BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) yesterday granted five converts the opportunity to perform their Haj this year after donating $62,000 to the country’s leading Haj operator Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Each of the recipients received $14,500 from separate donations: $4,500 from His Majesty's government Haj fund to complete the total payment of the Darussalam Holdings “Zamrud 1” package (worth $12,500) and $10,000 from the New Converts Zakat Collection Fund.

The converts also received $2,000 each for their personal expenses.

Present at the ceremony held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) was the Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Pg Dato Paduka Hj Bahrom Pg Hj Bahar, who presented the donations to Darussalam Holdings’ managing director Hj Mahmud Hj Muhammad.

Acting Secretary of MUIB Hj Abdul Aziz Hj Akop said that a total of 34 new converts applied for the Haj fund.

“This year, only five new converts passed the examination and interview conducted by the council,” said Hj Abdul Aziz.

“These applicants attained excellent results as well as possessing a good level of understanding on Islamic education such as ablutions, At-Thaharah (cleanliness), five times daily prayers, and Haj and Umrah knowledge,” he added.

The acting secretary also shared several rules and regulations that the converts are required to follow in order to qualify for the His Majesty’s government Haj fund. “The applicants must be a Muslim convert for more than 10 years and it is important for them to have excellent knowledge on Islam,” he added.

He went on to say that one of the main aims for this distribution is to give the new converts an opportunity to perform Haj.

Around 400 pilgrims will depart to Saudi Arabia on August 30 and 31.

The Brunei Times