BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

HIS Majesty Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha attended the 69-times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony held at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.

The event is held in conjunction with His Majesty’s 69th birthday celebration after the completion of Al-Quran recitation for 30 juzuks or chapters 69 times by members of Mukim and Village Consultative Councils (MPM & MPK) nationwide.

The arrival of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri at the Royal Banquet Hall of Istana Nurul Iman were welcomed by the Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badarud-din Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman and other members of the executive committee of the 69-times Khatam Al-Quran event as well as their respective spouses.

Organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the event was the culmination of the Khatam Al-Quran sessions that began in March this year and completed on July 15, a day before His Majesty’s birthday which also coincided with the blessed month of Ramadhan.

A total of 1,669 people – 496 men, 483 women and 690 children aged 12 and below – across the sultanate finished reading the Al-Quran for 69 times cummulatively in the span of five months as a special ‘pesambah’ for His Majesty the Sultan.

The Khatam Al-Quran ceremony signifies the people’s doa for His Majesty the Sultan to be in good health, longevity and continue to rule the country with iman (faith) and guided by Allah SWT. The event was the fifth time organised this year since its inception in 2011.

The celebration was also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Hj 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.

Also in attendance were HRH Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Zariah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, YAM Pengiran Bini Hjh Faizah, HRH Prince Hj Jefri Bolkiah, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel, HRH Princess Hjh Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, HRH Princess Hjh Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, HRH Princess Hjh Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, HRH Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, HRH Princess Hjh Masna and HRH Princess Hjh Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.

The Royal Banquet Hall then echoed with the mass recital of Surah Al-Fatihah to start the ceremony, followed by the recital of short verses of the Al-Quran beginning with Surah Ad-Dhuha by the participants.

The ceremony proceeded with the reading of Takhtim and Tahlil (prayer for the deceased) by officers and teaching staff under the Department of Islamic Studies (JPI), followed by Doa Khatam read by Muhammad Yusran Hj Jahari, a student under the Al-Quran Youth Readers’ Scheme

The event concluded with Dikir Marhaban and Doa Selamat read by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz (Dr) Hj Awg Abd Aziz Juned, State Mufti.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, first-time participants expressed their joy and excitement to join other participants from all four districts to be celebrated in a royal venue.

Twenty-six-year-old Masfitrah Abd Metassan, just completed her first degree from KUPU SB, said: “We are here today to seek blessings from Allah SWT as Allah SWT has promised to fulfil the sincere doa of those who completed the Al-Quran. We would like to dedicate our prayers for our beloved monarch.”

She also shared that she’s currently active teaching Muqaddam and Al-Quran reading in Mukim Telisai and calling for more youth to be involved with Al-Quran reading to support the aspiration of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to make Brunei as a ‘Zikir Nation’.

Fifteen-year-old Abd Rahim Abd Karim also shared the same sentiment.

Sharing on the sidelines of his Al-Quran reading preparations, “Apart from reading at school, I strived hard to complete the Al-Quran recitations by continue reading it at home and at the mosque during my free time. Alhamdulillah, I managed to Khatam (complete) the Al-Quran for three times on the occasion of His Majesty’s 69th birthday celebrations as recommended by the 69-times Khatam Al-Quran committee members.”

Another youth participant, Mohd Akmal Hakim Mohd Alihan from PAP Hjh Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Secondary School in Lumut, said that it was his second time to participate in this kind of Khatam Al-Quran ceremony.

He said, “I realise that there are more youth involved in this year’s 69-times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony.

“Additionally it is inspiring to see that there are participants who completed the Al-Quran as young as eight years old. My school nominated 14 students including myself. This is a good sign and I urge more of my fellow youth to read Al-Quran regularly as it is part of our ibadah (act of worship).”

The Brunei Times