BY Rokiah Mahmud

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 76 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman on Thursday.

The event 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.

The event was held in conjunction with His Majesty’s 76th birthday celebration.

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; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah were in attendance.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam were also present.

Their Majesties and members of the royal family was greeted by Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris bin Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar; 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; State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned; Private and Confidential Secretary to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Mohd Nawawi bin Allahyarham Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Haji Awang Mohd Taha; 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.

The event began with a mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the State Mufti followed by Khatam Al-Quran led by Muhammad Adrian Azani bin Haji Muhammad Masjuna from Youth Al-Quran Reading Scheme (STAR).

It continued with a reading of the Takhtim and Tahlil by religious officers and teachers from Islamic Studies Department (JPI) and Mosque Affairs Department followed by recitation of Doa Khatam by Muhammad Hasif Hasbullah bin Mohamad Sahrul from STAR.

The event concluded with Dikir Marhaban by mosque affairs officers, female officers and religious teachers from JPI as well as Doa Selamat 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.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin