BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

INSTITUT Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) held a thanksgiving ceremony yesterday after achieving an award in Saudi Arabia last month.

The award given by the ‘Badan Tahfiz Al-Quran Antarabangsa’ (Holy Quran Memorisation International Organisation) under Rabithah Al-’Alam Al-Islami (Muslim World League), earned the ITQSHHB an international recognition for being a model institute in Al-Quran memorisation for the year 1435H.

In his speech, the Minister of Religious Affairs Yang Berhormat Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abdul Rahman, said that besides earning the country a good name, the award was also a step forward in realising Brunei’s vision towards a Zikir nation.

Reiterating a titah by His Majesty the Sultan, the Religious Affairs minister urged members of the Tahfiz institute to take up the challenge in developing the studies of Al-Quran in the country, both at the secondary and at the diploma level.

He added that the ITQSHHB should be more inspired in producing well-rounded huffaz (Al-Quran memorisers) who are equipped with both worldly knowledge (duniawi) and the hereafter (ukhrawi), placing the Quran at the highest place in all aspects of life.

“The (international) award is also hoped to pioneer members of ITQSHHB especially the students in being earnest in their studies,” the religious affairs minister said.

“And for the sake of producing huffaz who can uphold the vision to develop (ITQSHHB) and the studies of the Quran to be the top at the national, regional and international level,” he added.

The thanksgiving ceremony started with a recital of the Quran by a second year student of the ‘Aliyah Qira’at diploma at the institute followed by a welcoming remark from the Acting Principal of ITQSHHB, Ustaz Pg Hj Haslin Pg Hj Ali.

The ceremony was then concluded with a thanksgiving prayer read by Ustaz Helmi Hj Salim, a lecturer of the institution.

Present at the ceremony was Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Abd Aziz Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Hj Awang Umar as the former chairperson for the ITQSHHB board.

Also present during the event was Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Mohd Zain Hj Serudin, former minister of religious affairs.

The Brunei Times