Lyna Mohamad & Izah Azahari
The Ministry of Development (MoD) and its departments held an Israk Mikraj celebration for 1443 Hijrah yesterday, with Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar as guest of honour.
The event at Betabur Hall of the MoD opened with a recitation of Al-Quran verses led by Town and Country Planning Department Senior Officer Haji Lihan bin Haji Ibrahim and continued with a special talk delivered by guest speaker Dr Hajah Ummi Fa’izah binti Haji Abdul Rahman from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).
The special talk aimed primarily to remind Muslims that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will always remain a relevant role model and that he was sent down to perfect the morals of humankind.
Strong moral values are crucial to creating a harmonious Islamic community, which is aligned with the Sultanate’s aspiration of being a Zikir Nation, and efforts must be made to ensure good morals are part of our habit. Al-Quran and As-Sunnah are the sources that dictate one’s actions, consequently becoming the source of Islamic morals. The talk also encouraged appreciation of Al-Quran as well as learning the lessons of Sirah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the lives of his companions.
Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin as well as heads of departments, divisions and units under MoD and its departments also attended.
The event, coordinated by the Town and Country Planning Department, was also joined virtually through online platform by MoD personnel.
In another event, the Ministry of Energy (ME) held a religious talk virtually to mark the celebration, jointly organised by the ministry’s Legal and Compliance Division, Strategic Projects Division and Finance Unit.
Minister of Energy Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein was the guest of honour.
A special talk titled ‘Sembahyangku kerana Allah’ was delivered by UNISSA Faculty of Usuluddin Lecturer Dr Ahmad Baha bin Mokhtar, highlighting the difficulties and hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be linked to the event of Israk Mikraj – known as the year of sorrow and hardship for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had always performed the daily prayers to comfort grief and face hardship.
Deputy Minister of Energy Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw, Permanent Secretary at the ME Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the ME Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra, as well as senior officials, officers and staff from the Ministry of Energy also attended.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications also held a similar ceremony to mark the occasion.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof attended the online celebration hosted by the E-Government National Centre.
Religious officer at the Islamic Da’wah Centre (PDI) Mohammad Nasyith bin Superi delivered a talk titled ‘Prayers: The Communication Gadget with Allah the Almighty’.
In it, he discussed the theme of this year’s national celebration ‘My Prayers are for Allah’, noting that the gift Israk Mikraj bestowed on Muslims is the compulsory five daily prayers.
Performing prayers is a way to communicate with Allah the Almighty, Mohammad Nasyith said, adding that “to feel the pleasure of this gift, one must be sincere and devout when performing prayers”.
