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, today graced the 71 Times Khatam Al-Quran by Members of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils and The Country's School Students. The event held in conjunction with His Majesty's 71st Birthday celebration took place at Istana Nurul Iman this afternoon.

More than a thousand people participated in the ceremony to express the gratitude of the country's citizens and residents to Allah the Almighty for blessing the country with peace and prosperity under His Majesty's wise and dynamic leadership.

Upon arrival, His Majesty and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri were greeted by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Home Affairs as the Chairman of the National Committee For His Majesty's 71st Birthday Celebration as well as the Co-Advisors, Co-Chairpersons and members of the 71 Times Khatam Al-Quran Executive Committee and their wives.

Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah;

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah;

His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Wakeel;

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul 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.

Also present were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and other members of the Royal Family.

The mass reading of Surah Al-Fatihah was led by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Doctor Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti. The 71 Times Khatam Al-Quran By Members of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils and The Country's School Students was also intended to seek Allah the Almighty's blessing for His Majesty's long life, health and continued reign as the ruler of Brunei Darussalam with enlightenment and guidance from Allah the Most Sublime.

The mass reading of Al-Quran by the participants that began from Surah Adh-Dhuhaa to Surah Al-Masad was a birthday gift to His Majesty in the form of supplications and the blessings of Al-Quran from the people of Brunei Darussalam. It is an expression of their strong and undivided love, loyalty and support for their very loving and caring Monarch. The reading of the Surah Khatam or Khatam Al-Quran Verses was led by Awangku Md 'Ashim 'Afif Bin Pengiran Haji Md Zin, a student of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al-Quran Institute.

One thousand, seven hundred and eight people, of whom 854 were males and another 854 more were females participated in the event.

The Khatam al-Quran readers were members of Mukim and Village Consultative Councils from the country's four districts in the Men and Women Adult Category for 21 year olds and above, Youths from 13 years to 20 years old who represented Mukim and villages, including students of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al-Quran Institute, Arabic Schools and the Youth Al-Quran Reading Scheme. The 71 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony was a blessed practice performed with sincerity and devotion that gave added value to His Majesty's 71st Birthday celebration.

The Khatam Al-Quran ceremony also involved boys and girls aged 12 years old and below who represented Arabic schools, Religious schools and the Khatam Al-Quran Scheme for children below 10 years old and students under the Ministry of Education who have completed reading the 30 Chapters of Al-Quran. Each participant selected for the event started the simultaneous reading of Al-Quran for the ceremony last April.

The Takhtim was read by officers and female religious teachers from the Islamic Studies Department. Meanwhile, the Tahlil was read by officers and Imam or prayer leaders from the Mosque Affairs Department.

The Doa Khatam was read by a participant, Awangku Muhammad Ashim Afif Bin Pengiran Haji Md Zin. The Dikir Marhaban was performed by 71 Mosque Officers from the Mosque Affairs Department and 71 officers and female religious teachers from the Islamic Studies Department.

Meanwhile, the Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti.

His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam received the junjung ziarah from the male Khatam-Al-Quran ceremony participants while Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri received the junjung ziarah from the female participants. His Roiyal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah also received the junjung ziarah from the participants.

Since the inaugural Khatam Al-Quran ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty's birthday celebration in 2011, the event has became a motivator and booster for the continuation of the blessed ceremony with participation by adults, youths and children.

The ceremony was the climax of events that showed the closeness of the country's people to Al-Quran Al-Karim and the closeness of the Monarch and the people of Brunei Darussalam. Apart from that, the event also intended to instill and nurture the culture of Al-Quran reading as well as the practice of its teachings as a way of life to invoke blessings and rewards from Allah the Almighty. The blessings and rewards one gains from reading Al-Quran, the participation of the grassroots people, including students are the fruition and manifestation of the people's strong loyalty to the Monarch, religion and the country.

The Khatam Al-Quran ceremony was a doa or supplication to Allah the Almighty. May Allah the Creator strengthen His Majesty's reign, in ruling and leading the country towards greater success. It also supported His Majesty's aspiration and vision to transform Brunei Darussalam into a zikir and Al-Quran literate nation.

The blessed ceremony reflected His Majesty's dynamic leadership in continuously reminding the people to always seek the guidance of Al-Quran and the Hadith or traditions of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam in all their plans and actions for the development of the country. 

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by Brudirect.com

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