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 graced the 77 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday, which saw the involvement of 1,708 participants from Mukim and Village Consultative Councils, primary and secondary schools along with students from higher educational institutions throughout the country.
Their Majesties were accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah. Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam were also present.
Their Majesties and members of the royal family 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 of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar; Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman; Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh and Grand Chamberlain Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar and their spouses.
The religious event commenced with a mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned followed by Khatam Al-Quran led by Abdul Matin bin Zulnorein, a student from the Youth Al-Quran Reading Scheme (STAR), Islamic Studies Department (JPI).
The event continued with a reading of Takhtim by religious officers and teachers from JPI followed with recitation of Tahlil by officers from the Mosque Affairs Department.
The Khatam ceremony then concluded with the recitation of Doa Khatam by Muhamad Adam Khairuddin bin Abdullah Muhamad Hassanuddin, also a student from the STAR scheme.
The event concluded with Dikir Marhaban by Mosque Affairs officers as well as officers and female teachers from JPI after which the Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti.
Apart from celebrating His Majesty’s birthday, the annual Khatam Al-Quran was aimed at upholding the monarch’s aspirations to see Brunei become a Zikir Nation with high Al-Quran literacy.
Participants of this year’s ceremony were made up of members of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils nationwide under the categories of male adult, female adult and youth who have been selected to represent the respective mukims and villages including students from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Arabic schools and STAR scheme.
Also participating were boys and girls aged 12 years old and below who represented religious schools under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which are Arabic schools and Al-Falaah School, Khatam Al-Quran scheme for under 10 years old, Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, STAR scheme and students from schools under the Ministry of Education and learning institutions nationwide. – Lyna Mohamad
