Some 87 teams and over 5,000 participants joined an assembly and procession to mark Maulidur Rasul, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday.
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 celebration themed ‘Sunnah Dihayati, Hidup Diberkati’.
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, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
The monarch and members of the royal family were welcomed on arrival 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 Chairperson of the Executive Committee for major Islamic calendar events 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 of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof; and Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman.
The religious event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar followed by Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin giving welcoming remarks.
The minister said Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has superior moral values and is the best example to emulate and follow to gain blessings from Allah the Almighty.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin also said Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is an example of a leader concerned about the struggles of the ummah.
The annual gathering saw a Dikir Marhaban performance and Sayyidul Istighfar by officers and staff from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).
Twenty-one cannon shots echoed around the capital prior to the procession along major roads of the capital.
Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa bin Haji Murat led the recitation of Selawat that signalled the start of procession
The procession comprised teams from ministries, higher learning institutions, schools, villages, mosques, the private sector and associations. – Azlan Othman
