His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, graced a 40 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony to mark the 40th National Day at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong yesterday.
Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
On arrival, Their Royal Highnesses’ were 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 at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad, as well co-chairs of the Executive Committee of the Brunei Darussalam 40th National Day celebration. The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Mosque Officer Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa bin Haji Murat.
This was followed by Khatam Al-Quran from Surah Al-Masad, led by Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) student Abdul Hadi Muaiyyad bin Haji Azrol to Takhtim Al-Quran by students from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA). A Doa Khatam was read by ITQSHHB student Muhammad Darul Irsyad bin Mohammed Jeffery.
The event continued with a Dikir Marhaban by UNISSA students and ended with a Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.
The Khatam Al-Quran ceremony was held simultaneously in all four districts. In the Belait District, it was held at RPN Kampong Pandan Mosque, attended by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar; in the Tutong District, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman attended the event at RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang Mosque.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister (Civil Service Governance) at the PMO Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos attended the event in Temburong District.
The nationwide Khatam Al-Quran involved over 1,650 participants, comprising students, members of youth and sports associations and youth movements, Youth Development Centre trainees, volunteers and mosque youth. – Azlan Othman
