,” Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz said.
He also talked about the contribution from Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) in developing Makkah into a peaceful, fertile and prosperous land.
He also said the practice of reciting Al-Quran allows one to obtain cahaya (light) and syafa’at (help), especially when one departs the world.
